Beyond Angkor – Cambodia’s Remote Ancient Temple Sites

The massive temple of Banteay Chhmar, along with its satellite shrines and reservoir (baray), comprises one of the most important and least understood archaeological complexes from Cambodia’s Angkor period. The temple of Banteay Chhmar was built during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is located about 160km from Siem Reap. You can spend 2-3 hours here.

Wat Ek Phnom is a Hindu temple built in the 11th century under the rule of king Suryavarman I. It is located approximately 9 km north of the city of Battambang. Although partly collapsed and looted it is famous for its well-carved lintels and pediments. Adjacent to the temple is the modern day construction of a massive Buddha statue and a pagoda.

The Snoeng temples are divided into two parts – East snoeng and West Snoeng. The East Snoeng temple is located near Snoeng pagoda about 22 kilometers southwest of Battambang. The remains are three separate shrines of 12th century Angkorian era style.

Banan Temple is located at the top of a small mountain reached via 385 steps. It was built in the middle of the 11th and the end of the 12th centuries. The site offers superb views along with several mountain caves. It is located 23 km south of Battambang. You can spend 2-3 hours here.

The ruins of Sambor Prei Kuk date back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom (late 6th to 9th century), established by king Isanavarman I as central royal sanctuary and capital, known then as Isanapura. It is located 176 km (109 mi) east of Siem Reap and 206 km (128 mi) north of Phnom Penh. You can spend 2 hours here.

Preah Vihear Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built during the period of the Khmer Empire, that is situated atop a 525-metre (1,722 ft) cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains, in the Preah Vihear province. The temple is 140 km from Angkor Wat and 625 km from Phnom Penh. You can spend min. 2-3 hours here

Koh Ker is located in northern Cambodia about 120 kilometres (75 mi) away from Siem Reap. More than 180 sanctuaries were found in a protected area of 81 square kilometres (31 sq mi). Only about two dozen monuments can be visited by tourists because most of the sanctuaries are hidden in the forest and the whole area is not fully demined. koh Ker was the capital of the Khmer Empire from 928–944 AD under the reign of the kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II. You can spend 2 hours here at the main temple site and another 1-2 hours exploring the surrounding open sites.

The archeological complex of Preah Khan at Kampong Svay, or Prasat Bakan (according to local pronunciation), is located 100 km east of Siem Reap, in Preah Vihear province. It is the largest single religious complex ever built during Angkorian Era, as its exterior enclosure is about 5 km square. You can spend two hours here.

Beng Mealea is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. It was built as a Hindu temple by King Suryavarman II, early 12th century. It is located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay. From Siem Reap it is around 70km by road.

Phnom Bok is a temple located on a hill of the same name. It is one of the “trilogies of mountains”, each of which has a temple with a similar layout. The creation of the temple is credited to the reign of Yasovarman I (889–910) between 9th and 10th centuries; established after he moved his capital to Angkor and named it Yasodharapura. The two other sister temples, named after the contiguous hills, are the Phnom Bakheng and Phnom Krom.

Located close to lake Tonle Bati, Ta Prohm is one of several shelters built in Cambodia and Thailand during the reign of Jayavarman VII to house the Jayabuddhamahanatha statues. It is located off the highway to Takéo Province. The temple is quite small although you can also eat by the lake a take a boat tour. 20 minutes south of the lake there is another temple called Phnom Chisor (Khmer: ភ្នំជីសូរ). It is situated on a mountain top which requires a visitor to climb 461 steps.

Prasat Phnom Chisor was built in the 11th century of laterite and bricks with carved sandstone lintels by the Khmer Empire king Suryavarman I, who practiced Brahmanism. It was dedicated to the Hindu divinities Shiva and Vishnu. On the east edge of the mountain, at the back of the temple, there is a prime spot for view and pictures where you can see a vast plain of surrounding rice fields and countryside.