Large cruciform sandstone terrace that was connected on the west side by a causeway to Pr. Chrey. At a guess, it is one meter or so in height, around 20 m long and 4 m wide running east-west, and similar running north-south making a cruciform shape. It features ornate decoration and molding typical of the … Read more
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 known as Chrey Temple, Prasat Chrey and even Prasat Chrek. A 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 “Temple d’étape” (waypoint or stopping place) constructed on the Beng Mealea <> Preah … Read more
Prasat Kansaeng, or Kuk Top Thom, is located inside the moat and on Beng Mealea Temple’s large grounds. It is what’s known as a “firehouse” or “resthouse” that was located along the ancient royal road network. You can find it just south of the causeway that leads to Beng Mealea’s main temple area after entering … Read more
Kap Chen Temple (not yet prepared for visitors – as of late 2021) is a sandstone temple featuring at least one tower that is only partially standing and a large sprawl of tumbled sandstone blocks buried in overgrowth at the time of visiting. The base of the partially standing tower appears intact and along with … 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. Built upon a stepped laterite rise and surrounded by an outer laterite wall with gopura (gate) at each cardinal point, the central shrine consists … Read more
There is a sandstone quarry just north of Prasat Beng Mealea that forms part of a river bed. It is quite fascinating to see where the temple originated and the clear lines of where large blocks of sandstone would have been chiselled. It’s also a nice spot to relax, as many do. This creek continues … 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
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 Wat Phnom Bei, it’s located at the foothill of Phnom Kulen and to the northwest of Beng Mealea temple and features a contemporary pagoda located atop a natural rise with spectacular views across the massif of Kulen and the surrounding plains and hills. On an adjacent rise, an arrangement of rocks forming … 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
A small laterite bridge that’s still in use with five arches, recorded as measuring 20 m long and 3 m high. It originally featured a naga balustrade but only scattered pieces of the balustrade can still be seen. As of 2021, several arches have mostly collapsed, some have partially collapsed internally. I believe years ago … Read more
Laterite bridge with 8 arches and balustrade with naga (not seen), recorded as measuring 30 meters long and 2.8 meters high. As of 2021, the bridge is still in daily use and heavily overgrown on either side, growth which will probably die off during the drier moths. Parts of the balustrade can be seen sitting … Read more
Remains of a laterite temple that is curiously built attached to a rock shelter. It appears as it would have opened from the east with sandstone doorways leading to a shrine/balan at the rock face. You can reach the site via the trail that leads around the left of the monastery and follow it north … 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
Also known as Prasat Toap Chey Tout, it is a “resthouse” or “firehouse” that were a common feature along the ancient Royal Road. It is currently kept cleared and there is a foot trail connecting to the nearby Toap Chey Thom.
Also known as Prasat Toab Chey Thom and Torp Chey Thom. It is a ruinous walled sandstone temple that was a common feature along the ancient royal road network along the section from Angkor to Preah Khan (of Kampong Svay). French archeologists recorded this temple type as “Temples d’étape” or staging place. The site is … Read more
Also recorded as Phty (Pr.). A recently restored shrine located in the center of Beng Mealea’s baray comprised of a tall column atop of which is a seated Buddha on Naga. An APSARA team restored the shrine with local funding. Image prior to restoration (via information.gov.kh) You can reach the site via a trail leading … Read more
Contemporary pagoda, located west of Beng Mealea and near the ancient sites of Daun Chan and Ta Phou.