Wat Preah Vihear Luong (Oudong)

Contemporary monastery and pagoda located on the northwest foothill of Oudong Mountain in Kandal Province. The site has a heritage in the 19th century and has been restored in recent times. Different styles of sema pedestals seen around the site indicate that the pagoda we see today may have replaced an earlier vihara/pagoda.

The site also features a vote stupa, perhaps formed from Angkorian-era masonry whilst the Buddhas, at each cardinal direction, appear to be of the post-Angkorian style. (Images: Feb 2022 and Feb 2024). On visiting in Feb 2024, I noticed that some pieces of the remnants gathered around the stupa may have been from a large Buddha, also noting the pieces that look like fragments of a Buddha’s head at a small shrine on the east side of the pagoda. The two pieces at the said shrine, featuring the hair locks of the Buddha, appear to be from differing time periods.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap - Contact via [email protected] - more..