Angkor Thom is one of the most popular areas in the Angkor Archeological Park located minutes to the northeast of Angkor Wat and around 15 mins from Siem Reap city. Angkor Thom, literally: “Great City”, contains several of the must-see temples and ancient sites including Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper … Read more
The south gate of Angkor Thom is a very famous spot within Angkor Archeological Park and one that shouldn’t be missed. Standing on the causeway, and admiring the sheer scale, as you find yourself drifting back in time to imagine how it must have felt to approach this spectacular city in its heydey is quite … Read more
Thvear Chey, or Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, is one of the five gates of Angkor Thom, located on the eastern side and north of the Gate of the Dead. Interestingly, the other four gates are located on cardinal points having a particular symmetry from an overall design based on Hindu beliefs. Victory gate, however, … Read more
Prasat Angkor Wat, or Angkor Wat Temple, is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, featuring a spectacular moat that encloses temple grounds with grand entrances and causeways leading to the massive multi-level, multi-towered ornate sandstone temple. It’s the main attraction of the massive Angkor Archaeological Park of Siem Reap and the nation … Read more
Prasat Banteay Ampil located some 40km east of Angkor Wat, along the ancient East Road and around 20km east from Chau Srei Vibol Temple. It is incredibly well preserved and is still in its original state, mostly unrestored bar minor preservation works and structural supports. It sits on the north side of the ancient road, … Read more
Banteay Samre, or Banteay Samrae, is perhaps one of the most beautiful of the smaller ancient temple sites almost rivalling the popular Banteay Srei site. It was built in the early 11th century as a Hindu temple under the reign of King Suryavarman II (reign 1113 – c.1150 AD) and later completed by King Yasovarman … Read more
Beng Mealea (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា), is one of the ancient Khmer Empires’ larger temple complexes and is located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor Archeological Park along the ancient royal highway that led to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. According to the architectural style, similar to that of Angkor Wat, it … Read more
Located in Pring Thom Commune of Choam Khsan district, Prasat Chaeng Meng (also recorded as Prasat Chengmeng) is the remains of a partially standing small, square laterite temple. The temple featured a short hall or mandapa leading east with sandstone doorframes. Sandstone doorframes were also seen on the false doors of the other sides. Remains … Read more
Chan Ta Uon Temple (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចាន់តាអួន), or Prasat Prei, is located about 800 meters northwest of the walls of Angkor Thom, located in Nokor Krao village, Kork Chak commune, Siem Reap. It is one of 102 ‘hospitals’ built during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The temple was built in the … Read more
Chau Say Tevoda (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចៅសាយទេវតា) is a temple at Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap Cambodia. It is located just east of Angkor Thom before the Victory Gate and directly opposite Thommanon Temple. Chau Say Tevoda is often overlooked on a tour of the temples which is a shame, as it is, in my mind at least, … Read more
Prasat Khnar Makhop, located in Phum Penh Commune of Kulean District, Preah Vihear Province is recorded by Inscribed stele registered under K 667 as being one of the many hospital chapels. It has a generic layout as seen with others being a single sandstone tower, square, with a short hall leading east, “library” building in … Read more
Krol Ko Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was built at the end of the 12th century, in Bayon style, under the rule of king Jayavarman VII (reign 1181–1218 AD). To its south is the famous Neak Pean island temple of the Jaytataka Baray. The ancient … Read more
A cruciform-shaped sandstone temple with a basin in the northeast corner that, according to an inscription at the site, is one of the Hospital Chapels of the Jayavarman VII era. Inscriptions found here were registered under K 155 (the “hospital” stele), K 435 (recorded from a doorframe), and K 482 (on the doorframe in situ). … Read more
Located west of Ta Keo temple, it is one of the many ‘hospital chapels’ built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. The site layout is typical of that construction type featuring a single sandstone temple with a false story superstructure, a hall/mandapa extending east, and then, enclosed by an outer wall with entrance gopura. … Read more
Constructed during the era of king Jayavarman VII (reign 1181-1218 AD), Neak Pean (or Neak Poun) is one of the most mysterious, and unique temples, of the Angkorian Empire. Located on a man-made island at the center of a massive baray (lake), hidden amongst the dense woods is a very special Buddhist temple. Rising from … Read more
