Ancient Remains & Temples

O Chheu Teal Toch Temple

Located on the western side of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, it’s the partially standing remains of a laterite temple. Also recorded as Trapeang Angkrong Temple (ប្រាសាទត្រពាំងអង្គ្រង).

Also known as Prasat Kaek, it’s a small 9th-century brick temple located near Bakong Temple, Bakong District, Siem Reap. Featuring an open doorway to the east and sandstone false doorways on each other side. Amazingly, on one of the false doors, you can still see remnants of the stucco decoration. Other remnants at the front … Read more

O Pha-ong Temple (Phnom Kulen)

Also recorded as Aur Pha On, O Phaong, Neak Ta, and Andong Temple. Prasat O Pha-ong is a tall square brick temple on a raised brick terrace. It opens to the east and features three false floors, decreasing in size with each step up, also featuring “mini-prasats” at each corner. Rather than carved elements, it … Read more

O Spean Daek

An ancient laterite bridge that is slowly becoming surrounded by new developments. A new channel that diverts around the ancient bridge has almost turned the site into an island. The “island” is heavily overgrown and not cleared for visiting (2021) make it through the scrub and some of the arches can still be seen from … Read more

O Thma Dap (Beng Mealea)

There is a sandstone quarry just north of Prasat Beng Mealea that forms part of a river bed. It is quite fascinating to see where the temple originated and the clear lines of where large blocks of sandstone would have been chiselled. It’s also a nice spot to relax, as many do. This creek continues … Read more

O’Chup Thnal Campsite (Phnom Kulen)

Located atop Phnom Kulen and a few minutes west of Anlong Thom village, O’Chup Thnal Campsite is run by the local community and the Anglong Thom CBTC. The site is located by a freshwater stream with sandy banks offering a great place to swim and relax. They have also set up some basic tables, tarpaulins, … Read more

Oknha Klaeng Meung Shrine

A sacred place for many Cambodians who will stop by here to pray and relax in the beautiful grounds which feature several shrines, sculptures, water features. Klaeng Meung is revered as a military hero who, as legend has it, sacrificed his own life to enter the afterworld and raise an army of ghosts to fight … Read more

Ong Mong Temple

A late 9th-century “Yasodharacrama”, or “Hermitage of Yashovarman”, this one dedicated to Buddhism. During the reign of King Yasovarman (889 – 910 AD) it was recorded that one hundred acrama (asrama, ashram, ashrama) were built for the study of various religious sects and other functions. What remains standing to be seen today at the Ong … Read more

Oudong Mountain – Phnom Preah Reach Troap

Located around 40 km north of Phnom Penh in Kandal Province, Oudong became the capital of Cambodia after it shifted from nearby Longvek in 1618 and was the seat of power for over two centuries until around 1863 when it shifted to what is now Phnom Penh. The ancient capital once radiated out around the … Read more

Ov Lok Temple

Also known as Prasat Ov Laok, located east of Siem Reap and just west of Bakong and Preah Ko. A group of four temples, all in ruin, three of which were constructed of brick with sandstone door frames and one constructed in laterite, and all sharing a common base. Two inscriptions are registered here, K.807 … Read more

Peam Kre Temple (Phnom Kulen)

Located west of Anlong Thom village and north of the main road, Peam Kre features two partially standing brick temples. They are aligned on a north-south axis and open to the east. One of the shrines rose up on a seemingly pyramidal base of decent proportions while the other sat a little lower making for … Read more

Peung Chhat

Located on the north side of Phnom Kulen and south of the village of Kronhoung, at the foot of the mountain slope, it’s a spectacular rock monolith that tapers in at the bottom creating a rock shelter. This natural shelter has in ancient times been put to good use, featuring quite a well-executed rock carving … Read more

Peung Komnou

Located north of Wat Svay Leu and at the foothills of Phnom Kulen, Peung Komnou features stunning rock carvings. There are actually several separate carvings to see here on a group of rock monoliths. The trail leading to the site is suitable for moto/bike/hike although a vehicle could certainly make it part ways there. The … Read more

Peung Moha Eisei Temple (Phnom Kulen)

Located atop Phnom Kulen, it’s also known as Poeng Maha Eisei, or Pueng Aysey/Ey Sey along with other variants. Naming aside, it’s a small but incredibly scenic and atmospheric spot featuring rock carvings, ponds, and a small cell carved into a large rock with an opening that is framed and flanked by two deity carvings. … Read more

Peung Preah Put Kraom

Located on the north side of Phnom Kulen and south of the village of Kronhoung, there are numerous rock monoliths, many of which taper in at the bottom creating a natural shelter, it’s a fascinating place. This particular monolith appears to have been a hermit/ascetics lair, featuring several carvings and remnants of walls formed of … Read more

