- Area: Siem Reap Province > Chi Kraeng District > Khvav Commune > Chong Spean Village
- | Type: Ancient Remains & Temples
Also recorded as Spean Ta Oak and Spean Ta Oung. It is an ancient laterite bridge measuring 63 m long, 12 m wide, and 7.3 m high featuring 14 arches, and is recorded as the largest bridge along the ancient East Royal Road that connected Angkor to Beng Mealea to Preah Khan (Kampong Svay) – See the map of the ancient roads. The bridge has naga balustrades much of which are still in situ.
It’s believed that bridges along the East Royal Road were built during the reigns of Suryavarman I (1002–1049) and Suryavarman II (1113–ca.1150), with additions made by Jayavarman VII (1182–ca.1218). It was visited by the French artist Louis Delaporte, who left us with beautiful drawings of the bridge from the late 1800s in his publication Voyage au Cambodge; l’architecture Khmer.
The bridge is still in use and quite a relaxing place to sit as local life passes by, farmers, people fishing, and even moto ice-cream hawkers! Bollards have been added to the entrances in recent times in an attempt to stop larger vehicles from crossing.
The naga balustrade is ornately decorated, and the naga end pieces are some of the finest examples of art, one of which is almost intact. I feel we are so lucky to still see this in situ.
Images 2024
Images 2023
Images 2021
Map
Site Info
- Site Name: Spean Ta Ong Khmer Name: ស្ពានតាអុង
- Reference ID: HA11606 | Posted: January 20, 2021 | Last Update: December 20th, 2024
- Other Names: Chong Spean, Ta Ok, Ta Ong Bridge, Ta Aok
- Tags/Group: Ancient Bridges, Ancient Royal Road, Royal Road Beng Mealea-Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, Temples
- Location: Siem Reap Province > Chi Kraeng District > Khvav Commune > Chong Spean Village
- MoCFA ID: 319
- IK Number: 222
