The grand outer enclosure wall of Angkor Thom is 3 km square constructed of laterite and further supported by an inner earthen buttressing. The enclosure has five monumental gates preceded by causeways that cross the 110m wide outer surrounding moat. The five gates are covered here: South Gate (Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kev), … Read more
Angkor Thom East Gate, or Thvear Khnoch/Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead), is one of the five gates that lead through the walls of Angkor Thom. It is a rarely visited site that is approached from Bayon temple via a dirt trail. That said, of all the gates this one certainly has a character and … Read more
Angkor Thom North Gate, or Dei Chhnang Gate, is one of the five gates (gopura) for entering Angkor Thom. It is similar to the other gates featuring the massive gopura with monumental smiling faces at each cardinal point. As per the other gates, South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kav), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), … Read more
The south gate of Angkor Thom is a very famous spot within Angkor Archeological Park and one that shouldn’t be missed. Standing on the causeway, and admiring the sheer scale, as you find yourself drifting back in time to imagine how it must have felt to approach this spectacular city in its heydey is quite … Read more
Thvear Chey, or Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, is one of the five gates of Angkor Thom, located on the eastern side and north of the Gate of the Dead. Interestingly, the other four gates are located on cardinal points having a particular symmetry from an overall design based on Hindu beliefs. Victory gate, however, … Read more
Angkor Wat has four gopura (entry gates) each located at cardinal points while only the west and east gates have causeways crossing the moat. The western entrance is the main and grandest entrance of all. See here for the complete guide to Angkor Wat, and here we’ll continue on with the moat and outer gopura … Read more
Here we’ll introduce the many inscriptions at Angkor Wat, and, where to see them. Angkor Wat features a large array of fascinating and often hidden inscriptions that were, surprisingly to some, left mostly during the later eras and in the post-Angkor era. Some of the inscriptions are left by royalty who returned to Angkor around … Read more
Located on the second level of Angkor Wat, Preah Poan (cruciform gallery) is a sacred and significant place within the massive ancient temple. You can also see it noted as Brah Ban, Prah Pan, Preah Pean, or more commonly the English translation being Hall of a Thousand Buddhas. Here we will cover just that cruciform … Read more
The penultimate feature of the great temple of Angkor Wat, the third level, or Bakan, is the enormous thirty-meter high substructure that supports the amazing quincunx of towers. It rises 30 meters with sloping sides featuring narrow stepped staircases at each corner and a central staircase on its western side. Today you can reach the … Read more
Here we will cover each of the bas-relief scenes in the outer gallery of Angkor Wat, where they are located, a brief guide to the interpretation, and several curiosities that shouldn’t be missed. Undoubtedly, one of the most celebrated features of Angkor Wat is the incredible bas-relief friezes that line the inner walls of the … Read more
Prasat Angkor Wat, or Angkor Wat Temple, is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, featuring a spectacular moat that encloses temple grounds with grand entrances and causeways leading to the massive multi-level, multi-towered ornate sandstone temple. It’s the main attraction of the massive Angkor Archaeological Park of Siem Reap and the nation … Read more
Banteay Kdei Temple is a charming ancient temple located opposite the grand basin of Srah Srang to which it was once connected. Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, it is in the Bayon architectural style, with a flat layout plan similar to the nearby Ta Prohm … Read more
Prasat Bat Chum (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបាទជុំ) is a small temple located to the northeast of Angkor Wat and south of Srah Srang. It features three brick shrines aligned on a north-south axis and open to the east. According to its inscription, it was conceived by Kavindrarimathana, a Buddhist minister of Khmer king Rajendravarman, at the middle … Read more
Bayon Temple is a richly decorated ancient Khmer temple located at the center of Angkor Thom in Angkor Archeological Park of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the must-see temples when visiting the area being famous for its array of towers with smiling faces and “baroque” architecture in a Khmer context. From an architectural … Read more
Chau Say Tevoda (Khmer: ប្រាសាទចៅសាយទេវតា) is a temple at Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap Cambodia. It is located just east of Angkor Thom before the Victory Gate and directly opposite Thommanon Temple. Chau Say Tevoda is often overlooked on a tour of the temples which is a shame, as it is, in my mind at least, … Read more
Located around 500m east of Ta Keo temple and situated on the western bank of the Eastern Baray is a large terrace structure known as Don Mao/Duan Mao. It’s a large stepped structure constructed of laterite, possibly as a landing jetty/pier for the East Baray (akin to Srah Srang), while noting that there is another … Read more
The East Baray (Yasodharatataka) is a vast basin 2 x 7 km that now sits dry. Built in the early 10th century during the reign of King Yasovarman, although a little smaller than the later West Baray, it is believed to have held a staggering 50 million cubic meters of water with a depth of … Read more
Laterite remnants of what may be an outlet of the East Baray. It may also be referred to as Krol Romeas. Gallery
A laterite shelter that once housed an inscribed stele. The inscription is registered under K. 282.
A laterite shelter that once housed an inscribed stele. The inscription is registered under K. 283.
The East Mebon (Khmer: ប្រាសាទមេបុណ្យខាងកើត) is a 10th Century temple built during the reign of King Rajendravarman (reign 944 to 968 AD) at the center of the massive reservoir, Yasodharatataka Baray. Known as the East Baray today, it has been dry for many centuries, but in its day, this temple would have been an island … Read more
Located inside the outer enclosure of Ta Prohm and preceding the first moat on the eastern side is a single sandstone building which is referred to as a Firehouse, or in some literature as a Dharmasala. In either respect, these firehouses were an important feature along the ancient royal road network. This particular one being … Read more
A large baray (lake) measuring 3.5 km x 1 km with Neak Pean temple at its center. On its western edge, there is a terrace that led to Preah Khan Temple.
Kapilapura is located northeast of Angkor Wat and you can reach the site by foot or bike by following the dirt trail around the north side of the outer moat towards the northeast corner where you’ll notice a trail heading north following that for just a minute or two. The site included a brick temple … Read more
Area just north of the Phnom Bakheng east-west featuring laterite remains with basins to the east and west. In early 2020 it was an open archeological site and by mid-2020 it had been covered over once more. Gallery
Prasat Kravan (Khmer: ប្រាសាទក្រវាន់) is a 10th-century temple constructed in the era of Harshavarman I (reign circa 910-922 AD) consisting of five brick towers. The temple was dedicated to Vishnu in 921 AD, according to the inscription. It’s a site that is often skipped, which is a shame, as the style of bas-relief carvings here … Read more
Krol Ko Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was built at the end of the 12th century, in Bayon style, under the rule of king Jayavarman VII (reign 1181–1218 AD). To its south is the famous Neak Pean island temple of the Jaytataka Baray. The ancient … Read more
Krol Romeas, or Kraol Romeas, is the mysterious stone circle that is rarely visited by tourists even though it is hidden just off the Grand Circuit ofAngkor Archaeological Park. Believed to have possibly been an elephant pen, elephant bathing area, or maybe even a part of a water hydraulic system. Its original purpose can only … Read more
