Phnm Da Temple ភ្នំដា

Phom Da is located in Prek Ta Phor village, Kork Thalork commune, Angkor Borei district, about 24 kilometers east of Takeo provincial town by water canal or about 102 kilometers south of Phnom Penh by the road. This part of country is flooded six months of the year, during the rainy season, and dry the rest of the year.

Phnom Da is a cultural, historical site that has been renovated to provide visitors a place to relax or research Cambodian history. The scenery is beautiful all year. In the rainy season, there is a vast water basic that produces lush, green rice paddies during the dry season.

Phnom Da temple was built on the top of a small hill in 6^th century by King Rutravarman, who reigned during the Norkor Phnom period, according to the French historian Mibreno. The temple is 12 meters square and 18 meters high. It was constructed of laterite, brick and sandstone. A Brahman temple, it faces north towards Norkor Kork Thalork, which was thee capital of Nokor Phnom at the time the temple was built. There is no rampart.

The temple’s peak is damaged, and a sculpture depicting the story of Churning of the Ocean of Milk has been broken into two parts. A lintel illustrates the figure of sleeping Vishnu. There are false doors on three sides and a real door that opens on the north side.

In the flank of the hill are five man-made caves that reflect the style of Phnom Da, which is similar to India style. In each cave, there is a Shiva lingam and Uma yoni, objects that Brahmans worship. During the Pol Pot regime, between 1975 and 1979, the caves were used as cremation places by the Khmer Rouge.

About 300 meters southwest of the temple is another smaller temple known as Asrom Moha Eysei. Built at the end of the 6^th century in Zhenla Period, during the reign of King Pavavarman I, the temple has five windows and two doors. It is 5.5 meters square and 7 meters high, it is built in thee Indian style and features a double wall of basalt that faces north.

In 1992, a number of clergymen and nuns built a pagoda south of the hill. It is called Phnom Da Pagoda.

Nearly three decades of war have left the road from Phnom Chiso to Angkor Borei district in poor condition, during the rainy season, flooding makes it impassable. Nevertheless, the site attracts foreign tourists and many Cambodians interested in researching Cambodian history during the Koh Kork Thlork Period.

After 1979, the Takeo provincial authority constructed a canal, Canal 15, which links Takeo provincial town to Angkor Borei district, this has made access easier since the road between Angkor Borei and Phom Da is still difficult to travel, especially during the rainy season, when it floods

Phom Chiso Templeប្រាសាទភ្នំជីសូ

Phnom Chiso is a historical site located in Sla village, Rovieng commune, Samrong district, about 62 kilometers south of Phnom Penh or 27 kiloometers north of Takeo provincial town. To reach the site, take National Road 2 to Bati district and Neang Kmoa temple. Turn right at the sign for the site and head down the dirt trial for 5 more kilometers. Phnom Chiso is 130-meter-high Mountain.

Phnom Chiso Temple was built in the early 11^th century by King Suryavarman I (AD 1002-1050), who practiced Brahmanism. Constructed of sandstone and other stones, it is 60 meters long and 50 meters wide and sits atop a mountain. The temple is surrounded by two galleries. The first gallery, is in the middle, where there is the main worship place with two doors and a wooden statue. There are beautiful sculptures on the lintel and the pillars.

Phnom Chiso Pagoda was built in 1917, destroyed by war during the 1970s and rebuilt in 1979. Behind it is a hall called Thammasaphea, kot and a worship place. There is an ancient water tank made of concrete.

People usually climb the staircase on the west side of thee mountain, which has 408 steps. Another set of stairs in front of the temple links the temple to Sen Chhmos temple, Sen Phouvang temple and Tonle Om, a lake considered sacred by Brahmans and used for washing away sins. A large rock yard nearly about 100 meters ling and 80 meters was once the site of several other temples, but only parts of these temples remain standing.

In addition, there is a mountain cave, Vimean Chan, located about 150 meterrs south of the temple. It is a quiet place for Brahmans or ascetics to meditate. During the Americans’ war with Vietnam, the site was bombed, dislodging several large rocks that block the entrance to the cave today.

Hun Sen Phnom Chiso Agriicultural and Tourist site is located in Samrong, Bati and Prey Kabas districts. It includes a 513-hectare paddy rice field of dry rice, a 1,386-hectare field of wet rice and three water basins-Thnos Ta Kong, Tuol Lork and Sen Pea Ream.

Phnom Chiso is very popular with visitors, especially during festivals, when it is very crowded. The top of the mountain affords visitors a panoramic view of the Takeo province rice paddies stretching for kilometers.

Ta Keo Temple ប្រាសាទតាកែវ

Ta Keo temple is located east of Thommanon and Chao Say​Tevoda on the east bank of Stung Siem Reap. The temple was​built in the late 10^th to early 12^th centuries by King​​ Jayavarman V and Suryavarman I, dedicating to Shiva Brahmanism. Had it been finished, Ta Keo, undoubtedly, would have been one of the finest temples at Angkor.

The temple rises to a height of 22 meters to the sky, giving an impression of strength and power. An innovation at Ta Keo is a porch at each cardinal point on the five towers of the top level. A gallery was situated on a second base and had a roof of brick which is now destroyed. Enormous blocks of feldsparthic wacke-a very hard to carve, greenish-grey sandstone-were cut to a regular size and placed in position. This absence of decoration give it simplicity of design that separates it from other temples.

Ta Keo temple is a replica of Mount Meru with a rectangular plan and five square towers arranged in a quincunx, standing majestically on a finely molded three-tiered pedestal that is 12 meters high. Long rectangular halls on both levels probably sheltered pilgrims. Two libraries on the east side of the platform open to the west. The upper platform is square and stands on three diminishing tiers with stairways on each side. Most of the space on the upper level is occupied by the five towers, all unfinished, opening to the four cardinal points. The central sanctuary dominates the layout which is given further importance by the development of porches.

Bakong Temple ប្រាសាទបាគង

Bakong temples is south of Preah Kor temple. It was also built by King Indravarman I in AD 881, dedicating to Shiva Brahmanism. The temple was the center of Hariharalaya city and was probably the state temple of King Indravarman.

It is a temple-mountain symbolizing the cosmic Mount Meru. Four levels leading to the central sanctuary extend the symbolism, and correspond to the worlds of mythical beingsnagas, garudas, rakasas, and yakshas. The fifth and topmost level is reserved for the gods the levels represent the five cosmic levels of Mount Meru.

The temple is enclosed within two separate ramparts. The out rampart measure 900 by 700 meters. It surrounds a moat, and there are causeways on four sides, which are rampart has a gopura of sandstone and laterite in the center of each side of wall. Long halls on each side lie parallel to the eastern wall. They were probably rest houses for visitors. Pairs of square-shaped, brick structure at the north-east and southeast corners are indentified by rows of circular holes and an opening to the west. On each side of the processional way, just beyond the halls, there are two square structures with four doors. The inscription of the temple was found in the northern building. Further along the processional way, there are two long sandstone buildings standing parallels on each side and opening on to the causeway. These may have been storehouse or libraries.

The diminishing platforms are square in plan with stairways on all four sides. The central sanctuary is visible from each of the five levels because of the unusual width of the tiers. The sanctuary is square with four tiers and a lotus-shaped finial. Only the base of the original central sanctuary remains. The upper portion was constructed at a later date, perhaps during the 12^th century, which explains the lotus spire that is characteristic of that period.