The Banteay site is an expansive area that is believed to be the royal palace of Jayavarman II (802–850 AD) in what is now known as once being the ancient capital, Mahendraparvata atop Phnom Kulen. While there are no visible remnants of the royal palace to be seen today bar some scattered brick debris, excavations … Read more
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
Rock carvings.
Also recorded as Moni Saom San Temple. It’s a contemporary pagoda built on the location of an ancient temple site. The contemporary pagoda, albeit showing some age, is quite beautiful and has its own interesting style compared to those in the area. Remains of the ancient site can be seen on the eastern side including … Read more
Rock carvings
Located partway up the south side of Kulen Mountain, Wat Preah Ang Choub features a highly revered ancient rock carving recorded as Peung Preah Chop. It is a functioning monastery and an important one, too; every year, thousands of monks gather here, coming from Thailand and as far as China. As mentioned, the site is … Read more
Cave rock carvings
Site of an ancient necropolis. There is a small museum here although unfortunately the key is not held locally. The discoveries made here were quite fascinating, illuminating an ancient culture that pre-dates even the oldest of the ancient temples. I’ll point to the informative research papers below and also the excellent museum in Banteay Meanchey … Read more
Sema Peam Kre is a very unique site in the context of the early Angkor located atop Kulen mountain near to and believed to be contemporaneous to the Banteay (Royal Palace) of Mahendraparvata around the 8-9th century. It is a very early Buddhist site featuring upright large carved stone slabs (sema stones) arranged to demarcate … Read more
Rock carvings in river bed
Location of ancient sema stone demarcated site (similar to Sema Peam Kre)
A mound, surrounded by rice fields, where brick and laterite remains were found (and still seen). A basin in the east named Ta Ros (Cisark)
Located north of Svay Leu and Peung Komnou, Ta Trachiek Veng, or Prasat Nakta Tracheak Thom, is a laterite terrace supporting a large stele with a representation of Ganesha in what may be Vigna Ganapati form.
Also known as Wat Phnom Bei, it’s located at the foothill of Phnom Kulen and to the northwest of Beng Mealea temple and features a contemporary pagoda located atop a natural rise with spectacular views across the massif of Kulen and the surrounding plains and hills. On an adjacent rise, an arrangement of rocks forming … Read more
A contemporary monastery and pagoda. The site was recorded in an inventory carried out by Boulbert & Dagens in the early 1970s as having the remains of a brick temple. Noting that 350m to the east are the remains of Khnap Temple.
Site of an ancient sandstone quarry
Laterite bridge (not in use). It’s located 1100m east-northeast of Wat Preah Bat Buon Than and around 150m north of the present-day road.