Beng Mealea
It is located about 60km on the north east of Siem Reap and about 7km at the southeast of Phnom Kulen. The temple was built in the reign of king Suryavarman II, in the 12th century, and dedicated to the god Vishnu. Beng Mealea is completely ruined even though it was built at about the same time as Angkor Wat temple. Its dimensions a similar, no has central pyramid. It is one of the largest ensembles in Angkor region, which covered an area within its 45m wide moats that cover a distance of 4200m all round of 108 hectares and comparable therefore to the most imposing temple of capital. The moat is enclosing 1.200m x 900m framed by laterite steps and superb causeways with Nagas balustrades same Angkor Wat, at the both sides of the causeways, we can see the high platform with internal courtyard which have carried the light-weight pavilion. The temple is composed of three enclosing galleries with four Gopuras. Nearby this place we can see two other temples call Prasat Chhrey and Kong Plug.
Around Beng Mealea
Prasat Chhrey
It is located at the southeast of Beng Mealea temple, beyond 300m, near the southern dike of Beng Mealea Baray. This temple is enclosed by laterites ramparts with four sand stones doorway in cruciform plans, in all four cardinal directions and a central shrine made of sandstones linked by its antechamber faced to east. At the southwest we still see a library with its beautiful good preserved frontons. Unfortunately during the civil war the bandits dug and exploded DNT or mines in central sanctuary and in the other entry towers, they wanted to steal antiques like the statues, gold and other precious stones. Two years ago the CMAC (Cambodian Mine Action Cooperation) removed landmine here and free temple from the jungles. It is said to be built in the reign of king Jayavarman XI and Suryavarman II in the late 11th century and dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. Nowadays it is good see temples if you are visiting Beng Mealea.
Prasat Kong Plug
It is just situated at southeast corner of Baray. It is only an artificial hill framed by steps and enclosed by the laterite walls. At the western side we can see the terrace which flanked by the Naga balustrades and lions. This place in that time seamed to be a place for storing the royal Linga and the terrace used for other ceremonies or Linga ceremony in that time. The hill in the middle was destroyed or dug by the bandits already. Two years ago the Apsara Authority cleaned and guards. It is still attracted to the tourists that desire to visit here.
The Terrace
If you walk to eastern entrance, you will see more Naga balustrades with elegant heads, water ponds and other Semas (stone posts). At the end procession way you can see the terrace easily. It is located on western dike of Baray. It is framed by the sandstone base and steps. Here, we see only a few figures of lion that lied down in the ground. It is nice to see the Baray with a little landscape there.
O Thma Dabb
It is a sandstones quarry which located at the northern side of Beng Mealea. Over there we can see a creek with quarried traces. This place our ancestors carved the stone to build the temple Beng Mealea and in Angkor, that carried them by water ways and elephants. It is nice to see here and learn more about how Cambodian ancestors did at former time.
Prasat Svay Leu
It is situated in Svay Leu pagoda, Svay Leu district about 5 km at the north of Beng Mealea. It is enclosed by the sandstones wall and gateway facing to east, it has no central shrine, and it seamed to be destroyed by Buddhist monks later on. The two entry towers are still well-preserved with its beautiful corbel roofs. It was built in the 11th century in the reign of king Suryavarman I, and dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.
Poeng Kumnu Rocky Bed
It is the name of rocky bed which consists many sculptures of gods Vishnu, Shiva and Ganesha, the god Vishnu is reclining on his Sesa or Ananta and mounts on the Garuda. The god Shiva and Uma stands in row with Vishnu. At the small river there is the figure of god Vishnu sleeping on his Sesa. The beautiful figure of god Vishnu and Ganesha are on the rocky beds, Vishnu is on Sesa with his wife Laksmi massages his legs, one lotus flower grew from Vishnu's navel, created the form of Brahma getting on lotus, meditated and Ganesha is meditating with multi-arms opposite side of Vishnu. Nearby we can see the new Buddhist temple, which was built two years ago, if we reach in this place and then we can see many beautiful rocky beds with its view near here. It is located near foot of Kulen at the northeast, around 5km from Svay Leu on the way to Ta Siem commune, in Ta Siem village, Ta Siem commune, Svay Leu district, Siem Reap Province. You can question someone at Svay Leu, and then they bring you to that place.
Prasat Toap Chhey and the ancient Kilns
It located at the Toap Chhey village, Beng Mealea commune, Svay Leu district and Siem Reap province. It has two temples and five kilns, first temple was built in the same period Beng Mealea in which there are many ornaments and it said to be made of sand stone with enclosure, the second temple temple took to build in the same period of Bayon art style, it was a chapel hospital or Dahmasala with long hall with its monumental sanctuary, this was so called Prasat Kuk by local people. About the five ceramic kilns, the people produced the best quality ceramic pots during the 12th and 13th centuries. In 2005 Angkor Advisor Team went to research there with bad road through Chan Hea village, and many ancient bridges that took to build a long ancient road to Preah Khan Kompong Svay at Preah Vihear Province. Recent year, Kamsamet Company built the red earth road to through that place and link from Beng Mealea to Preah Khan Kompong Svay. This place is so attractive for picnic lunch near the large Teap Chhey Lake, and after you can link your trip to Ta Ong bridge or to Khvau commune for seeing peasants’ area daily lives.
Prasat Wat Prasat (Sek Tatuy)
It is located at Trapeang Pong village, Beng Mealear Commune, Svay Leu district, Siem Reap province. This temple was built by Brahmin Yajavaraha, in the reign of king Rajendravarman II, in the late of 10th century, dedicated to god Shiva. This a small ruin that surrounded by moat and wall, occupied itself around one hectare, the complex has many halls and two libraries, at the doorjambs have the inscriptions, at the east side there is a long causeway at the eastern side, which was built from basal stone, and its Baray locates nearby. If you reach there its environment makes you happy and change atmosphere. You are able to go only the way to Prei Chkar village and the Wat Phnom Kongha. If you reach that way ask a seller there, he or she tell you the way to the temple as soon as possible.
Ta Ong Bridge (at Kombor or village)
This bridge is located at Kombor or village, Kvau commune, Chhikreng district, Siem Reap province. It is a long bridge which linked from Angkor to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, that made of laterite stones with fascinated Naga balustrades and the figure of Buddha sits in the middle of the heads. This is a good preserved and well proportioned bridge, that was not yet restored or taking care. The corbel arches are very nice in condition, during the civil war this bridge had been bombed by the Khmer Rouge. This was built in the reign of king Jayavarman VII. We were around 2005, the road was so bad, only ox-cart road, and we saw several bridges which built the same period of Angkor. At this bridge we saw many ox-carts which transported the woods and a lot of bamboos grew near the bridge. And many land mines near there, last year Khamsamet Company built the basal red soil to Preah Khan Kompong Svay through that bridge. This bridge is measuring 60m long and 15m wide.
You Please feel free to book tours for these places, email: angkoradvisor@yahoo.com