Pong Toek Temple

Prasat Pong Toek of Srayang Commune, Preah Vihear Province, is a group of three sandstone temples, two of which are mostly standing. The towers are aligned on a north-south axis, all open to the east and built upon a common laterite base. The central tower is slightly taller than the outer towers also with slightly taller doors. The southern tower is perhaps especially interesting, it is completely standing even with its originally crowning sandstone ornament piece. The northern tower is mostly collapsed.

While it’s apparent the temples were never fully completed, lacking decorative carvings around the base structure, on the upper registers very decayed artworks in the pediments, can be seen, sadly, just out of distance of my camera to get a clear picture. Looking up, I do also wonder if some of the stone is recycled. Above the false doors, lintels are still in situ although damaged and decayed.

Getting to Prasat Pong Toek – it’s not a breezy temple to get to, there is a dirt road in reasonable condition (early 2022) that leads south and rises up in places giving quite nice views over the farmlands and out to the mountains. After around 4km look for a farmers trail that leads east and follow that until you reach a hut and at that point there is a river crossing of sorts after which there is another small hut and the trail becomes overgrown but it can be followed to the northern side of the temple and a walk through the scrub from there. This trail leading off the dirt road is likely to change with seasons and who knows, it may be upgraded at some point in the future.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via [email protected] - more..