Siem Reap Temples – Must See Temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Siem Reap temples in Cambodia are known throughout the world for the sheer grandeur and scale of construction and architectural brilliance. Angkor Wat in Siem Reap is believed to be the largest religious structure in the history of the world. But Angkor Wat though synonymous with the Siem Reap temples is not the only one. There are more than 50 temples, big and small within the Angkor Archaeological Park, that draw visitors from all over the world. Here is a list of the must see temples in Siem Reap, arranged in alphabetical order.

Siem Reap temples – Must see temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The Siem Reap temples were built by the kings of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. These are massive Hindu and Buddhist temples. The temples in many cases were actually self-contained cities in themselves which housed thousands of people. The ancient temples had remained hidden to the world until their discovery towards the end of the 19th century. Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII are the famous rulers of the Khmer Empire who were great builders too. Some of the best temples of Siem Reap as well as other public structures including reservoirs, canals, and other public infrastructure.

For visitors, at least a 3 day Siem Reap itinerary or 4 day Siem Reap itinerary is a must to visit the temples at leisure and absorb the finer details of the magnificent structures. But if you are constrained for time, a 2 day Siem Reap itinerary too can be done that covers the best Siem Reap temples and other major Siem Reap tourist attractions. To help you plan your Siem Reap itinerary and to ensure that you do not leave out any of the top temples of Siem Reap we have prepared a list of the best temples of Siem Reap.

List of  Siem Reap Temples

Siem Reap Temples – Most Visited Temple – Angkor Wat

The Angkor Wat temple is often mistaken or referred to indicate the entire Angkor Archaeological temple complex. People identify Siem Reap with Angkor Wat. The fact is that Angkor is just one temple complex, but the most magnificent and the best Siem Reap temple. Tourists flock to visit the Angkor Wat temple first and then move on to the other temples. The sunrise at Angkor Wat is a major attraction that attracts tourists in hordes. It is undoubtedly the prime Siem Reap tourist attraction. The temple complex is spread across a massive area of over 160 hectares and is believed to be the largest religious monument anywhere in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II at the beginning of the 12th century. The temple was originally dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu but later was converted to a Buddhist temple.

Siem Reap Temples – City of Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is actually one of the grand cities built by the Khmer Kings. It is believed to have been the last of the great cities built. An outer wall encompasses the ancient city of Angkor Thom which is spread over an area of about 9 square kilometers. Angkor Thom encloses within it many temples, palatial buildings, public squares, and other buildings. The entry into Angkor Thom is through stone gates with high towers with smiling faces that look down upon you as you enter the city. There are similar gates in all the cardinal directions. The main places to visit in Siem Ream within Angkor Thom are Bayon Temple, Royal Palace, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Preah Palilay, Tep Pranam Pagoda, and Phimeanakas.

Angkor Thom – Elephant Terrace

The Elephant Terrace is a raised platform that overlooks a vast open space that must have had the main thoroughfare and public grounds of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The platform is thus named because of the rows of sculpted elephants on its walls. The walls are also decorated with carvings of various Hindu Gods and mythological creatures and animals.

Terrace of The Leper King

Near the Elephant Terrace, on another raised platform is a statue. An inscription found near the statue point to the fact that the statue is that of the Hindu God of death Yama, however, local legend associate it with a Khmer King named Yasovarman I who is believed to have had leprosy. Hence the name Leper King.

Phimeanakas

The Phimeanakas is what remains of a 10th century Hindu temple that is believed to have been built by king Suryavarman I. It is a pyramid-shaped structure which to the untrained eye looks like a heap of debris. It is believed to have had a tower at the summit. Legend has it that the king who stayed in the royal palace nearby used to spend a part of the night with a Naga woman here.

Bayon Temple

The Bayon temple is one of the most unusual and intriguing of the Siem Reap temples. The temple lies in the centre of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. The roads that lead into the city from the gates at the four cardinal points meet at the centre, which is where the Bayon temple lies. What makes the temple unique are the 216 towers of smiling faces that seem to look at you from all directions. These faces are believed to be representations of Avalokitesvara who was the Bodhisattva of compassion. However, some believe that these faces are actually representations of King Jayavarman VII, himself.

Phnom Bakheng

The Phnom Bakheng is a very old temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It dates back to the 9th century and stands atop a hill. The temple was built in the centre of what was the earlier capital of the Khmer Empire called Yashodharapura.

Prasat Bakong

The Prasat Bakong is the major temple of what is called the Roulous group of temples. These temples were built in the older capital city of the Khmer Empire known as Hariharalaya. The temple dates back to the early 9th  century and is built to represent the mythical Mount Meru of Hindu mythology.

