Toap Chey Thom Temple

Also known as Prasat Toab Chey Thom, Teap Chei, and Torp Chey Thom. It is a ruinous walled sandstone temple that was a common feature along the ancient royal road network along the section from Angkor to Preah Khan (of Kampong Svay). French archeologists recorded this temple type as “Temples d’étape” or staging place.

They are believed to date back to the 12th century according to their art style, whilst a strong relationship can also be seen in terms of layout to certain temples of the 11th century, such as Chau Srei Vibol temple and temples further afield. Update 12/2024: on our most recent visit, the site has been cleared.

The site features a laterite outer wall with an entrance gopura on the east enclosing two library buildings that open to the west and flank the central shrine. This shrine consists of features of chambered false entrances on each side, while the east entrance opens with a long forebody and also features axial side entrances and windows. The enclosure wall also features a “false” gopura on its southern wall that only opens internally.

The site also features a grand terrace and a 200m or so long laterite paved causeway extending from its east entrance that was also lined with sandstone bollards.

Images 2024

Description and images 2021

The site features an outer laterite wall that had a grand entrance gopura mated to a large and beautiful (but ruinous) columned cruciform terrace that was preceded by a bollarded entranceway. Inside the walled enclosure, two very beautiful “library” buildings and remnants of the central shrine can be seen, although they are difficult to access. Several lintels can still be seen, albeit quite decayed. Doorways on the entrances are framed on either side with beautifully carved pilasters. 

Only a reminder of the east-facing bollarded entranceway is seen via partly exposed buried bollards preceding the grand entrance terrace. The terrace is quite large, and you will instantly be reminded of Chau Say Tevoda, which is near Angkor Thom. The eastern entrance gopura features some beautiful windows and artwork on the pilasters; the north and west entrances are much smaller, while the southern entrance is large and elongated, indicating some kind of purpose. The two libraries feature beautiful decoration around the eaves and cornices and a windowed false “second-level”.

The central shrine itself is hard to access but is small, and entrances are on each side with a mandapa or short hall leading east.

It is a fascinating site that, considering its architecture and features, must have been constructed at the height of the empire, and it would have left ancient travellers in awe (and still does today!).

Getting There

There is no marker on how to access the site from the road, but you can follow a foot/moto trail off the road between two wooden houses (here) leading around a small home on stilts (the caretaker’s house?) about 200 m south from the road. There is also a trail connecting to the nearby Toap Chey site.

Architectural Decoration

Images 2024

The Torp Chey Kilns

This site is also home to Southeast Asia’s largest ancient kiln. First discovered in 2007 by Mitch Hendrickson and later excavated by local archeologists led by Ea Darith in 2011, they uncovered an industrial-scale kiln that was a staggering 21 meters long. For scale, the ancient Khmer kilns in Buriam (Thailand) are only around 12 meters in length, while most are around 1.6 to 8 meters.

The primary products of the Toap Chey kilns were brown-glazed jars, roof tiles, and animal figurines, with activity noted from the 12th–14th/15th c.

Related research

Ea Darith (2013). Angkorian Stoneware Ceramics Along The East Road From Angkor To Bakan At Torp Chey Village
Ea Darith (2015). Torp Chey: Analysis of an Angkorian Kiln and Ceramic Industry, Cambodia.
Valérie Thirion-Merle et al (2020). The Kiln Sites of the “Torp Chey” Area (Cambodia): Production and Distribution