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 Prasat Samrong, it is recognised as being one of the many “Hospital Chapels” built during the era of King Jayavarman VII (reign 1181–1218). It’s a remote site, located on the north side of Kulen Mountain south of the village of Khna. The site features a central shrine, constructed of laterite and remarkably … Read more
Also known as Tatuot Temple (ប្រាសាទតាទួត), or Prasat Ta Tort (ប្រាសាទ តាទ័ត្), it’s located north of Kulen Mountain and southeast of the village of Kantout. The temple site has a general location easily recognisable by the large basin that normally sits to the eastern side of a temple while in this case, the temple is … Read more
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.
Group of three ruinous temples constructed from sandstone, laterite, brick and featuring wall, ‘library’ building, and basin in the east. At the time of visiting (late 2021) the site was heavily overgrown and for some of the description, I’ll rely on that by Boulbert & Dagens who surveyed the site in the late 60s and … Read more
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
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 known as Khla Khmom Temple. Originally a group of three small brick temples with a “library” building and an outer brick wall with an entrance on the east. Remains of all the structures can still be seen but it is the central shrine that has held up the best. The central shrine features false … Read more
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
Wat Chas is a small monastery nearby the eastern cliff edge of Phnom Kulen providing spectacular views from several points over Svay Leu and the plains below. It might be an amazing sunrise spot too, but the monastery gates never seem to be open that early.
Contemporary monastery and pagoda located atop the southern edge of Phnom Kulen. The site features several stupas along with the natural wonder of the rocky terrain and extraordinary views over the plains below Phnom Kulen.