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is another Hindu temple that was built for the Hindu God Shiva. This 10th-century temple which lies in ruins in the embrace of trees has beautiful carvings that have survived across the centuries. This temple is said to have been built by two courtiers of the King who were named Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha.

Banteay Kdei

The Banteay Kdei is a Buddhist temple and monastery dating back to the 12th century and built by Jayavarman VII. The vast temple complex that is in ruins today was the monastic chambers of monks and remains of beautiful carvings including that of the famed Apsaras can be seen even today.

Baksei Chamkrong

Baksei Chamkrong literally means, “The bird who shelters under its wings”, and is connected with a legend of the king being protected by a huge bird with its wings when he was trying to flee from a siege. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and is estimated to have been completed during the latter half of the 10th Century. It is believed that there was a golden statue of Shiva originally in the temple.

Banteay Samre

Banteay Samre is a Hindu temple built in a style similar to that of Angkor Wat. The temple is dated to the 12th century. One of its towers has a striking resemblance to the towers found in Angkor Wat.

Baphuon Temple

The Baphuon Temple is a temple originally dedicated to the Hindi God Shiva. It was later converted to a Buddhist temple like many others. The temple lies within Angkor Thom and is believed to have been the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II. The temple was built in the mid of the 11h century and had exquisite and detailed carvings.

Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea is a 12th-century Hindu temple that is located away from the main group of temples. It is about 77 kilometres from Siem Reap. The history of the temple is not clear and it is in ruins for the most part. However, it has an intriguing ambience and is definitely worth a visit.

Chau Say Tevoda

The Chau Say Tevoda temple is a Hindu temple built to the Hindu Gods Vishnu and Shiva. Interestingly the main deity is Shiva but there are many sculptures of Vishnu in the temple. The temple also features figures of Buddha and the other Buddhist iconography including the Bodhi tree. The temple is believed to date back to the mid of the 12th century.

East Mebon

The East Mebon temple is a Hindu temple that dates back to the 10th century. It was built by King Rajendravarman II during the 10th century as a dedication to his parents. Elephant sculptures that are two metres in height and carvings of the Hindu God Indra astride the elephant Airawata and Shiva astride his mount Nandi are beautiful.

Krol Ko

Krol Ko is a Buddhist temple that was built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. Even today beautiful examples of the artistry of its makers can be seen in the form of pediments that depict Avalokitesvara standing on a lotus. It is surprising to see the pediment of the scene of Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain, an instance from Hindu mythology.

Kravan

Prasat Kravan is a Hindu temple built of red bricks that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. What is distinctive in this temple is the use of red bricks bound with a vegetable compound for the walls. And on these walls are found beautiful carvings of Vishnu and Lakshmi. The temple is dated to the early 10th century and is believed to have been built by officials under the reign of Harshavarman I or Ishanavarman II.

Lolei Temple

The Lolei temple is another of the temples that belong to the Roulous group of temples located in what was once the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire called Hariharalaya. The temple dates back to the late 9th century to the time of King Yasovarman I. The temple is believed to have been built in honour of the King’s parents and grandparents. There were four towers, each dedicated to each parent and grandparent. The towers are carved with false doors, Hindu Gods, and Dvarpalas or gatekeepers.

Neak Pean

A small and serene temple, the Prasat Neak Pean is located on an island in the middle of the Jayatataka Baray which is a reservoir that is believed to have been built by Jayavarman VII. The temple too was built by Jayavarman VII during the 12th century. It is believed that the temple was actually a healing centre. An intricate system of waterways near the temple with ponds were believed to have been places where patients bathed to benefit from the healing powers of the water.

Pre Rup

Pre Rup is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and built during the reign of Rajendravarman II, with additions by later kings. The different towers of the temple have statues of Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, and Parvati or Uma.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan is a grand and enormous temple built by Jayavarman VII as a dedication to his father Dharanindra during the 12th century. It is a Buddhist temple that initially had the statue of Lokesvara as its principal deity. The temple is so huge that it actually contained an entire city. It is believed that more than 10,000 people lived inside the temple complex. The temple stands on the edge of the Jayatataka Baray and is surrounded by a huge wall and has gates at all the cardinal directions. These gates lead to long corridors that meet at the centre where stood the deity. The statue of Lokesvara was later replaced by a Stupa.

Phnom Krom

The Prasat Phnom Krom is a Hindu temple that is located atop a hill known as Phnom Krom. It is located about 12 kilometres from Siem Reap. The temple dates back to the 9th century. The temple consists of three towers which are believed to have been temples to the trinity of Hinduism, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. The view of the sunset from atop the hill is spectacular.

