Phnom Kambot Temple (Siem Reap)

Located atop Phnom Kambot of Kralanh district Siem Reap, Prasat Phnom Kambot, is a small square brick temple built on a laterite base. On the trail leading to the site, two pedestals and the odd laterite block can be seen. A statue, possibly of Prajnaparamita, originating from here sits in the Guimet Museum of France (see images here), other pieces included several Buddhist steles, one depicting Hevajara (see historical images below).

Getting There – A contemporary monastery, Wat Phnom Truang Baht, is located on the small mountain’s eastern side, which looks stunning from afar when coming from the east. To reach the ancient temple, there is a rocky trail (by foot or trail bike) that leads from the southwestern corner near the Phnom Trungbat Genocide memorial and also possibly from the northeastern side.

Historical Images

via Fonds Cambodge – Janvier, 1967

“Divinite feminine bouddhique”

Perhaps most interesting is the statue originating from the site that now resides in the Guimet Museum in France. The statue is quite unique featuring a headdress of 11 heads with an image at its center that is indistinguishable. Scholars at the Guimet believe it may be symbolic of the path of bodhisattvas and the perfection of virtues. While the statue is labeled as “Divinité féminine bouddhique”, it is speculated to be a representation of Prajnaparamita.

Its style is considered to be that of Angkor Wat and of the early 12th century.

More: Multzer o’Naghten Hedwige. Prajñāpāramitā dans le bouddhisme du Cambodge ancien. In: Arts asiatiques, tome 71, 2016. pp. 31-54.

There is also a 10th-century inscription at Chikreng Khang Kaeut Temple noting Eksdasamukha (Ekadasamukha), the 11-headed Buddhist deity.

Historical Notes

What follows are translations of the earliest site reports

Between Krelanh and Taruk Chou, a wooded mound, with a framework of red sandstone, about twenty meters high, is called Phnom Kombat. A small brick tower, 2.20 wide inside, 4 meters outside, still 5 meters high, with gray sandstone door frames, had been built on this hill. Next to the turret lie half-buried some original pieces of sculpture. Among several statuettes of goddesses, one was distinguished by her hairstyle, a double line of heads and skulls, the arrangement of which recalled the shape of the famous little hat of Napoleon I; of the four arms of the goddess, two were broken, the other two joined their hands on their breasts in an attitude of adoration.

In the tower itself, was a carved stone. one meter high, without inscription, but well carved in relief on one of its faces where three women, in the lower part held a lotus flower in their hand, while at the upper part were seated five personages, gods or Buddhas, with their heads now broken, a dragon with multiple heads covering this set. altars of this red sandstone which is that of the hill itself. The side spout for the flow of the sacred waters of one of these altars seemed to us to be carved in such a way as to represent the female emblem which in India is called the Yoni.

Le Cambodge, Aymonier, 1900

Prasat Phnom Kombat. The Phnom Kombat is a small rocky mound, with a frame of red sandstone, which extends to a haunt of about twenty meters, at the edge of the Stung Sreng, 4 kilometers to the NE of the village of Kralanh.

On the E part, in the middle of the sandstone blocks, was built a small brick sanctuary, square, measuring 3 m. 50 from the front and open to the E. The frame of its door and the ornate pilasters which supported the pediment are of gray sandstone; one of the latter has disappeared; the same applies to the decorative lintel. The secondary faces are decorated with false doors. This kiosk is uncrowned up to approximately meters from the ground.

It is currently used as a hermitage by an Annamese monk and has therefore undergone some unfortunate repairs.

We did not find the statues mentioned by Mr. Aymonier, only a stele representing a god with 16 arms and multiple heads, dancing, as well as five or six pedestals with snánadroņi presenting nothing in particular.

Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge, E. Lunet de Lajonquière, 1902

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..