Trapeang Chambak Temple

Located west of the Preah Khan of Kampong Svay complex and also recorded as Chambork Temple and Prasat Chambok, it’s an ancient temple that French researchers from the 1900s would label “Temple D’etape” which was akin to a stopping place along the ancient road that, in this case, led west to Beng Mealea. Whilst no inscriptions have been found, the site is attributed to the 12th century, with architectural decoration that shares similarities in places with Banteay Samre, Chau Say Tevoda, Beng Mealea, and in turn Angkor Wat. Interestingly, style cues from prior eras can be seen in some of the pilasters.

The site has a layout similar layout to other “Temple D’etape” featuring an outer wall enclosing two libraries that flank either side of a single central shrine with a hall (antarala/mandapa) that leads to the eastern gopura of the outer enclosure. Also, forming part of the south wall, this site features a false gopura, or annex building, that opens to the inner courtyard, plus, there is a very small gopura opening to the outside on the western wall. The north library is notable for being constructed of laterite with sandstone features, while the south library is constructed entirely of sandstone.

The art style and execution in this era were quite refined, and it certainly shows here, along with its ruinous charm. There are several interesting quirks to this site; for one, it features Apsara of Angkor Wat style; for another, the arched niches and their figures in the lintels above the doors of the central shrine, and also the large concaved niches on the internal walls of the central shrine are of special interest.

The site faces east, located about 1km west of the outermost earthen enclosure of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay (PKKS) and 3km or so to the west is Toek Khuob. It is 300m south of the ancient road that joined Angkor to PKKS. Interestingly, there is a substantially raised earthen road that leads from PKKS towards the temple but appears to be stopped by a creek. This area is heavily overgrown, and it was not possible to explore the area where this raised road meets the river on our last visit, at least, although two random blocks of laterite were seen near that point.

Images 2023

Update 2025

We revisited the ancient road in Dec 2024 and again in Feb 2025 just after hearing that this site had been cleared by the Preah Khan Temple Conservation Team. The trail to the site now comes off the western road that leads to Khvav, which then takes a wide berth around the western side of the temple, leading past its southern side, about a 30-minute ride from central PKKS.

North Library

South Library

Central Shrine

Outer enclosure, south false gopura and main east gopura

Contemporary Research

In a 2013 study by Etsuo Uchida et al., Prasat Trapeang Chambok was measured, and a layout plan was created. It is one of five resembling temples (along with Pr. Chrei, Pr. Toap Chey, Pr. Pram, and Pr. Supheap Tbong) that are located to the south of the royal road and labelled using the early French classification “Temple d’étape”. It was noted that the sandstone blocks used in Pr. Trapeang Chambok has a low magnetic susceptibility similar to the sandstone found at Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and different from the sandstone typically used in the Angkor area, which has a higher magnetic susceptibility. Suggesting that the building materials for Pr. Trapeang Chambok were sourced from quarries surrounding Preah Khan of Kompong Svay rather than from the quarries at the southeastern foot of Mt. Kulen like other Temple d’étape.

• Consideration of the Construction Period of the Khmer Temples along the East Royal Road to Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and the Provenance of Sandstone Blocks Based on Their Magnetic Susceptibility, Uchida et al., 2013

Historical Notes

It’s not clear when the site was first recorded. It did not appear in the classical inventories by Aymonier and Lajonquiere but was known to French researchers in the 1960s-70s when plans of the site were drawn. Also see: Documents graphiques de la Conservation d’Angkor, 1963-1973.

Prasat Chombok was built near this causeway, but due to lack of indication of its exact position we cannot mention it and it has not been shown on map

Bruguier Bruno. Les ponts en pierre du Cambodge ancien . In: Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient. Tome 87 N°2,
2000.

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..