A list of ancient sites and temples, with map, located on and around the Phnom Kulen Mountain range. Local guides are a must for sites in this area.
See here for sites on the actual Phnom Kulen mountain. For visiting sites on Phnom Kulen you will need to purchase a ticket (available at City Hotel or mountain entrance) and enlist the services of a local guide via Analong Thom CBTC.
Located atop the beautiful Kulen Mountain and is the first temple in what is a closely grouped set of sites on the eastern side of the mountain just south of the village of Anlong Thom. Interestingly, each of the sites in this grouping is open to the west. It is almost completely in ruin and … Read more
A group of at least three ruinous brick temples that are partially standing. It appears to have featured an entry gopura on the east, an outer wall, and perhaps other structures which are hard to determine from the rubble that remains. Nearby is a kneeling elephant statue.
Also recorded as Prasat East Angkouy, it’s the remains of a group of three temples constructed from laterite and brick with sandstone elements. Features “library” and an outer wall with gopura. It is located a short distance east of Bangkuoy Khang Lech Temple. On visiting in mid-January, and noting the overgrowth, I’ll return to the … 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
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
Prasat Bos Neak is located atop Phnom Kulen, south of Anlong Thom village, south of Prasat Neak Ta on the trail fork that comes off the main trail heading to Damrei Krap and Srah Damrei. It is part of a group of temples, Anlong Thom, Prasat Neak Ta, Prasat Crei, all orientated on a similar … Read more
Also known as Choub Temple or Prasat Job. Located just above a river, sadly there is not much remaining to be seen apart from some part-buried blocks and bricks. Just south is a shallow but wide cave where a kind of pedestal can be seen, see images below. ប្រាសាទជប់ – ប្រាសាទជប់កសាងអំពីឥដ្ឋប – នះមានលក្ខណៈពិសេសដោយបានកស រភេទនេះជាប្រភេទសំណង់ដ៏កម្រ ដោយ … Read more
Prasat Chrei (not to be confused with Chup Chrei which is further to the south) is located atop Phnom Kulen, south of Anlong Thom village, south of Prasat Neak Ta and north of Bos Neak Temple. It is part of a group of temples, Anlong Thom, Prasat Neak Ta, Bos Neak, all orientated on a … Read more
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.
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
The ancient site of Kbal Spean is a section of the river whose waters flow over the natural stone bedrock which has been abundantly sculpted, in particular with linga, but also with gods of the Hindu pantheon including Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Uma and other deities. The riverbed even features small basins whose walls were also … Read more
A group of three ruinous temples open to the east with false doors on the other sides. The center tower is brick while the north tower is of laterite construction and the southern tower no longer exists. Both the existing towers open to the east and the brick tower has false doors on its other … Read more
The kneeling elephant sculpture is also recorded as Damrei Krap. Not to be mistaken with the temple of the same name that lies some way further to the east, here nor the monolithic elephant of Srah Damrei. The trail here is reasonable and passes through a small village community. A little further along the trail, … 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
Located on the north side of Kulen Mountain in Svay Leu District, it’s also known as Khlong Ka (or Khluń Kar), Ta Nhan, and Prasat Yoni. It is believed to be a 12th c temple although there is no inscription or even architectural decoration to help determine its era. It’s a single shrine, rectangular, built … Read more
Remains of a group of three brick temples with a long “library” immediately fronting the south tower which is preceded by the remains of an entrance gopura, a moat, and then another large laterite gopura which may have joined to a wall but little remains of such are seen. While the site is quite ruinous, … 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 on the northern side of Phnom Kulen in Svay Leu district, and also known as Prasat Kro Nhung, it is the remains of a brick temple with two laterite annex buildings, with an outer enclosure wall with gopura on the east side, a moat, and a large basin in the northeast. On visiting the … Read more
Located atop Kulen Mountain adjacent to the popular waterfall, as far as I know, Prasat Kraol Romeas is Cambodia’s only temple that has a river running through it. While the majority of the temple site is located on the eastern side of the river, there are remains of the outer enclosure wall found on the … Read more
Also known as Tob Temple and signposted as Rup Arak which is a name also given to the temple site further to the west on this same route. It is a single brick temple attributed to the 9th century.
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.
An ancient temple site where all that remains are mounds of bricks, what may be the central well of the temple, and long sandstone plinths. There are two other sites just north in a very similar state.
Located just north of Phnom Bok, Prasat Leak Neang features a tall square brick temple that was the central tower of what was intended to be a group of three. Fascinatingly, only two sandstone false doors remain standing representing what was the northern tower and the southern tower has no remains. They shared a laterite … 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 known as Prasat Neang Kong Rey. Mostly fallen remains of a central brick temple with four annex buildings, an outer enclosure wall with an entrance gopura, and basins in the northeast (according to records). The site retains a large number of remnants including decorated door columns, pedestals, and base molding pieces. The site is … 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
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 atop Phnom Kulen and a few minutes west of Anlong Thom village, O’Chup Thnal Campsite is run by the local community and the Anglong Thom CBTC. The site is located by a freshwater stream with sandy banks offering a great place to swim and relax. They have also set up some basic tables, tarpaulins, … Read more
Located west of Anlong Thom village and north of the main road, Peam Kre features two partially standing brick temples. They are aligned on a north-south axis and open to the east. One of the shrines rose up on a seemingly pyramidal base of decent proportions while the other sat a little lower making for … Read more
