Phnom Dei Temple (Leang Dai – Siem Reap)

It is one of the more fascinating and charming remote sites found around Angkor. It is located around 40 mins north of Siem Reap city. The site is not completely cleared but a walking trail leads up the low-rise hill where you will first come across a shelter with an incompleted, but giant, statue of Avalokiteshvara (possibly). Keep following the trail to reach the main temple site.

A walled enclosure with gopura to the east and west leads to a group of three brick temples built on a common laterite base. Preceding the three temples are two brick “library” buildings to the northeast and southeast.

The three brick towers are square rising up to perhaps have had at least two levels of false floors. They do not feature any ornate decoration which may have been added to the stucco rendering, none of which remains. Lintels can still be seen in situ and laying upside down on the ground. The east gopura appears it might have been quite large and had a long hall along with featuring windows pillared with uncarved bricks.

Gallery

In 1926, several other statues were recorded at this site but perhaps now located in the Angkor Conservation Depot or museums. They include another large Avalokiteshvara statue, a statue of Panchanana Shiva, and two smaller Avalokiteshvara.

Historical images (property of EFEO)

Statuary

Lintels

The site is not completely cleared nor excavated and there would surely be much more to be revealed someday. The site is also recorded as Phnom Dei I, Prasat Phnom Deiy, and Phnom Bei, also noting that there are other sites in the Angkor area of the same name.

Nearby you will find Khpop Temple and Prei Vihear

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..