Kulen

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.

Phnom Bei

Sandstone quarry located in the area from the northwest corner of Prasat Beng Mealea at the foot of the Phnom Kulen.

Changha Temple

Partially standing remains of a laterite temple, with “library” building and outer wall. Moat. (source: Cisark)

Trapeang Veng

A large mound with mass of brick debris, near Trung Khla Khmum Temple.

Balang Temple

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.

Phnom Veak Temple

Also known as Prasat Phnom Preah Tevakh, the ancient temple is located atop the low mountain with one tall tower built atop a stepped laterite base which also appears as it may have once led to stairs down the mountain on its easter side. The tower is constructed mostly of laterite although a lot of … Read more

Peam Kre Temple (Phnom Kulen)

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

Phnom Hap Temple

Also known as Kom Nob Temple (ប្រាសាទ ភ្នំកំណប់), it’s located atop a small mountain of the same name, Phnom Hap, that lies to the southwest of Phnom Kulen and south of Kbal Spean. At the base of the mountain, on its northeastern side, a Buddhist monastery (wat) provides access to the trail leading up to … Read more

Ta Iem Temple (Sre Yem)

Located in Svay Leu on the farming plains below Kulen Mountain, Prasat Ta Iem (on Google Maps as Prasat Ta Tiep and other notes as Sre Yem) features an outer moat, laterite walled enclosure with an entrance on the east leading to a single brick tower. The site is also recorded as Srae Yem and … Read more

Kbal Spean – Visiting Info, Layout, History & 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

Banteay (Phnom Kulen)

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

Peung Tbal (Phnom Kulen)

Located atop Phnom Kulen and southwest of the village of Anlong Thom, it’s also recorded as Poeng Tbal. A fascinating scenic site with natural rock massifs featuring ancient carvings all sitting at the edge of a natural gulley that is believed to have been developed into a reservoir during ancient times. The groups of rock … Read more

Wat Preah Ang Choub

Located partway up the south side of Kulen Mountain, Wat Preah Ang Choub features a highly revered ancient rock carving recorded as Peung Preah Chop. It is a functioning monastery and an important one, too; every year, thousands of monks gather here, coming from Thailand and as far as China. As mentioned, the site is … Read more

Sema Peam Kre

Sema Peam Kre is a very unique site in the context of the early Angkor located atop Kulen mountain near to and believed to be contemporaneous to the Banteay (Royal Palace) of Mahendraparvata around the 8-9th century. It is a very early Buddhist site featuring upright large carved stone slabs (sema stones) arranged to demarcate … Read more

Sema Don Meas

Location of ancient sema stone demarcated site (similar to Sema Peam Kre)

Ta Trachiek Veng

Located north of Svay Leu and Peung Komnou, Ta Trachiek Veng, or Prasat Nakta Tracheak Thom, is a laterite terrace supporting a large stele with a representation of Ganesha in what may be Vigna Ganapati form.

Preah Bat Phnom Bei

Also known as Wat Phnom Bei, it’s located at the foothill of Phnom Kulen and to the northwest of Beng Mealea temple and features a contemporary pagoda located atop a natural rise with spectacular views across the massif of Kulen and the surrounding plains and hills. On an adjacent rise, an arrangement of rocks forming … Read more

Wat Tbaeng (Banteay Srei District)

A contemporary monastery and pagoda. The site was recorded in an inventory carried out by Boulbert & Dagens in the early 1970s as having the remains of a brick temple. Noting that 350m to the east are the remains of Khnap Temple.