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.
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
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
Prasat Banteay Ampil located some 40km east of Angkor Wat, along the ancient East Road and around 20km east from Chau Srei Vibol Temple. It is incredibly well preserved and is still in its original state, mostly unrestored bar minor preservation works and structural supports. It sits on the north side of the ancient road, … Read more
A small ancient bridge located east of Wat Banteay Kbal Chen along the ancient East Road that leads to Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. It is recorded at 25 meters long and 3 meters wide, constructed of laterite with sandstone balustrade, East-West oriented, consisting of ten arches. Images 12/2024 Images 2021 Historical … 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
Also known as Spean Thma and Spean Memai. An ancient laterite bridge composed of 21 arches and measuring 79 meters long and 9 meters wide. Once part of the ancient Royal Road that led to Phnom Srok and Sdok Kak Thhom. It’s located near the northwest corner of the West Baray, use Google satellite imagery … 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
Laterite bridge which measures 27 meters long and 9 meters wide.
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
The location of a laterite bridge that was recorded by Lunet Lajonquire in the 1900s which hopefully still exists underneath the successive road upgrades. It was recorded as being 28 m long and 9 m wide. See a larger map of the ancient road network and bridges here and here. Note there are several bridges named “Memay” see here for … Read more
Spean Rolom Pil is a small laterite bridge located along the ancient road that led out of Angkor to Phnom Srok (and beyond to Sdok Kak Thom). See a larger map of the ancient road network and bridges here and here.
An ancient laterite bridge featuring 15 arches and measures around at least 30 m x 12 m (Brugier) and is overgrown with thorny shrub. The river has been diverted around the bridge and a rather large dam is being built on its northern side. A replacement bridge to the south joining the communities on either … Read more
A large 600m square enclosure with two moats. To the east is the large basin, Banteay Sra.
Site of an ancient laterite bridge. Nothing remains bar a small pile of laterite blocks which for the most part of the year are underwater. On the bank, there is a small shelter housing decorated fragments from a nearby temple site. See a larger map of the ancient road network and bridges here and here.
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
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
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
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, no longer in use and hidden in scrub (2020/21), and located just north of Prasat Tor and one connecting the ancient road from the West Baray dike heading to Phnom Bok. The bridge runs east-west, and you will see a wooden bridge heading north at the road junction, go over that, turn around … Read more
An ancient laterite bridge that is slowly becoming surrounded by new developments. A new channel that diverts around the ancient bridge has almost turned the site into an island. The “island” is heavily overgrown and not cleared for visiting (2021) make it through the scrub and some of the arches can still be seen from … Read more
Site where several interesting statues were found
Located around 5km southwest of Beng Mealea, Prasat Sam Yot features the remnants of what appears to be a late 10th-11th century temple. On visiting in late 2024, it was quite overgrown and appeared to be a single sandstone shrine that opened to the east with a forebody and had chambered false entrances around its … Read more
Located northwest of Pouk and just north of National Road 6, Prasat Ta Moni was the site of several discoveries in the early 1900s. Originally, the site was reported to have featured the remains of two brick temples. Several artifacts were removed from the site and placed into conservation in the early 1900s including two … Read more
