On the east side of Phnom Kulen, west of Beng Mealea temple, there are several sandstone quarry sites, some old and one that is still active providing sandstone for the restoration works taking place in Angkor. It’s interesting to note the techniques that seemingly haven’t changed too much with iron picks still in use. In … Read more
Located 550m west of Beng Mealea and 270m southwest of Prasat Duan Chan, Kuk Troap temple features the remnants of a brick/sandstone temple. It’s a small temple whose moat-surrounded mound measures around 25m wide and 30m long. To the east is a basin measuring around 165m x 86m. Interestingly, the site has an east-southeast orientation … Read more
Located around 5km southwest of Beng Mealea, Prasat Sak Kdar features the remnants of what appears to have been a brick temple. On visiting in late 2024, it was quite overgrown, and there wasn’t a lot to see apart from a couple of sandstone blocks and scattered bricks among excavation wells. To the east is … Read more
It is located 2.7km west of Beng Mealea temple and 1.5km east of Sam Yot temple, along the ancient East Road that joined Angkor to Beng Mealea and Preah Khan of Kampong Svay and 500m east of Road 64 and the village of Trapeang Ruessei. When asking about the old road, local villagers pointed us … Read more
Contemporary monastery that was founded in recent times. The site retains several sandstone fragments from an ancient temple. There is some folklore surrounding the site and its remnants. One night, while studying the Dhama, a monk saw a white light in front of the throne. He told the abbot, who did not believe, but for … Read more
Contemporary monastery and pagoda with a large basin on the east. Near the basin is a small neak ta shelter housing remnants of an ancient temple including sandstone plinths, pesani, and a sema stone fragment. Images: 07/2022
Located atop Phnom Kulen and a few minutes west of Anlong Thom village, O’Chup Thnal Campsite is run by the local community and the Anglong Thom CBTC. The site is located by a freshwater stream with sandy banks offering a great place to swim and relax. They have also set up some basic tables, tarpaulins, … Read more
The site is located southwest of Anlong Thom village, atop Phnom Kulen, along the trail that leads to Rong Chen Temple. Only the base of a brick temple remains to be seen. Notable for the width of its walls, the site is also flanked by a natural rock monolith.
Prasat Chrei (not to be confused with Chup Chrei which is further to the south) is located atop Phnom Kulen, south of Anlong Thom village, south of Prasat Neak Ta and north of Bos Neak Temple. It is part of a group of temples, Anlong Thom, Prasat Neak Ta, Bos Neak, all orientated on a … Read more
Located around 2km northwest of Beng Mealea Temple on the foothills of Phnom Kulen, is a very unique piece of ancient infrastructure. Around 2020, a local discovered a large sandstone head of a Makara (part lion/part sea creature from Hindu mythology). Recently the site has been excavated and restored revealing it was actually part of … Read more
Located just east of Beng Mealea, it’s a small ancient bridge that is still in use today and, quite amazingly, holding up to today’s heavy vehicles. It has been sealed over with bitumen and goes completely unnoticed apart from the locals who live on either side. It’s quite small, only around 13-15 m long and … Read more
Contemporary monastery with an older wooden vihara and new salaa buildings under construction (01/23)
Located in Svay Leu district near the Siem Reap-Preah Vihear border, it’s an older wood-columned vihara with several meditation huts/monks quarters that have recently been refurbished.
A contemporary pagoda that is located west of Beng Mealea and near the ancient sites of Kuk Troap, Daun Chan and Ta Phou. On the pagoda’s east side, fragments of a pair of small lions can be seen. It’s possible that they originated from the nearby Prasat Kuk Troap.
Square mound appears to be surrounded by a moat with a basin to the north. No remnants were seen.
Contemporary monastery and pagoda located atop the southern edge of Phnom Kulen. The site features several stupas along with the natural wonder of the rocky terrain and extraordinary views over the plains below Phnom Kulen. Getting there – the site is accessed by a good road that leads south opposite Kulen Youth Camp from the … Read more
Wat Chas is a small monastery nearby the eastern cliff edge of Phnom Kulen providing spectacular views from several points over Svay Leu and the plains below. It might be an amazing sunrise spot too, but the monastery gates never seem to be open that early.
Also known as “Amazing Cliff”, located atop Kulen Mountain it’s an easy-to-reach site offering impressive views across the canyon below in between the mountain ranges. It is reached off the main road across the top of the mountain where there is a small parking bay and foot trail leading to the site. Around 150 m … Read more
Unknown. Site has recently been cleared but remains unnamed. It sits atop a large raised mound where scattered laterite, brick and sandstone rubble, and several decayed pedestals can be seen including a pedestal with an octagonal center.
A ruinous brick temple that sits atop an elongated laterite base. Originally it was believed to have had three towers but only one remains partially standing today. Nearby are the scenic and spectacular rock carvings of Peung Moha Ey Say. In front of the site, there is a large exposed section of natural bedrock that … Read more
Located on the western side of Beng Mealea’s baray, or Rahal Baray as early French archeologists recorded it, is a very large cruciform sandstone terrace that connects to the eastern entrance of Beng Mealea via a bollarded causeway. At a guess, it is around 70 m long on its east-west axis and 40m wide in … Read more
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Laterite bridge oriented East-West with a balustrade decorated with sandstone naga. It is 11 m long and 6.50 m wide. (about a hundred meters west of the northwest corner of the moat.)
Beng Mealea (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា) is one of the ancient Khmer Empires’ larger temple complexes and is located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor Archeological Park along the ancient royal highway that led to Preah Khan of Kampong Svay. According to the architectural style, similar to that of Angkor Wat, it … Read more
Also recorded as Prasat Daun Chan and Dong Chan, it is located around 400m to the southwest of the western entrance of Beng Mealea Temple. It features an outer laterite enclosure wall with a single cruciform entrance pavilion (gopura) on the eastern side and a single shrine with a library building in the southeast corner. … Read more
Also known as Kong Phlouk Temple. It is an unusual site (for the Angkor area), featuring a stepped laterite pyramid, and not to be missed on an excursion to Beng Mealea. The site is found at the southeast corner of the baray of Beng Mealea and is unusually aligned on a north-south axis. According to … Read more
Also known as Chrey Temple, Prasat Chrey and even Prasat Chrek. It is sandstone temple with two libraries, outer wall with entry gopura, terrace (listed here), and basin. It is a feature of the ancient Royal Road network and one of the several structures that early French researchers would classify as “Temple d’étape” (waypoint or … Read more
Prasat Kansaeng, or Kuk Top Thom, is located inside the moat and in the southwest quadrant of Beng Mealea Temple’s large grounds. It is what’s known as a “firehouse” or “Vahnigriha” that was a feature along the East Road. Outside of those in Angkor, it is the first standing firehouse as we head east out … Read more
