MH
Thma Dap Temple
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
Peung Moha Eisei Temple (Phnom Kulen)
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
Prasat Rup Arak
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
Anlong Thom Temple
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
Bos Neak Temple
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
Peung Menoi
Rock shelter with carvings. Remains of laterite blocks.
Trapeang Roung Temple
Partially standing brick temple
Sasar Sdam Temple (Damdaek)
An ancient site that was once something a little unique within the context of the Khmer Empire, while the site is no longer standing and heavily overgrown, it’s thankfully preserved. Early French notes report the remains of an “unprecedented vestige” built of brick on a laterite foundation. They recorded it as measuring 8 m in … Read more
Vat Prasat (Prasat Sek Ta Tuy)
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
Angkor Thom South Gate
The south gate of Angkor Thom is a very famous spot within Angkor Archeological Park and one that shouldn’t be missed. Standing on the causeway, and admiring the sheer scale, as you find yourself drifting back in time to imagine how it must have felt to approach this spectacular city in its heydey is quite … Read more
Angkor Thom East Gate – (Gate of the Dead)
Angkor Thom East Gate, or Thvear Khnoch/Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead), is one of the five gates that lead through the walls of Angkor Thom. It is a rarely visited site that is approached from Bayon temple via a dirt trail. That said, of all the gates this one certainly has a character and … Read more
Angkor Thom North Gate
Angkor Thom North Gate, or Dei Chhnang Gate, is one of the five gates (gopura) for entering Angkor Thom. It is similar to the other gates featuring the massive gopura with monumental smiling faces at each cardinal point. As per the other gates, South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kav), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), … Read more
Angkor Thom West Gate
Angkor Thom West Gate (also recorded as Ta Kav Gate, TaKaov, Thvear Ta Keo) is one of the five ancient gates allowing entry into Angkor Thom. The other gates are the South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), North Gate (Thvear Ta Nok), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), and East Gate (Gate of the Dead or Thvear Khnoch). … Read more
Terrace of the Elephants – Layout, History & Hidden Quirks
The Terrace of the Elephants (Khmer: ព្រះលានជល់ដំរី) is one of the many iconic constructions of the Khmer Empire and a key highlight within the walled city of Angkor Thom. The long terrace, also known in some records as the Terrace of Honor, fronts the Royal Palace and has an entrance that once joined a causeway … Read more
Kapilapura
Kapilapura is located northeast of Angkor Wat and you can reach the site by foot or bike by following the dirt trail around the north side of the outer moat towards the northeast corner where you’ll notice a trail heading north following that for just a minute or two. The site included a brick temple … Read more
Ong Mong Temple
A late 9th-century “Yasodharacrama”, or “Hermitage of Yashovarman”, this one dedicated to Buddhism. During the reign of King Yasovarman (889 – 910 AD) it was recorded that one hundred acrama (asrama, ashram, ashrama) were built for the study of various religious sects and other functions. What remains standing to be seen today at the Ong … Read more
Banteay Srei Temple – History & Highlights
Banteay Srei Temple (or Prasat Banteay Srey) is one of the most beautiful ancient temples to be found in Asia, set amongst the charming village and farmlands just below the Kulen Mountain range, it features stunning and well-preserved narrated bas-reliefs plus ornate decoration from when craftmanship in the ancient empire was reaching its zenith. The … Read more
Koki Temple
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
Khting Slap Temple
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)
Chamrieng Temple
Also known as Chamreang Temple. Mostly standing rectangular laterite temple, opening to the east and originally surrounded by a moat. It is located near to Damdek, and 500 m north of the RN6 and what was a section of the anceint Royal Road from Angkor to Andet/Sambor Prei Kuk. Just to the south is another … Read more
Banteay Srei Temple (Damdek)
A small but very charming site located in Damdek to the west of Siem Reap and not to be confused with the larger Banteay Srei located north of Siem Reap. Albeit ruinous and having only partial restoration, the site is a must-see if you are traveling out that way. It is reported as being Khleang … Read more
Wat Lom Proleung
A contemporary monastery also recorded as Wat Loam Proleung (វត្តលោមព្រលឹង) and Wat Lorm Brolerng. It was built on an ancient site according to reports while the existing pagoda and stupas we see today may likely date back 100 years or so. The site also features unique sema stones demarcating the inner space of the pagoda. … Read more
Wat Kok Khpuos
Monastery (Wat Kork Kphos – វត្តគោកខ្ពស់) built where lintel, sculptures, and a stele with inscriptions (K. 754) were found. Note: other references indicate the stele may have come from Kok Svay Chek. The inscription is notable for being partly written in Pali (the first of such?) and referencing Theravada Buddhism around the 13th c. Inside … Read more
Trapeang Srangae
Also recorded as Sra Nge Temple and Prasat Srane. Remains of a group of three small square brick temples and a site where several inscriptions were retrieved plus an inscribed stele. A representation of Ardhanarishvara (composite male-female of Shiva and Parvati) and two representations of Ganesha were also found here. The three brick shrines open … Read more
Spean
Laterite blocks distributed on both sides of the roadway indicative of the presence of an old bridge.
O Thma Dap (Beng Mealea)
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
