Temples

Spean Khmeng (Svay Leu)

Very small laterite bridge located northeast of Wat Svay Leu. It features corbelled arches. By eye, it is around 4-5 m wide and 6 m or so long with three visible arches. Across the top, it has deep ruts that one assumes are from usage in recent times. It also has sandstone plinths that are … Read more

Peung Komnou

Located north of Wat Svay Leu and at the foothills of Phnom Kulen, Peung Komnou features stunning rock carvings. There are actually several separate carvings to see here on a group of rock monoliths. The trail leading to the site is suitable for moto/bike/hike although a vehicle could certainly make it part ways there. The … Read more

Peung Preah Put Kraom

Located on the north side of Phnom Kulen and south of the village of Kronhoung, there are numerous rock monoliths, many of which taper in at the bottom creating a natural shelter, it’s a fascinating place. This particular monolith appears to have been a hermit/ascetics lair, featuring several carvings and remnants of walls formed of … Read more

Peung Chhat

Located on the north side of Phnom Kulen and south of the village of Kronhoung, at the foot of the mountain slope, it’s a spectacular rock monolith that tapers in at the bottom creating a rock shelter. This natural shelter has in ancient times been put to good use, featuring quite a well-executed rock carving … Read more

Spean Toch

A small laterite bridge with 4 arches with sandstone balustrade. It is recorded as measuring 12 m long, 8 m wide and 2.8 m high. Interestingly, it features very basic arches (post and lintel style construction) and is not typical of the beautiful corbelled arches seen on nearly all of the bridges along this route. … Read more

Ta En Temple

Prasat Ta En is a very ruinous “firehouse“, which was a common feature along the east and northwest roads of the ancient royal road network. It is believed that they were part of a larger resting place for travellers and pilgrims. It sits 60-100m north of where the ancient East Road once connected Beng Mealea to … Read more

Pram Temple (Khvav)

Another feature along the ancient royal road, Prasat Pram, was what the early French archeologists called “Temples d’étape” in simple terms, what they believed to be a temple that was part of a staging or stopping place. Other temples of this type include Prasat Toap Chey Thom, Prasat Chrei, and others, which are only found … Read more

Preah Theat Khvav Temple

Located 4 km south of the village of Khvav, it’s a square laterite temple tower preceded by a terrace on the monastery grounds of Wat Preah Serei Rokha Theat. The site features an incredible collection of ancient temple remnants. The temple tower and terrace (now converted into a more contemporary pagoda) are demarcated by sandstone … Read more

Chhouk Temple

Also known as Prasat Chhuk, it is situated to the north of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay and west of Phnom Tnoat and sits at the southern end of a large basin recorded as Trapeang Chhouk. It features three well-preserved laterite towers that are aligned on a north-south axis, opening to the east, and further … Read more

Preah Pul

Cave temple located on Phnom Tnaot, also known as Prah Khpur and Preah Kpul. Historical Notes Prah Khpur. The cave designated by this name is located towards the middle of the eastern slopes of Phnom Tenot; it opens halfway up, at the bottom of a narrow and bushy ravine formed by the bed of a … Read more

Phnom Mrech Temple

Located in Preah Vihear province, north of Phnom Tnoat and south of Kdak village, Prasat Phnom Mrech features a pair of ancient brick shrines situated on the mountain slope overlooking the beautiful plains below. The entrance to the site is flanked by two boundary markers depicting Buddha on Naga and a guardian devata on the … Read more

Sangkae Temple

Also known as Sangkae North temple as there is reportedly another temple (or remnants thereof) located 1km to the south. This small square laterite temple is partially standing, opens to the east, and several sandstone fragments can be seen including a fragment of a round pedestal, another round fragment, a fragment decorated with foliage, and … Read more

Reul Temple (La Ang Village)

Also recorded as Prasat Chen Cho Kas Ko, it’s located about 4.5 km northeast of La Ang Village near the Siem Reap-Preah Vihear border. Note that in Srayang commune, there is another temple of the same name 12km to the east. This site features a laterite outer enclosure wall with a bell-style capping, opening to … Read more

Reul Temple (O Pram Pheam Village)

Also known as Prasat Chamrek Chau, and located in Srayang Commune of Preah Vihear province, about 6km south of road 64 and 4km southeast of Prasat Pram, it’s the remains of three brick temples that were surrounded by an outer laterite enclosure with a gopura on the east and west. On the north side of … Read more

Spean Trung

30 m long and 10 m wide laterite bridge with partial balustrade.

Sangkae Kbal Krabei Temple

Also recorded as Prasat Preah Trapeang North, it is the remains of a square laterite temple. The temple stands alone, opening to the east with a sandstone doorframe with false doors and pilasters formed in laterite on its other sides. There’s a large mound of bricks with earlier site reports speculating about the temple having … Read more

Chrei Khanhien Temple

Also known as Prasat Trapeang South, it’s the remains of a group of laterite temples inc three towers, library, surrounded by a wall and moat. The three laterite towers are in quite a good state of preservation yet noting the lintel and door columns, were seemingly uncompleted, never having received their final decoration which is … Read more

Nong Khou Temple

Also known as Prasat Nang Kou and Nong Kuh, it is located around 10km east of Svay Leu in Siem Reap Province. The site is located on the eastern side of a broad hill that overlooks farmland mostly being cultivated today to grow cassava and mango. On visiting in 01/2023, the site is quite overgrown … Read more

Spean Trung Temple

Ruinous small brick temple with two “libraries” and an outer wall constructed of laterite. Nearby is the bridge of the same name, Spean Trung.

Dambok Khpuos Temple

Located north of Phnom Kulen in Svay Leu district, it is the remains of what were three brick towers. Presently the site is overgrown and only remnants remain. An inscription was recorded here under K. 196. The earliest report on the site comes from a brief note by E. Aymonier in the late 1800s, then … Read more

Bangkuoy Khang Kaeut Temple

Also recorded as Prasat East Angkouy, it’s the remains of a group of three temples constructed from laterite and brick with sandstone elements. Features “library” and an outer wall with gopura. It is located a short distance east of Bangkuoy Khang Lech Temple. On visiting in mid-January, and noting the overgrowth, I’ll return to the … Read more

Pram Temple (Srayang – Preah Vihear Province)

Prasat Pram is a group of six temples comprising of an eastern row of three tall square brick temples on a north-south axis, immediately behind which on the western side are two smaller brick temples and the remains of a laterite construction. They are all open to the east. On the eastern row, the northernmost … Read more

Kol Temple

Prasat Kol, located north of National Road 6 in Srayang Commune features a single laterite temple with the remains of a “library” building which are surrounded by an outer laterite wall with an entrance gopura on the east. The central shrine is still partly standing, tall square laterite construction that opens to the east with … Read more

Trapeang Kuk Temple

Remains of an (unusual) square sandstone cell with remains of an enclosure and basin in the east (report: Cisark). Location approximate