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.
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 under many names inc. Trapeang Phtol and Chankiry Temple, its is the partially standing remains of a large temple site that featured enclosure wall with gopura with a square central shrine. The site is quite interesting, for several reasons including featuring a mixed of brick, sandstone and laterite in its construction and also … 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 ruinous but fascinating site that was once three brick temples with a library building. The temples are raised higher than normal with ascending staircases and traces of ornate carvings can be seen to indicate this would have been a very special and ornate temple site. They are all collapsed, but the base structures are … Read more
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 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 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
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.
Rock shelter with carvings. Remains of laterite blocks.
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)
Origin (on the north slope of Phnom Veak) of a Sumedha hermit (the young Buddha) sculpture that now resides in the Angkor National Museum of Siem Reap.
Viewpoint located in the northeast of the Kulen plateau. (No archaeological remains)
Scant remains of a brick temple
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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