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
Located southwest of Choam Khsant nearby a large and scenic water reservoir, Prasat Sema is the remains of a brick temple. What remains at the site today is a doorframe flanked by two ornately decorated door columns topped by an equally ornate lintel. The left doorframe carries an inscription in Khmer text. Around the site … Read more
A laterite temple that was one of the “firehouses”/Dharmacalas, or Gîte d’étape as the French researchers would call them, that were found along certain sections of the ancient road network. The temple is mostly collapsed bar part of the northern wall which retains some remnants of a sandstone lintel depicting worshippers. There is a large … Read more
Located on the contemporary monastery grounds of Wat Preah Neang, are the partially standing remains of a laterite temple that once featured, a “library”, an outer enclosure wall, and a permanent basin. Of the ancient site, all that remains is a collection of laterite blocks underneath trees beside the modern stupa I’ll get to in … Read more
Located just north of the main road and fronted by a large basin to its east, Prasat Si Liem was only briefly mentioned in early French reports of the 1900s but seemingly recent excavations have revealed there’s much more to it. The site is encapsulated by shrubbery making it difficult to navigate. The first image … Read more
Monastery of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, the inner gallery is covered with murals depicting the Ramayana. The main temple (Silver Pagoda) houses the Emerald Buddha. The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace in Chey Chumneas, Phnom Penh. The official name is Wat Ubaosoth Ratanaram (Khmer: វត្តឧបោសថរតនារាម), also … Read more
A small permanent basin 20 m x 20 m and 1-2 m deep (at a guess) lined with laterite and sandstone capping. Interestingly it is located atop what could be inferred as an island surrounded by canalisation. There are also odd pieces of stone around the southern side and 50 m to the southeast is … Read more
Scant remnants of what was reported as three brick temples with only brick rubble and several laterite blocks remaining to be seen. The site featured a moat and a large basin on its eastern side (Trapeang Smonh).
Also known as Baymet, Baymat, or Baimiet Temple (same as the name of the village). Wrapped in thorny overgrowth it’s difficult to determine much about its layout (06/21) bar sneaking a peek through to see a false door on one side, an entry on the other, and an array of tumbled laterite pieces. Cisark notes … Read more
Also referred to as Prasat Snoeng Khang Khaeut, it is the remains of a standing three brick temple group. The site is located 200m east of Snoeng West Temple, noting the obvious that they are from differing eras. The temples are aligned on a north-south axis and open to the east sharing a common terrace. … Read more
Also referred to as Prasat Snoeng Khang Lech, it is the remains of a sandstone temple. The site is located right by the roadway and fronting the monastery features a doorway opening to the east with a short forebody repeated around the other 3 sides with false doors. What makes it worth traveling to the … Read more
Also recorded as Prasat Sing. Engulfed by the waters of its own basin, on our visit in Aug 2024, a local suggested to come back in the dry season. Nearby is small community hall which retains a sandstone pedestal from the site. Historical Notes Translated from French. From Inventaire descriptif Monuments du Cambodge, E. Lajonquiere, … Read more
Ancient walled site located beside a contemporary monastery. The walled site is not large, around 25 m x 35 m long with a sandstone doorframe still standing on the east and a large opening on the west which may well be a later modification. The temple itself is no longer to be seen bar a … Read more
The south gate (gopura) of the third enclosure of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay is similar to that of the north, east and west, featuring three towers offering a large central entrance flanked by lesser entries on either side. To its south, a grand causeway that’s lined with sandstone and carved with reliefs of Hamsa … Read more
Located in Angkor Thom flanking the causeway that leads to the ancient Royal Palace from the Gate of Victory, the South Khleang is mirrored to its north by the North Khleang and fronted by the stunning towers collectively known as Sour Prat. Whilst it mirrors the North Khleang in location and style the two have … Read more
Also recorded as Prasat Snaeng Krâbei Khang Tbong, it’s a group of three ancient brick temples, all aligned on a north-south axis of an elevated common platform. All three open to the east and feature sandstone doorframes with decorated sandstone base molding. They featured at least three false levels, reducing in size as the rose … Read more
A laterite bridge (not in use) with 11 arches measuring approximately 30 m long, 10 m wide, and 2.5 m high. Located along the ancient Royal Road and just within the grounds of Phokeethra Country Club.
Laterite bridge measuring 15 meters long and 8 meters wide according to Cisark, what can be seen appears as 2-3 m wide and 10 m or so long but it is overgrown and possibly partly buried.
Laterite bridge recorded as measuring 30 meters long and 6 meters wide, as at 06/21, it is heavily overgrown but a path does cut through the shrub to where a section of the bridge appears to have collapsed.
A laterite bridge that is around 9m wide with remains extending lengthwise for around 26m, while there are scant remains, it may have been originally around 45-50m long. It runs north-south and crossed the old Siem Reap river. It would not seem necessarily related to the ancient road network of the empire and with the … Read more
Ancient laterite bridge with remnants of the sandstone naga balustrade still seen. The local trail diverts south around the bridge currently (late 2021). It uses post and lintel construction and is in very good condition. Oddly, there are large laterite blocks scattered about 15 m to the southwest.
On looking for this bridge we came across a collection of laterite blocks that may or may not have been from the bridge. Speaking to an older local of the area, he remembers the bridge as having collapsed with some of its remnants having been taken away.
Remnants of laterite blocks and a fragmented and uncompleted carving of the bull, Nandin.
An ancient laterite bridge that is recorded as 89 m long. The bridge is still in use today by local traffic and has even been sealed over in bitumen while water no longer passes underneath with its arches completely buried. At the eastern end, a laterite naga end-piece still stands.
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.
Also recorded as Spean Memay measuring 35 meters long and 9 meters wide. There are several bridges sharing the name “khmeng” and “memay”, see more of the ancient road network and bridges here and here. Today, the trail to the site leads around its eastern side whilst a full view of the bridge can be had from its … Read more
Located just east of Beng Mealea, it’s a small ancient bridge that is still in use today and, quite amazingly, holding up to today’s heavy vehicles. It has been sealed over with bitumen and goes completely unnoticed apart from the locals who live on either side. It’s quite small, only around 13-15 m long and … Read more
