Phnom Kulen Site
Phnom Kulen is a name of mountain chain that has occupied by many jungles and sand stone. It is 50km long which running from NW to SE, from Svay Leu, to Banteay Srei and to Varin districts. This mountain honored by Khmer ruler since in the reign of king Mahendravarman, Jayavarman II, Suryavarman II and AngK Chann Raja so on. On the summit of this mountain consisted several ancient religious ruins that supposed to be built in the reign of King Jayavarman II, in the earlier of 9th century. Other Buddhist monasteries took to built in the reign of kings Satha and Angk Chann Raja in 16th century, such as Preah Chhubb, Preah Angk Thom, Preah Prahm Angk. Nowadays, Phnom Kulen is very popular with cultural and eco-tourism, especially, Kulen waterfall, Srah Domrei, Preah Thom....
Preah Angk Chhubb Sanctuary
It is the name of Buddha and the water spring from the sole of the Buddha, then the local people called that place Preah Angk Chhub, because permanent spring flows out from the sole of the Buddha Angk Chhubb. Nowadays this place becomes the sacred Buddhist sanctuary that worship by Buddhist monk and local people. It was built in the 17th century by Buddhist believers.
Preah Thom Sanctuary
It is a name of gigantic Buddha that reclining on the rocky bed. This Buddha was engraved in the 16th century at the higher rocky bed around 30m in height. Nowadays this figure so famous for Buddhist, who goes to that place, and prays for luck. if we reach there, we also see many things like the footprint of Buddha which was built at the same time of Preah Thom, and the Linga is nearby that place, too, some worshippers still pure the water over the linga, and honored the sacred water from the lord of the creation of the world (Shiva linga and Uma Yoni).
The River of Thousand Lingas
It means The river of thousand linga was honored by Khmer king Jayavarman II (reigned 802-850 AD), because, he want to sacreded himself as the Devaraja and Chakravaltin king, the king of universe, the king of king. First this ruler also unified many vassal kingdoms into flowering period of Angkor. We also see many Lingas built on the river soles; the big Linga is around 3 to 4 diameters at the lower side of river. Beside this we can bee seen many figures of lord Vishnu that reclining on the Sesa serpent.
The Devaraja cult: This cult is practiced by Khmer king Jayavarman II reign (802-850 AD). He was a first king in brilliant angkorian period, you know, he returned from Java around 800 AD and then he unified two empires of Chenla "Chenla Land and Water", after that he was crowned in 802 AD like Chakravartin (Universal sovereign, king of kings, king of Khmer world). He then appointed a Brahmin to install a local god of deities, the supreme protectors of Khmer Land (Jacqes 1997), he also corresponded with Khmer expression of Kamratengjagutaraja which translated in Sankrit is Devaraja "God-king" who was to be incarnated as a miraculous Linga, so in short this king built one temple Aramrongchen on the summit of Kulen for placing the royal sacred Linga and after that, he claimed himself here as a ruler of Universe.
Prasat Krol Romeas or Prasat Toek Tleak
It situated near the waterfall which enclosed by laterite ramparts. The sanctuaries and the galleries had been fallen down. It has so poor decorations in sides, because all bandits excavated insides and find the antiques. It was built in the reign of king Jayavarman VII in the late of 12th century and dedicated to Buddhism. This ruin took to build from laterites walls and the door frames, lintels made of sand stones. We note that near the ruin, we can see carving-lintels on the ground which has the scratched-trace of Buddha in the middle part. In the river sole nearly the temple contains a figure of Vishnu sleeps on his Sesa.
Domrei Krap Figure
It is located at Phumi Thmei village, Khnorng Phnom Commune, Svay Leu district, Siem Reap province. It is just behind the village in the dense of jungles and around three or four kilometers of Preah Thom and on the way Preah Kral. In the edge of mountain there is an enormous figure of elephant that engraved on the large rocky bed, nearby consists a large natural stone the shape like tortoise, then the local residents call “ Thmar Andoek “. The elephant is so good conditioned and occupied by the mosses. This figure may built in the reign of king Jayavarman II.
Srah Damrei
Just 6km on southwest of Preah Kral, around 12km on the southwest of Preah Thom, and on the way to Wat Rung Bracheav. This place is a water pond that consists the figures of elephant, three lions and one bull. The elephant is around 4m high and 5m long, still well-preserved, but unfortunately other ignorance students had wrote their names on the surfaces of elephant. At other higher part there are three lions in the same style of one at prasat To Sombor Preikuh, the lions also crouching on the rocky-bed and on the right hand side at lower part is a stone bull Nandi. Beside the figures, you also see the beautiful rocky beds nearby, the hermitages which took to build recent years. This place was erected in the reign of king Jayavarman II, in the 9th century.
