Henri Parmentier (1871-1949) continued on the earlier inventory works of ancient Cambodia by Aymonier and Lajonquiere, comprehensively documenting numerous temples and archaeological ruins. This inventory work was published within Complément à l’inventaire descriptif des monuments du Cambodge (1913), L’Art Khmer Primitif (1929), and L’Art Khmer Classique (1939). The map below presents the sites documented in those three works.
Prasat Preah Vihear is another of the great wonders of the Khmer Empire, a grand sandstone temple complex atop a 500 m cliff of the Dangrek Mountain range. Since July 7, 2008, it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A page update is in progress……… Getting there: From Siem Reap, you can … Read more
Also known as Kampong Kdei Bridge, Preah Toes Bridge, or Spean Kampong Kdei, it is a grand ancient laterite bridge measuring 86 m long and 14 m wide with 21 arches and topped by a sandstone balustrade with stunning ornamental naga. It received some restorative work in the 1920s and comprehensive restoration in the 1960s … Read more
Beng Mealea (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា) is one of the ancient Khmer Empires’ larger temple complexes and is located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor Archeological Park along the ancient royal highway that led to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. According to the architectural style, similar to that of Angkor Wat, it … Read more
Also recorded as Spean Ta Oak and Spean Ta Oung. It is an ancient laterite bridge measuring 63 m long, 12 m wide, and 7.3 m high featuring 14 arches, and is recorded as the largest bridge along the ancient East Royal Road that connected Angkor to Beng Mealea to Preah Khan (Kampong Svay) – … Read more
Also known as Prasat Teap Chei or Prasat Toap Chey Toch, it is a “resthouse” or “firehouse” that was a feature along the ancient East & Northwest Royal Road. It is currently kept cleared and there is a foot trail connecting to the nearby Toap Chey Thom. Images 2024 Images 2021 Historical Notes The neighbouring site of … Read more
Bayon Temple is a richly decorated ancient Khmer temple located at the center of Angkor Thom in Angkor Archeological Park of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the must-see temples when visiting the area being famous for its array of towers with smiling faces and “baroque” architecture in a Khmer context. From an architectural … Read more
The Baphuon Temple, located in Angkor Thom to the northwest of the Bayon temple, is another of the famed mountain temples built by the ancient Khmer. The temple is known for its grand entrance, its scale, and the impressive reliefs especially those on the second enclosure of the top level. It dates to the mid-11th century, … Read more
Chau Say Tevoda (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចៅសាយទេវតា) is a temple at Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap Cambodia. It is located just east of Angkor Thom before the Victory Gate and directly opposite Thommanon Temple. Chau Say Tevoda is often overlooked on a tour of the temples which is a shame, as it is, in my mind at least, … Read more
Thommanon Temple is a small but very ornate temple featuring beautiful bas-relief pediments located east of the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom and north of Chau Say Tevoda. Although no foundation inscription was found, it is dated by art style to the late 11th or early 12th century and generally attributed to the reign of … Read more
Prasat Ta Keo is another grand example of the ancient Khmer concept of the “temple mountain” featuring a monumental stepped-pyramid base topped with five massive towers. Located east of Angkor Thom, north of Angkor Wat, and on the west side of the East Baray, it is dated to the 11th century. Visiting Ta Keo Temple … Read more
Pre Rup (Khmer: ប្រាសាទប្រែរូប) is a grand brick temple with a quincunx of towers rising from a pyramid base to form the “temple mountain”, an architectural concept of the ancient Khmer to represent the sacred Mount Meru in Hindu beliefs. Located around 5km to the northeast of Angkor Wat, which it predates, it was built … Read more
The East Mebon (Khmer: ប្រាសាទមេបុណ្យខាងកើត) is a 10th Century temple built during the reign of King Rajendravarman (reign 944 to 968 AD) at the center of the massive reservoir, Yasodharatataka Baray. Known as the East Baray today, it has been dry for many centuries, but in its day, this temple would have been an island … Read more
[Updated 2024] – Originally recorded as Nagara Jayasri (holy city of victory), Preah Khan is a large and grand ancient temple at Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap. It was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Jayavarman VII (reign 1181-1218 AD) to honour his father, who built the nearby Ta Prohm to … Read more
Baksei Chamkrong (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបក្សីចាំក្រុង) is a temple located in the Angkor Archeological Park (Siem Reap, Cambodia). The temple can be seen on the left side when entering Angkor Thom at the southern gate. It was dedicated to King Yasovarman by his son, King Harshavarman I, and held Shiva as the main deity. The temple was … Read more
Also spelled Enkosey Temple (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះឥន្ទ្រកោសិយ), or Preah Enkosai Temple, was built (or at least restored) in the 10th century under the reign of king Rajendravarman II (r. 944-968). It is a small temple site that is hidden away behind a functioning pagoda of the same name. It comprises two brick sanctuaries, the remains of … Read more
Along a stretch of the riverbed for around 500 m there are carvings of linga, several big and small yoni, and a large carving of Vishnu. Along the walls of the riverbed, a small carving is also seen in the bedrock. At the very southern end or the beginning of the carvings, there is also … Read more
Situated atop Phnom Kulen, it’s the remains of a brick temple, located near the River of 1000 Lingas. Historical Notes Prasat Doch Sdach Komlong (The cremation sanctuary of the leper king). – We cannot consider as a building of the great Cambodian era the brick building that is designated by this name and which is … Read more
Located atop Phnom Kulen, and often referred to as the Reclining Buddha, Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 meters (26 ft) tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana. The statue is carved into a huge natural sandstone boulder to which a modern staircase has been added along with a shelter over the … Read more
Large blocks of sandstone formed a shelter where various sculptures were stored. It is located near a small pool featuring rock carvings. Historical Notes Chhat Maha Ru’sei (The Great Hermit’s Parasol). This name refers to a block of sandstone located about twenty meters to the S. of Prah Thom. It is a sort of … 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 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 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
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 as Chaw Srei Vibol, it is a unique temple site located along the ancient East Royal Road that leads from Angkor to Beng Melea and from there connects to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay and in another direction, Koh Ker, Neak Buos, and Wat Phu. The site was believed to have been constructed … Read more
Preah Ko is a stunning ancient temple famed for its art and also for being the first temple the ancient city of Hariharalaya that we know today as Roluos. The temple founded in 879 AD according to its inscribed stele and was built under the Khmer King Indravarman I as a Hindu temple dedicated to … Read more
Prasat Bakong is the first great pyramid or mountain temple constructed in sandstone to be built by the ancient Khmer. Consecrated in the late 9th century during the reign of King Indravarman I, it was the centrepiece of the ancient city of Hariharalaya that we know today as Roluos. Visiting Bakong Temple The site is … Read more
Located east of Siem Reap, Prasat Lolei, or Loley, is a fascinating and charming 9th-century ancient brick temple group located north of Prasat Preah Ko and Prasat Bakong in what is known as the Roluos group of temples. Whilst today it is accessed by road and surrounded by fields, it once sat at the center … Read more
Also known as Wat Khnat Temple, it is now a monastery that was built on the site of an ancient sanctuary that consisted of a group of six brick temples. The modern monastery is certainly ornate and unique. In the front yard, you can see a collection of sandstone remnants by a tree. Numerous ancient … Read more
A large mound of multi-levels, surrounded by a moat, featuring the remnants of a 7th Century temple. Phnom Roung Temple (ប្រាសាទភ្នំរុង), or Phnom Rung, is located just north of the West Baray. It is a small site with only remnants remaining of what would have been a single tower. It is pre-Angkorian and was constructed in … Read more