Ta Muen Thom Temple

Prasat Ta Muen Thom is located on Cambodian-Thai border and was a feature along the ancient Royal Road that led from Angkor to Phimai (in present-day Thailand). The site is accessed by sealed roads that lead all the way to the site and up the small but steepish rise of the mountain range. The site is orientated and opens to the south featuring a laterite buttress wall and staircase leading to the remains of a galleried enclosure, with an entrance gopura on the south and faux chambered entrances at the other cardinal points. Inside the enclosure, a central shrine flanked by two smaller shrines and fronted by two annex or library buildings.

The site is entered from the southern side via a friendly Cambodian military base along a trail past some bunkers and a basin leading to a laterite staircase and buttress wall that leads up to the main entrance pavilion or gopura. The layout image below is by Etienne Lunet de Lajonquière who first surveyed the site sometime around 1902.

The central shrine features a long chambered hall, or mandapa, leading to the shrine whose base and linga are carved from the natural bedrock. The exterior walls of the central shrine feature images of Dvarapala (guardians) and ornate decorations on the pilasters and base molding. Looking closely around the mandapa, you can see parts of the molding that were left unfinished never receiving the final decorative carving. Inside the mandapa, you can see deposit stones and the remnants of a statue of Nandin the sacred bull looking towards the linga of the central shrine.

On the eastern side of the central shrine, you can see the bedrock continuing into which a channel has been carved for the flow of sacred water to the exterior of the temple (see the 360 image further below). Look closely as there is also an outline of an elephant carved in the stone.

The southern wall is mostly gone and only the gopura stands after which you’ll see the central shrine straight ahead which is flanked either side by laterite buildings and further flanked at the rear on either side by lesser shrines.

Inscriptions

• K. 376 – a stele (not in situ) with three inscriptions, 23 + 13 lines of Khmer and 2 lines of Sanskrit – IC VII, p. 60
• K. 1180 – a rock (not in situ) with 2 lines of Sanskrit
• K. 1181 – a door frame with 2 lines of Sanskrit
• K. 1182 – a stele (not in situ) with Sanskrit text

Getting There – The site can be reached easily by sealed bitumen road leading all the way from Kuok Mon or alternatively along the sealed border that leads all the way from Poipet I believe. As mentioned, the site is right on the border, from the Cambodian side the site is accessed via a military post who are very friendly and will point you in the direction of the temple to meet the Thai military post who will grant access to the site. Also, note that once you reach the base of the mountain there is a short but very steep ascent, perhaps around 40-45 deg which you can either walk or ride up with caution.

Around 500 m to the northwest (in present-day Thailand) and also along the ancient road, are the hospital chapel of Prasat Ta Muen Toch and another 500 m away is Prasat Ta Muen, a “firehouse” or rest house chapel. To the south, in Cambodia, is Prasat Chan and Wat Ta Muen where ancient temple relics are seen.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

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