Wat Kampaeng

Also recorded as Wat Kampeng, located behind the monastery’s pagoda is an ancient square brick temple on a raised laterite base tightly surrounded by funerary stupas. The brick temple opens to the east with a short forebody with a sandstone doorframe where remnants of round brick columns are seen flanking the doorway which also has remnants of a decorated lintel above the door, formed in the brickwork. The sandstone doorframe carries an inscription left by a French institution, dated July 1922.

On the interior of the forebody, each side has a mortise, and also unusual, the doorway to the central temple narrows substantially before entering the central chamber. Inside today, a colorful Buddha statue, and in the north wall, a water spout that can be seen exiting the temple.

Around the sides, unusually tall false doors due to being without lintel or pediment with a tall false floor tapering in size while repeating the theme of the design. On the very top, spires can be seen. Remnants of rendering can also be seen.

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..