Tnaot Chum Khang Cheung Temple

Also recorded as Prasat Kambot/Kombot and Ta Hem. This fascinating small temple hidden away in the back blocks of a farming area features impressive carvings of a standing Buddha on its north, west, and south walls. The towering relief carvings are quite decayed but still clear in their outline. The carvings break a double cornice decoration of Hamsa (sacred geese) that point in opposing directions on each side. Lower down there is also a decorative floral band that also runs around the sides.

The temple itself is pre-Angkorian, while the inscription found at the site apparently records its consecration and modification into a Buddhist temple taking place around the 14th century (see references).

The temple opens to the east with a sandstone doorway that is flanked by smaller reliefs of Dvarapala or deity figures although these are covered by thorny scrub bush. There is also a doorframe carrying an inscription registered under K 144 with 14 lines of Khmer and there is also Pali text registered under K 768 on a statue that was not seen at the site. Also beside the door is a decayed fragment of the ancient lintel.

In E. Lunet de Lajonquière’s notes from visiting the site in the 1900s, he notes at that time also, the likelihood of later alterations including the roof and reliefs. He also speculates on the outer “nave” extending east having featured a wooden construction. He also noted the remains of Buddhist statues inside the shrine.

Inside the temple is fascinating too as it appears to retain some rendering on its walls, plus a very old style pedestal. Noticeable from the rear and side, the hip or pyramid style roof is interesting too, there is a round sandstone piece sitting out front which may have been part of its capping.

A big thanks to a kind local who guided me to the temple, weaving around the village trails, and also introduced me to a farmer who had recently dug up some ceramics nearby which is interesting. I passed him the details for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and hopefully, someone will go to take a further look.

Update: photos after revisiting the site again in June 2022 after being cleared

Getting to the site – the site is located just north via village trails of Tnoat Chum West temple, see that site for info on directions.

Reference

• Inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge – E. Lunet de Lajonquière
• Engendering the Buddhist State: Territory, Sovereignty and Sexual Difference – Ashley Thompson

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..