Attributable to Cambodia’s 12-13th century, “Firehouses” or “House of Fire” can be found dotted along the ancient royal roads that connected Angkor with Phimai, and from Angkor to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. Also known as Dharmasala or Vahnigriha they often coincided with water basins, and, another temple type that researchers would label Temple d’etape, perhaps forming a larger rest/staging area along the ancient routes. An inscription at Preah Khan notes there being 121 located along three routes (Also see Hendrickson 2010, Finot 1925).
For our journeys along the ancient road and around Cambodia see Tour journals and the new book, Ancient Cambodia.
Located inside the enclosure of Banteay Chhmar Temple are the remains of a “firehouse“, a structure that was typically placed along the ancient Khmer road network as a temple that coincided with a rest area for pilgrims and travellers. It is located on the east side of the temple proper. Its state of decay is … Read more
Located inside the outer enclosure of Ta Prohm and preceding the first moat on the eastern side is a single sandstone building which is referred to as a Firehouse, or in some literature as a Dharmasala. In either respect, these firehouses were an important feature along the ancient royal road network. This particular one being … Read more
Prohm Kel Temple is located in Cheung Tien Village of Oddar Meanchey Province, approximately 35 km from Samrong City and about 700 meters north of the largest ancient bridge in Cambodia, Spean Toap. The temple was listed in French research documents more than a hundred years ago. Prohm Kel Temple was built on flat land … Read more
Prasat Kansaeng, or Kuk Top Thom, is located inside the moat and in the southwest quadrant of Beng Mealea Temple’s large grounds. It is what’s known as a “firehouse” or “Vahnigriha” that was a feature along the East Road. Outside of those in Angkor, it is the first standing firehouse as we head east out … Read more
Also known as Prasat Teap Chei or Prasat Toap Chey Toch, it is a “resthouse” or “firehouse” that was a feature along the ancient East & Northwest Royal Road. It is currently kept cleared and there is a foot trail connecting to the nearby Toap Chey Thom. Images 2024 Images 2021 Historical Notes The neighbouring site of … Read more
Also known as Sampov Temple and Prasat Sampeou (ប្រាសាទសំពៅ), it is located 22km northwest of Siem Reap and 16km northwest of Angkor Wat. It was built in the era of King Jayavarman VII (reign 1181–1218 AD). It is one of the many “firehouses” that lined the northwest Royal Road leading from Angkor Thom to Prasat … 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
Site features the ruinous remains of a laterite building known to be one of the many firehouse/resthouses that were built along the ancient road. The site is heavily overgrown (03/22) but its typical shape is easily noticeable, a tower with a forebody/hall leading east and a series of windows in the southern wall. There are … Read more
Prasat Kok Mon is another of the many “firehouse” that lined the ancient roads of the Khmer Empire acting as the temple of a larger resting area. Sharing the same basic layout as other “firehouses” this one is constructed of laterite with three sandstone framed windows in its south wall. The temple has several curiosities … Read more
Prasat Ta En is a very ruinous “firehouse“, which was a common feature along the east and northwest roads of the ancient royal road network. It is believed that they were part of a larger resting place for travellers and pilgrims. It sits 60-100m north of where the ancient East Road once connected Beng Mealea to … Read more
Located in Preah Vihear province, about 15km west of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, Prasat Supheap Cheung is recorded as a “Firehouse”, labelled as Dharmacala by early French research and later Vahnigriha according to the inscription. They were shrines added to the ancient Royal Road network around the 12-13th century during the time of Jayavarman VII, … Read more
Prasat Ampil is the remains of “firehouse” (read more here) constructed from laterite featuring a tall tower extending to the east with a hall featuring three windows on its southern side and none on the north. The tower still retains its sandstone crown piece in situ. There is also a basin and the site is … Read more
