Known sites along the ancient Royal Road from Angkor to Prasat Ta Muen Thom and on to Phimai (present-day Thailand)
Located south of the ancient road that led from Angkor to Phimai, and southeast of Spean Thma, a large square basin and moated mound can be seen. Inside the moated mound are traces of brick, by appearances pre-10th century, which may concur with the square rather than elongated basin. In the drone shot below, you … Read more
Located just north of the much larger Spean Toap and to the east of Prohm Kel Temple, Spean Tbong is a laterite bridge with 13 arches recorded as measuring 43 m long and 9.5 m wide.
Laterite bridge featuring 15 arches and recorded as measuring 92 m long and 9.5 m wide. It is located less than two hundred meters south of the much larger Spean Toap and the two are connected in some way by a linear line of laterite blocks between the two bridges that are seen on the … Read more
Phimai Temple (now in present-day Thailand) was an important outpost at the time of the Khmer Empire. The temple Prasat Hin Phimai, located in the center of the town, was one of the major Khmer temples connected with Angkor by ancient Royal Roads and the last temple on the Angkor-Phimai Royal Road. The site is … Read more
Also known as Spean Tip, or Spean Top. It is the longest ancient bridge in the Khmer Empire featuring 28 arches and measures 150 m long and 14.5 m wide. It is a major feature of the north-western ancient Royal Road to Phimai that connected Angkor to the remote outpost of the Khmer Empire in … Read more
Prasat Ta Moan Thom (or Ta Muen Thom) is located on the Cambodian-Thai border and was a feature along the ancient Royal Road that led from Angkor to Phimai (in present-day Thailand). The site is accessed by sealed roads that lead all the way to the site and up the small but steepish rise of … Read more
Prohm Kel Temple is located in Cheung Tien Village of Oddar Meanchey Province, approximately 35 km from Samrong City and about 700 meters north of the largest ancient bridge in Cambodia, Spean Toap. The temple was listed in French research documents more than a hundred years ago. Prohm Kel Temple was built on flat land … Read more
Also known as Sampov Temple and Prasat Sampeou (ប្រាសាទសំពៅ), it is located 22km northwest of Siem Reap and 16km northwest of Angkor Wat. It was built in the era of King Jayavarman VII (reign 1181–1218 AD). It is one of the many “firehouses” that lined the northwest Royal Road leading from Angkor Thom to Prasat … Read more
Ancient laterite bridge still in use, recorded as 24 m long and 9 m wide. There is a small neak ta shelter housing a remnant but from where is not clear.
A laterite temple that was one of the “firehouses”/Dharmacalas, or Gîte d’étape as the French researchers would call them, that were found along certain sections of the ancient road network. The temple is mostly collapsed bar part of the northern wall which retains some remnants of a sandstone lintel depicting worshippers. There is a large … Read more
Also known as Rong Damrei Temple and Prasat Ta Kam, it is located to the east of Prasat Kdei Ta Kom Thom (or Kol Temple). It features the partially standing remains of a laterite temple that had an annex building (library) and outer wall with a large basin in the east. It is noted that … Read more
Heavily overgrown laterite bridge (06/21) reported as being 23 m long and 5 m wide. Through the shrub and trees, you can just sneak a peek of the laterite forming the ancient bridge which was a feature along the ancient Royal Road from Angkor to Phimai. There is a smaller bridge to the south, and … Read more
Spean Chang’er is an ancient laterite bridge of the 12th-13th century that is still in use by local traffic while the newer main road running parallel to its east. It features at least 12 arches and is recorded as measuring 47 meters long and 9 meters wide. It is a feature of the ancient Royal … Read more
Site features the ruinous remains of a laterite building known to be one of the many firehouse/resthouses that were built along the ancient road. The site is heavily overgrown (03/22) but its typical shape is easily noticeable, a tower with a forebody/hall leading east and a series of windows in the southern wall. There are … Read more
Prasat Kok Mon is another of the many “firehouse” that lined the ancient roads of the Khmer Empire acting as the temple of a larger resting area. Sharing the same basic layout as other “firehouses” this one is constructed of laterite with three sandstone framed windows in its south wall. The temple has several curiosities … Read more
Also recorded as Spean Memay measuring 35 meters long and 9 meters wide. There are several bridges sharing the name “khmeng” and “memay”, see more of the ancient road network and bridges here and here. Today, the trail to the site leads around its eastern side whilst a full view of the bridge can be had from its … Read more
Remnants of an ancient laterite bridge recorded as being 37 m long and 9 m wide. There are several bridges sharing the name “khmeng”, see more of the ancient road network and bridges here and here. Note: Are these the remnants of a bridge? I am not 100% sure, they are ancient that’s for sure, but I really … Read more
A grand, laterite bridge located on the ancient road connecting Angkor to Phimai. It’s not far from Prasat Kok Mon yet it is best accessed from a trail that comes around the bridge’s north side, which is deep, loose sand in the dry season and usually flooded in the rainy season. Getting there: Take the … Read more
A small but charismatic bridge located along the ancient road just south of the larger Spean Po. Recorded as measuring 24 m long. See more of the ancient road network and bridges here and here.
Laterite bridge, with at least 4 arches. It measures 15 meters long and 5 meters wide. It originally formed part of the ancient Royal Road from Angkor to Phimai.
Laterite bridge with at least 4 arches. It measures around 9 meters long and 5-6 meters wide. 160m north of here is Spean Thma Thom and 1.6km to the south along the old road is Spean Chambok. Images: March 2025
Laterite bridge with at least 7 visible arches. It measures 16 meters long and around 6 meters wide. The bridge is easy to reach, and north of here, following the old road, are traces of a temple site, and two more bridges before connecting back to the main sealed road.
Located along the road that led from Angkor to Phimai, Spean Thma Thom is a laterite bridge recorded to be around 40 meters long and 6 meters wide. A short way to the south is a smaller bridge also known as Spean Thma. Unfortunately, the raised earth section of road that would have joined the … Read more
Prasat Ampil is the remains of “firehouse” (read more here) constructed from laterite featuring a tall tower extending to the east with a hall featuring three windows on its southern side and none on the north. The tower still retains its sandstone crown piece in situ. There is also a basin and the site is … Read more
