Wat Preaek Luong

A small, contemporary monastery and pagoda located just east of the Sangker River, around 8km north of central Battambang city. The site houses a collection of remnants from an ancient temple. The pagoda may date to around the mid-late 1900s and apparently, features some beautiful and interesting murals on its internal walls as noted by Visethka Kry here, although sadly for us, it was locked on our last visit.

The ancient remnants are collected around the edge of the small pond on the north side of the pagoda and around a tree. It’s a mixture of sandstone and laterite blocks, without any decorative carving. Many of the blocks have architectural relief and holes used for inserting bamboo shafts that are used for carrying and working the masonry. One block has some detailed lines, but is stucco over brick and *may* be a remnant from the vihara that preceded the pagoda we see today.

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..