Peung Preah Thvear (Phnom Kulen)

Also recorded as Poeng Ta Roet, it’s a long alcove in the mountainside below Wat Chas featuring an inscription and carvings dating to the 10th/11th century. The figures include a group of figures commonly known as the Nine Deities seated atop their mounts (Vahana) beside which are two standing deities. One of the standing deities … Read more

Peung Tbal (Phnom Kulen)

Located atop Phnom Kulen and southwest of the village of Anlong Thom, it’s also recorded as Poeng Tbal. A fascinating scenic site with natural rock massifs featuring ancient carvings all sitting at the edge of a natural gulley that is believed to have been developed into a reservoir during ancient times. The groups of rock … Read more

Pheas Khang Kaeut Temple

Also known as Pheas Temple, it features the remains of three sandstone temples located on the present-day monastery site, Wat Pheas. The temples were built upon a rise provided by a common terrace aligned north-south with the three temples opening to the east. Of the three only two walls of the central tower are partially … Read more

Phimeanakas Temple

Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាស) is another of the grand pyramid-based state-temples that was the common archetype of the 8-11th century. Located inside the ancient Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, it is a grand three-tiered pyramid with a rectangular base whose corners are mounted with stone elephants and staircases flanked by lions which lead up to a … Read more

Phnom Bakheng – The Mountain Top Pyramid – History & Highlights

Bakheng Temple sits atop the 65m rise that carries the same name, Phnom Bakheng and looks across the plains below with Angkor Thom to its north and Angkor Wat to its southeast, both of which it predates by more than two centuries. It’s a monumental construction that followed the beliefs of the time and the … Read more

Phnom Banan Temple

Phnom Banan, also known as Wat Banan, is a must-see ancient site located around 20 km south of the city of Battambang. From its eastern side, a grand terrace platform with naga balustrade precedes a staircase flanked by lions rising 400m to the grand temple featuring five ancient ruinous towers, albeit not in a quincunx … Read more

Phnom Banteay Temple

Located along the ancient Royal Road that leads from Beng Mealea to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, Phnom Bantheay (as Google labels it) is located atop one of the hills that flank this ancient road on the Khvav-Preah Khan section. The site features an outer laterite wall with bell capping, opening to the east with … Read more

Phnom Barieng Temple

Located atop a hill about 15km to the northwest of Prasat Sambour Prei Kuk, Prasat Phnom Barieng features the remnants of very ancient brick temple group. A staircase on the northern side and road on the eastern side provide access up the hill where the remains of the temple are seen including two partially standing … Read more

Phnom Baset South

Located on the hilltop, a monastery, Chinese temple, and venerated remnants of an old stupa.

Phnom Bayang Temple

Located atop the mountain of the same name, Prasat Phnom Bayang features a large temple complex located atop a small plateau high up on the mountain, Phnom Bayang. Not only spectacular for its amazing location, architecture, and artwork, the site also provides an array of ancient inscriptions revealing its importance from the 7th century through … Read more

Phnom Bok – Highlights & History

Phnom Bok (Khmer: ភ្នំបូក) is a small mountain featuring an ancient temple of the same name that dates back to the 10th century. It is one of the several mountain temples built under the reign of King Yasorvarman, the others being Phnom Bakheng and Phnom Krom to which it shares the same layout and style. … Read more

Phnom Bros Bosknor

Also known by the monastery name, Wat Kiri Sophoan Phnom Tet Knong. The site features two pagodas, one of which is in stages of completion and is quite stunning featuring lots of Angkorian symbolism. Both of these are at the southern foot of the small mountain known as Phnom Bros Bosknor where stairs lead up … Read more

Phnom Bros, Phnom Srei, and Phnom Toch

The two mountains are located near to each other and are connected with local folklore, the Khmer Rouge era, and today as a scenic area for relaxing and enjoying views on offer, a kind of cultural tourism site. On Phnom Bros (or Phnom Pros) there is a large stupa, and pagoda in Angkorian style, along … Read more

Phnom Cheung Prei Temple

Also recorded as Phnom Thom by Lunet de Lajonquiere a name which seems to have been dropped in favor of the name of the mountain the temple resides on which is also the name of the district, Cheung Prei. The mountain area was developed into a kind of Buddhist-themed destination for tourists with a new … Read more

Phnom Chhngok Temple

Located around 12 km from Kampot, 25 km from Kep, and 140 km from Phnom Penh, Phnom Chhngok is a small mountain featuring a Buddhist temple on one side and on its western side a cave featuring an ancient temple dating to the 5th century Funan Era. From the site entrance on the western side … Read more