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
Also recorded as Prasat Daun Chan and Dong Chan, it is located around 400m to the southwest of the western entrance of Beng Mealea Temple. It features an outer laterite enclosure wall with a single cruciform entrance pavilion (gopura) on the eastern side and a single shrine with a library building in the southeast corner. … Read more
Also known as Chrey Temple, Prasat Chrey and even Prasat Chrek. It is sandstone temple with two libraries, outer wall with entry gopura, terrace (listed here), and basin. It is a feature of the ancient Royal Road network and one of the several structures that early French researchers would classify as “Temple d’étape” (waypoint or … Read more
Large cruciform sandstone terrace that was connected on the west side by a causeway to Pr. Chrey. At a guess, it is one meter or so in height, around 20 m long and 4 m wide running east-west, and similar running north-south making a cruciform shape. It features ornate decoration and molding typical of the … Read more
Along a stretch of the riverbed for around 500 m there are carvings of linga, several big and small yoni, and a large carving of Vishnu. Along the walls of the riverbed, a small carving is also seen in the bedrock. At the very southern end or the beginning of the carvings, there is also … Read more
Located atop Phnom Kulen, and often referred to as the Reclining Buddha, Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 meters (26 ft) tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana. The statue is carved into a huge natural sandstone boulder to which a modern staircase has been added along with a shelter over the … Read more
Recently restored, Kraham Temple, or the Red Temple (due to the color of bricks used), was originally a group of three temples built in the 9th century and aligned north-south while opening to the east. Today only the southern temple remains to be seen, with the middle temple no longer seen and the northern temple … Read more
Located south of Anlong Thom village atop Phnom Kulen south of Prasat Anlong Thom and north of Prasat Chrei and Bos Neak. All are along the same trail, on a north-south axis and all, unusually, open to the west. The tall square brick temple is mostly standing at least on three sides. Even in its … Read more
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
Prasat Rong Chen, or Rong Chen Temple, sits atop Kulen Mountain (Phnom Kulen) located around 60-70km north of Siem Reap and about 2 km southwest of the village of Anlong Thom. It is a fascinating and historically important site dating to the 9th century that is anecdotally touted as where the Khmer King Jayavarman II … Read more
Also known as Damrei Krab Temple (ប្រាសាទដំរីក្រាប) and Prasat Prasat Krabei Krab (Khmer: ប្រាសាទក្របីក្រាប). A group of three brick temples, aligned on a north-south axis and opening to the east. The central tower is in good condition (restored in recent times) and the side towers only partially standing. The site is further surrounded by remnants … Read more
Also known as Prasat Banteay Khchorng, it’s a ruinous but incredibly fascinating site with several unique features. It has an outer laterite wall enclosure that is divided into two sections. with one section containing a partially standing group of three brick temples and an eastern section containing unique elongated structures and a unique galleried gopura. … Read more
Also recorded as Chaw Srei Vibol, it is a unique temple site located along the ancient East Royal Road that leads from Angkor to Beng Melea and from there connects to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay and in another direction, Koh Ker, Neak Buos, and Wat Phu. The site was believed to have been constructed … Read more
Located around 5km southwest of Beng Mealea, Prasat Sam Yot features the remnants of what appears to be a late 10th-11th century temple. On visiting in late 2024, it was quite overgrown and appeared to be a single sandstone shrine that opened to the east with a forebody and had chambered false entrances around its … Read more
Remnants of a three-brick temple group. Note there are many temples sharing this name see Trapeang Run
Also known as Thma Dab Temple, it is a single brick sanctuary. It features amazingly ornate pilasters and friezes, lintels, and false floors all carved into the brickwork. Originally the temple would have been covered in stucco, which amazingly, remnants of which can still be seen. To the east of the site, some laterite steps … Read more
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
A temple site where all we see today is a mound of bricks surrounding the deposit well with what may be the outline of a larger laterite base. A broken linga pedestal sits atop the site.
Prasat Chup Chrei is a small ruinous brick temple that, unusually, opens to the west. A section of lintel can still be seen at the site. A short way away and you will find the more impressive Thma Dap Temple.
Located around 8km southwest of Beng Mealea, in Siem Reap province, it is an ancient temple complex also known as Prasat Sek Ta Tuy, Prasat Trapeang Thnal, while most locals will know it as Prasat Wat Prasat albeit there is no monastery. It’s an extraordinary site, at least in my mind, exhibiting precise craftsmanship and … Read more
Partial remains of a 9th-century brick temple. Amongst the great mass of brick rubble, a remaining part of the original structure can still be seen and a large gaping hole that would have been the central shrine and deposit well. An ancient pedestal can be seen only partly excavated along with a beautiful ornate round … Read more
Embankments related to the ancient hydraulic system of Phnom Kulen.
Remains of a small brick temple that featured a “library” building and an outer enclosure wall with an entrance to the north. Historical Photos (Taken around 1936 – property of EFEO – more at Fonds Cambodge)
Viewpoint located in the northeast of the Kulen plateau. (No archaeological remains)
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
Located north of Kulen Mountain in the commune of Kantout, the moated 10th-century temple site features the remains of three temples, “library” building, enclosed by a laterite wall with eastern gopura. Three inscriptions were registered from the site. The site is reasonably easy to reach (12/22) with a farm trail leading off the dirt road … Read more
Located to the northeast of Svay Leu district, Siem Reap, also recorded as Prasat Bangkouy West, it’s a standing sandstone temple with a “library”, and an outer wall with gopura on the east and west sides. It is a fascinating site, only partly cleared (01/23) that features some unique art features as well as sitting … Read more
Partially standing square brick temple
Sandstone quarry located in the area from the northwest corner of Prasat Beng Mealea at the foot of the Phnom Kulen.
