A map and (growing) list of ancient temples, firehouses, hospital chapels and infrastructure along the ancient “Royal Road” network of the Khmer Empire, Cambodia.
The ancient road network of the Khmer Empire was expansive, covering thousands of km’s, centred on Angkor, and headed
– Southeast Royal Road: from Angkor to Kampong Kdei, and southeast to Prasat Andet and Sambor Prei Kuk
– East Royal Road: from Angkor, east to Beng Mealea and Beng Mealea to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay
– Northeast Royal Road: northeast from Beng Mealea to Koh Ker and Wat Phu
– Northwest Royal Road: from Angkor, northwest to Phimai
– Southwest Royal Road: from Angkor, southwest to Sdok Kak Thom.
For our journeys along the ancient road and around Cambodia see Tour journals and the new book, Ancient Cambodia.
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
Vat Phou (or Wat Phu; Lao: ວັດພູ [wāt pʰúː] temple-mountain) is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the Mekong in Champasak Province. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the … Read more
Located at the northeast corner of the ancient basin and just south of the larger Neak Buos Temple, Prasat Kuk Srei is a ruinous but fascinating site of a distinct and unusual format. This unusual format consists of a U-shaped building fronted by a long peristyle construction that researchers note as a building of the … Read more
Located on the side of the Dangrek Mountain range, Prasat Neak Buos is a fascinating and massive ancient temple complex featuring a diverse group of structures in brick, sandstone, and laterite. The fascinating site dates back to the late 7th century with additions continuing through the 9th, 10th, 11th, and the last construction, a hospital … Read more
Located north of the Koh Ker temple group and just north of the ancient road that once led from Beng Mealea to Koh Ker, Prasat Ta Maen, also known as Prasat Ta Men, is quite similar in many ways to the sites known as “Temple d’Etape” so labeled by the French researchers in the 1900s. … Read more
Site of a large ancient bridge where today only a couple of decayed sandstone pieces remain.
An ancient moated city, now the capital of Phnom Srok district. The outer moat surrounding the city is a little more than 1 km wide and just under 1km tall now enclosing contemporary Khmer life inc. residences, businesses, and schools etc.. There are few ancient remains to be seen bar the Preah Srok site, the … 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
Laterite bridge (location estimated – cisark notes as destroyed)
Prasat Ta Muen Thom is located on 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 the mountain range. The site … Read more
Also recorded as Spean Phdao. It’s a laterite bridge, recorded as 40 m long, on the ancient road between Khvav and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. At a recorded 40m long, I think it’s the second longest bridge along the ancient East Road from Angkor to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. The present-day trail diverts … Read more
Ancient laterite bridge
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
Located 800m west of Banteay Ampil temple and just north of the ancient East Road, the site features an array of sandstone fragments, and 200m to the east is a large basin 200m x 110m. According to the decorative style, the site may have dated to around the late 10th or early 11th century. Sandstone … Read more
Prasat Andet, also recorded as Prasat Andaet, is an ancient 7th-century brick temple located on the grounds of a contemporary monastery and pagoda atop a large and high mound which is then surrounded by a moat. Several statues from here including a Harihara statue can be found at the Phnom Penh National Museum. This uniquely … Read more
Ancient laterite bridge with remnants of the sandstone naga balustrade still seen. The local trail diverts south around the bridge currently (late 2021). It uses post and lintel construction and is in very good condition. Oddly, there are large laterite blocks scattered about 15 m to the southwest.
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
Laterite bridge that is reported to measure 33 m long, 8.2 m wide and 3.2 m high. At the time of visiting, 06/21, it was a little overgrown.
Contemporary monastery and pagoda that also houses remains of an ancient temple including a pedestal and other fragments (reported to house some late-era Buddha statues too). It also features an older wooden columned vihara.
Laterite bridge oriented East-West with a balustrade decorated with sandstone naga. It is 11 m long and 6.50 m wide. (about a hundred meters west of the northwest corner of the moat.)
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 known as Chrey Temple, Prasat Chrey and even Prasat Chrek. It is sandstone temple with two libraries, outer wall with entry gopura, terrace (listed here), and basin. It is a feature of the ancient Royal Road network and one of the several structures that early French researchers would classify as “Temple d’étape” (waypoint or … Read more
Also known as Prasat Toab Chey Thom, Teap Chei, and Torp Chey Thom. It is a ruinous walled sandstone temple that was a common feature along the ancient royal road network along the section from Angkor to Preah Khan (of Kampong Svay). French archeologists recorded this temple type as “Temples d’étape” or staging place. They … Read more
Located along the ancient East Royal Road that joined Angkor to Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay, it’s a medium-sized laterite bridge, still in use, with 8 arches and recorded as measuring 35 meters long and 7 meters wide. Like most of the ancient bridges on this section of the ancient road, it … Read more