Preah Kral Sanctuary
This place is situated a round six kilometers on the southwest of Preah Angk Thom. It is a new temple which built maybe seven years ago, but it is so attractive for visitors visit landscapes of rocky bed, the surrounded summits, and especially fascinated sunset and sunrise with beautiful environments over there. We are able to see the golden, silver Stupas, the king Jayavarman VII’s sanctuary and Preah Kral (the place that the Buddha paved or dried up his robs). Beside this we can visit Poeng Russi rocky beds in the jungle. This place has very big place for camping and take the fresh air from the natures.
Prasat Aramrongchen (Rong Chen)
It is situated 2.5 on the southwest of Anglong Thom village. It was the first Pyramidal temple which was built in the reign of king Jayavarman II (802-835 AD), from bricks, laterites, and sandstones. Nowadays, we can see only the three tiers of foundations. The first level is 100m x 100m, the second level is 43m x 23m and the third is 10m x 10m. Just now on the highest platform has only the pedestal of Linga, and the holes in the laterites floors, it seemed to be the holes for wooden columns. Hereby, we can not see the sanctuary, it may be ruined. The king Jayavarman II secreted himself here as a king of Universe and Devaraja cult, especially he declared Cambodia’s independent from Javanese. He placed his royal Linga that was symbolized the power (God-king). Nearby this place, we have seen many traces that our ancestors quarried the sandstones for this foundation, this quarry, and our people called Trapeang Rong. Last year, EFEO excavated, and studied there, and may remove mines.
Poeng Tmal (Tmal Rocky-bed) or Kok Chen
This place is located around 2km at SW of Anlong Thom, and a Rocky-bed that consist many sculptures on the big rocks which engraved a thousand years ago. The figures of Shiva on Nandi with Uma, Ganesha and other Hindu deities. In another surface, there is the inscription. Inside the Rocky bed, we still see the pedestal for Linga that took to restore last year by EFEO. Behind this place has cliff with plenty of figures of Vishnu on Sesa with Laksmi, Shiva with Uma are on Nandi and Ganesha. This cliff seemed to be at that time was the waterfall when the water dried up, it remained the sculptures there.
Prasat O Paon
Located around 2.5km west of Anlong Thom village in the jungle. It is a well-preserved tower in Phnom Kulen. This temple is square shaped platform which was built from bricks and the steps staircases from sandstones and the door-frame from sandstones, too. There are not any false doors made from sandstones but it made of bricks. On the niches consists many miniature towers. Other ways, we can be seen some remaining of stuccos that applied at that time (in the reign of king Jayavarman II, 802-35 AD).
Prasat Kraham (Red tower)
Located maybe 30m north of Phumi Khla Khmum village. It is a brick sanctuary on the north plateau of Phnom Kulen, was built in the reign of king Jayavarman II, (802-835 AD), and dedicated to homage of Shiva. It is a square shaped temple with three blind doors without decoration. The base is 3.70m in square and in sanctuary contains a Linga with Somasutra pierced through the north wall of temple and the spouse with Makara’s head.
Prasat Damrei Krap Sanctuary
Location on about 5km southwest of Anlong Thom village. It is an important temple of Mahendraparavata which was built in the reign of king Jayavarman II (802-835 AD), and dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. The three brick sanctuaries are standing on row and are oriented to north and south. The central sanctuary was built completely and still good conditioned.
Prasat Neak Ta
Location at the eastside of Rong Chen and standing on the row from South to North and anyway four temples are setting together: Sak Tuk, Neak Ta, Prasat Chrei and Bos Neak. It is normally was built from brick and sandstone frame door. It was built in the reign of king Jayavarman II, (reigned 802-835 AD), and dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu.
Trekking tour Itinerary for Phnom Kulen
Trekking tour to Phnom Kulen: Three days and two nights.
First day, we wander from Preah Chhub to the River of Thousand Lingas, Preah Thom and Waterfall, and accommodate at Preah Thom village.
The second day, we are trekking to Srah Domrei, Rung Brachheav, Phumi Tmey and Domrei Krab, and stay at Preah Kral temple.
The third day: travel to Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei temple.
Please feel freely to contact us for these tours at Phnom Kulen, Email: angkoradvisor@yahoo.com
Local tour guide in Phnom Kulen
Mr. Moeun is a professional local experienced tour guide in Phnom Kulen. He was born in Svay Leu village, Commune, District and Siemreap Province, Cambodia. He was a teacher at Khlar Khmum village, but now, he becomes a local tour guide who knows a lot a bout the temples’ backgrounds and local life-styles on the summit of Phnom Kulen. He knows the way for trekking tour exactly. He guides always with his motorbike just for one day-trip here. If you would like him to be your local guide, you please call to him as mobile phone:+ (855) 089 221 073
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Preah Angk Chhubb | Preah Angk Thom |
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The Lingas (Phallus) | Prasat Krol Romeas |
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Damrei Krap | Preah Kral Stupa |
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Srah Damrei | Aram Rong Chen |
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Poeng Tbal | Prasat O Paong |
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Prasat Krahom | Prasat Damrei Krap |
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