Wat Soamanoas 

A contemporary monastery and a very beautiful pagoda located just to the southeast of Wat Phnom Ek and around 7km north of central Battambang city on the west bank of the Prek Daun Teav (Daun Teav stream). It was built in the Battambang style of the late 1800s to mid-1900s. Inside, it features beautiful classical-style painted murals on its internal walls and embossed murals in niches of its outer walls. It also houses several remnants from an ancient temple site including a pink sandstone lintel that may date to around the 11th century, and a sandstone pedestal.

Sandstone lintel and pedestal from an ancient temple site. It’s interesting that the lintel is carved from pink sandstone, and where that sandstone may have originated from.

Even the salaa (auxiliary buildings) are quite something

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..