Preah Vihear Province

Preah Vihear Province located in the country’s north and forms part of Cambodia’s international border with Thailand and Laos. Its capital is Preah Vihear. The region is famed for its ancient temples, notably the Preah Vihear temple complex, Koh Ker and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay.

Other notable sites in Preah Vihear Province include Neak Buos Temple, Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, Tbeng Mountain, and Steung Ksach Resort.

Laterite gradin

A laterite gradin north of the Koh Ker group, a local commented it was part of or related to an old baray.

Village Vihara

An old-style village prayer hall located east of a river and along the raised route from Koh Ker to Prey Veng village.

Wat Phnom Tel (Srayang)

Located in Preah Vihear province near the border of Siem Reap and Oddar Meanchey atop a small mountain (Phnom Tel Khmer: ភ្នំតែល), it’s a contemporary monastery and pagoda with an older style wood columned vihara and more modern pagoda that offers superb views across the plains below and to the mountains in the distance. To … Read more

Wat Koki (North) Temple

Located on the western side of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. Also recorded as Prasat O Chotal Toc on early French maps. It’s the partially standing remains of an ancient temple.

West Gate of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay

The enclosure of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay (PKKS) is massive, featuring four gopura (aka gates or entrance pavilions) at each of its cardinal points. The west gate shares the same layout plan as the north and south gates, here you can also see the grand sandstone causeway, decorated on each side with beautiful repeating … Read more

Prasat

Remains of what appears to be a laterite temple, located on the western side of Preah Khan of Kampong Svay.

Koh Ker Temple Group

Located in the large Srayang Commune of Preah Vihear Province, Koh Ker Archaeological Site is an ancient capital city dating to the 10th century featuring over 50 recorded temples and over 100 archeological sites along with being home to Cambodia’s famed pyramid temple, Prasat Prang. Known in old Khmer inscriptions as Chok Gargyar and Lingapura … Read more

Svay Thom Temple (Preah Vihear)

Also recorded as Prasat Thnal Svay (of which there are many sharing the same or very similar name). It is a remote site located in the forest/farmlands of Preah Vihear about 8km south of Choam Khsant. The ancient site featured three shrines flanked by a library which was surrounded by an outer enclosure and looking … Read more

Prasat Srot (Koh Ker)

Signposted as Prasat Srot, it is the two “palaces” that flank either side of what was once the causeway leading to Prasat Thom, the principal temple of the Koh Ker group, and in turn the iconic pyramid, Prasat Prang. The term “palace” (or palais in French) used to describe this archetype was coined by early … Read more

Wat Po (Kulean)

Local monastery, The Temple of 5000 Buddhas and Northeast Region Vipassana Center, with a fascinating vision and construction program underway (Jan 2022). In the future perhaps, one hopes, an icon of contemporary Buddhism in Cambodia. Actually, I really look forward to a return visit especially to wander through the field of Buddhas, seemingly so methodically … Read more

Terrace

A small ancient terrace with remains of a statue.

Prasat Dap (Yeang Commune, Preah Vihear)

Also recorded as Prasat Dab (at least on Google Maps) is another of Preah Vihear province’s fascinating remote sites. It wasn’t cleared (as of 04/2022) but has been previously and is likely to be cleared again at a guess as the Preah Vihear authorities work their way around the sites (see their Facebook page for … Read more

Bei Temple (Preah Vihear)

Located in the southeast of Choam Khsant district of Preah Vihear, Prasat Bei is the remains of a group of three ancient square sandstone temples. The three towers open to the east and rise up on a common laterite platform. The final decorative carving of the site’s features was never fully completed, although it heralds … Read more

Kantop Temple

Remains of a laterite temple with outer enclosure

Sema Temple

Located southwest of Choam Khsant nearby a large and scenic water reservoir, Prasat Sema is the remains of a brick temple. What remains at the site today is a doorframe flanked by two ornately decorated door columns topped by an equally ornate lintel. The left doorframe carries an inscription in Khmer text. Around the site … Read more

Thnal Svay Temple (Kok Chrolong Village)

Also recorded as Prasat Trapeang Thnal Svay, it is a remote site in Preah Vihear Province featuring the remains of a temple complex featuring a brick central shrine with a laterite forebody with two small satellite shrines, a “library”, two large gopura/entrance pavilions, an elongated peristyle structure (on an east-west axis), and an enclosure wall … Read more

Thmom Peang Temple

Located in Romdoh Srae commune of Choam Khsant district in Preah Vihear and just south of an army barracks, Prasat Thmom Peang is the ruins of an ancient walled temple site. The single central shrine is a square sandstone temple that had a brick superstructure, open only to the east. There appears to have been … Read more

North Sneng Krabei Temple

Also recorded as Prasat Snaeng Krâbei Khang Cheung, it is a group of three sandstone temples, with an outer enclosure wall of laterite and an entrance pavilion on the east. The three towers, never fully completed, are built on a common platform aligned north-south with doorways opening to the east. The central tower rises a … Read more

Kang Het Temple

Located around 9km south of Choam Khsant in Preah Vihear province, the ancient ruins of Prasat Kang Het feature a grand sandstone tower with an outer laterite enclosure wall. The single central tower, built entirely of sandstone, is standing albeit with a precarious lean to it and whilst tree roots likely sparked that demise, in … Read more

Prasat Ta Ros (Soumab Temple)

Also known as Prasat Taros and Soumab Temple, it’s a group of three brick temples open to the east with a library building and brick outer enclosure wall with gopura. The site carries two interesting inscriptions, some curious art, and an a seemingly large “library”. The site is ruinous, but well preserved for its age … Read more

Trapeang Thnal Chhouk Temple

Also known as Trapeang Chhouk, located in Toek Kraham Commune of Choam Khsant District, it is a group of five brick temples enclosed by an outer brick wall. The five temples are arranged on a north-south axis and open to the east with three large temples, partially standing, behind which are two smaller temples mostly … Read more