One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thom’s outer wall. Located on the northeast corner, this one is a small but ornate sandstone temple featuring a small sandstone building (stele shelter) to the east which housed a stele with an inscription (registered as K.547). The inscription on the stele features … Read more
One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thoms outer wall, this one is located on the northwest corner. You can walk to the site along the top of Angkor Thoms outer wall starting from either Angkor Thom’s north or west gate. The trail is suitable for walking and on foot … Read more
One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thom’s outer wall. This one is located on the southeast corner. You can reach the site by a 20 min walk along the top of the wall from the south gate of Angkor Thom. It is also a place where you can watch … Read more
One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thoms outer wall. This one is located on the southwest corner. This is the perhaps most beautiful of all of the “prasat chrungs” and can be a popular spot mostly only known to locals. It offers beautiful views over the moat and a … Read more
Also recorded as Athvea, or Prasat Wat Athvear, it is a 12th-century ancient temple with an active Buddhist pagoda and monastery adjacent to the walled ancient structure. Originally a Hindu temple, the ancient temple’s design, and the distinctive style of its devata/Apsara (sacred female images), indicate that it was originally built during the reign of … Read more
Also recorded as Chaktomuk Temple/Prasat Chatumuk (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចតុមុខ), the site was cleared by Henri Mauger in 1939 revealing the base and ruins of the massive four-sided Buddha statue. At the time, “a number” of small sculptures were found by its base, two of which were recorded as being lodged with the Albert Sarraut Museum (PP … Read more
[Updated 2024] – Originally recorded as Nagara Jayasri (holy city of victory), Preah Khan is a large and grand ancient temple at Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap. It was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Jayavarman VII (reign 1181-1218 AD) to honour his father, who built the nearby Ta Prohm to … Read more
Kor Sak Temple, or Preah Pithu T, is located in Angkor Thom and is one of the five temples that make up what is known as Preah Pithu Group which are located to the northeast of the ancient Royal Palace. The ancient temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu, opening to the west with a large … Read more
Preah Pithu U, or Chorm Temple, is a small sandstone temple, surrounded by a wall and sharing an “island” created by an outer moat with Preah Pithu T (Kor Sak Temple). The outer wall, with entrances at each cardinal point, leads to the small cruciform shaped temple that rises up on a stepped base. Featuring … Read more
Preah Pithu V, or Duan Mea Temple, is an early 12th Century Hindu temple located in Angkor Thom. It is part of what is known as the Preah Pithu Group which references five temples that are clustered together, although, not necessarily constructed at the same time. The site does not feature a foundation inscription and … Read more
Preah Pithu Y, or Kandork Yeak Temple, is a 12th-century sandstone temple located in Angkor Thom. It was originally dedicated to Vishnu. It is one of the five temples in the Preah Pithu Group and differs greatly from the other four in many ways. Similar though is the fact that it sits atop a large … Read more
Located in Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap, Ta Nei is a late 12th-century sandstone temple attributed to the Buddhist king, Jayavarman VII. Highlights of the site are its several impressive pediments, devata bas-reliefs, and its peaceful charm in a secluded location away from the crowds. Layout The site is constructed on an east-west axis and … Read more
Ta Prohm Kel Temple (ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្មកិល) is located near the main gate to Angkor Wat. Ta Prohm Kel was one of the 102 ‘hospital chapels’ built across the empire under the rule of king Jayavarman VII who reigned from 1181–1218 AD. Note: Not to be confused with the much larger Ta Prohm Temple. The sanctuary opened … Read more
Ta Som (Khmer: ប្រាសាទតាសោម) is located just east of the Jayatataka Baray inside Angkor Archaeological Park. Whilst being one of the smaller temples it’s still highly recommended to visit. It was built during the 12th century under the reign of Buddhist King Jayavarman VII and you will surely see the likeness to other temples of … Read more
The Terrace of the Elephants (Khmer: ព្រះលានជល់ដំរី) is one of the many iconic constructions of the Khmer Empire and a key highlight within the walled city of Angkor Thom. The long terrace, also known in some records as the Terrace of Honor, fronts the Royal Palace and has an entrance that once joined a causeway … Read more