Preah Palilay

Preah Palilay is a temple ascribed to Jayavarman VII and built during the 12th century, though there is evidence of later additions too. The temple has a statue of Buddha sitting on a lotus. Depiction of scenes from Buddha’s life is interspersed with images of the Hindu God Indra and his mount Airavata. This points to the fact that the temple too though originally a Hindu temple was later converted to a Buddhist temple.

Preah Ko

Preah Ko is part of the Roulos Group of temples and in fact the first of the temples that were built in the ancient Khmer Capital city that went by the name Hariharalaya. Preah Ko is the name derived from the statue of the Bull or Nandi that can be seen in front of the temple. Nandi is Shiva’s mount and dedicated devotee. Preah Ko was built in the late 9th century by Indravarman I to honour his family members.

Ta Prohm

The Ta Prohm temple is one of the most popular and well known of the places to visit in Siem Reap. It captured the public imagination after filming of the Tomb Raider and is referred to as the Tomb Raider temple. It is a temple that is today full of trees with the huge trees enveloping the temple in its giant branches and rendering it with a surreal ambience. It is a Buddhist monastery that was built in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII and dedicated to his mother.

Siem Reap Temples – Looking Beyond – Other Important Temples of Cambodia

Though the temples of Siem Reap form the main focus of visitors to Cambodia, there are temples of the Khmer Empire strewn across the country. There are some temples near Pnom Penh and in the vicinity too. Here is a list of some temples other than the temples of Siem Reap.

Phnom Da Temple

Even before the rise of the Khmer Empire, way back in the 6th century, the seeds of its civilization was sown by the ancient Funan Kingdom, which was in the region identified today as Takeo Province. There, on a hill stands the 6th-century temple built by King Rutravarman, the Phnom Da temple, which is believed to be the cradle of the Khmer Civilization. Phnom Da is located around 90 kilometres from the Cambodian Capital of Phnom Penh.

Chisor Mountain Temple – Phnom Chisor

The Chisor Mountain Temple stands atop a hill in the Takeo Province of Cambodia about 55 kilometres from Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s largest city and capital. The temple lies in ruins and is believed to have been built in the earlier part of the 12th century by Suryavarman I. It is a Hindu temple that was built for the worship of Vishnu and Shiva.

Ta Prohm (Takeo Province)

This Ta Prohm temple is not to be confused with the one in Siem Reap. This temple is in the Takeo Province, not far from the capital city of Phnom Penh. This temple too is of the same period and is believed to have been built towards the end of the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. The temple is in ruins, but many of the carvings can still be seen that depict Hindu and Buddhist iconography. This temple is next to the lake Tonle Bati, a favourite picnic spot amongst the locals.

Siem Reap Temples – Siem Reap Map

How To Get To Siem Reap

• Siem Reap is a major international destination in Cambodia
• Siem Reap is located at a distance of about 318 kilometres from the capital Phnom Penh
• Siem Reap has an international airport which connects it to other cities in Asia and the capital Phnom Penh

Are you hearing the call of the timeless temples of Siem Reap? If you are planning a trip to Siem Reap then, you can book flights right here. You can book a flight through TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline.

Where To Stay In Siem Reap

Siem Reap being an international destination attracts millions of tourists who flock there to visit the famous Angkor Wat and other temples. It is but natural that there is no dearth of accommodation options in Siem Reap. It offers everything from premium star hotels and resorts to homestays and hostels. We stayed at the Kingdom Angkor Hotel which is one of the best hotels in Siem Reap.

You can book your hotel in Siem Reap right here through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline and get awesome deals and savings.

Tours & Activities In Siem Reap

Siem Reap can be overwhelming for the first time visitor, with its many temples spread across the Angkor Archaeological Park and beyond. It is prudent to book  Siem Reap attractions tours online or one can book some of the best and most recommended Siem Reap tours. You can now book tours in Siem Reap as well as activities in Siem Reap.

This is a comprehensive list of temples of Cambodia and more specifically Siem Reap, though it is not exhaustive, it can serve as a ready guide to the Siem Reap temples. We hope you find our Siem Reap travel blog post useful and handy during your visit to Cambodia. We would definitely appreciate your inputs if any to make the information we have in this guide to Siem Reap temples more exhaustive.

Few of our other posts on Cambodia:

2 days in Siem Reap – Angkor Wat Itinerary
Things to do in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tomb Raider Temple – Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia
National Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
A Guide to Vegetarian Food in Cambodia
Phnom Da, Takeo Province, Cambodia
Takeo Province, Cambodia – Phnom Chisor and Ta Prohm

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