4 Cambodian temples that aren't Angkor Wat

The square stone walls, shiva lingmans, lion sculptures and octagonal towers of Sambor Prei Kuk are fighting a losing battle against the jungle.

Unlike the famed Siam Reap UNESCO world heritage site, you can have these ancient beauties all to yourself

2 July, 2012

By Ian Lloyd Neubauer

CNN Go

At the turn of the millennium, when Cambodia was still reeling from decades of civil war, one could spend hours walking around Angkor Wat Archaeological Park without seeing a single foreigner.

But Cambodia today -- and the 12th-century temple complex that sits at its geographical, historical and spiritual heart -- is awash with tourists.

More than 640,000 visited in the first three months of 2012, with archaeologists claiming the UNESCO World Heritage Site is being loved to death.

Ironically, there are dozens of Angkor-era temple complexes in Cambodia that receive a fraction of the visitors Angkor Wat gets, some of which you can have all to yourself.

Here are four of the most impressive.

Phnom Chissor

Start training now. To get to the top of Phnom Chisor, visitors have to climb 412 steps.

Set upon a hill not far from Phnom Penh with knockout views of the fertile deltas and emerald green rice fields of Cambodia’s deep south, this small but impressive Hindu temple predates Angkor Wat by 100 years.

Exploring Cambodia by staying with local Khmer families

Jan 24, 2012
By Bernd Kubisch
DPA

Kampong Thom, Cambodia - The few established attractions in Cambodia such as the temple in Angkor Wat are generally overrun by tourists.

However, Khmer families in the province of Kampong Thom are now offering village accommodation in their simple wooden houses, presenting tourists with the chance of exploring rarely visited jungle terrain and mountain temples.

The villagers have stocked up on fresh vegetables, fish, chicken, rice, beer and bottles of water for their foreign guests although the high temperatures mean any liquid refreshments are lukewarm. The owner starts to hitch two white oxen to his cart in order to make a trip to the neighbouring village for some ice but his son quickly takes control and drives off on his moped, returning 20 minutes later with a dripping block of ice strapped to his carrier.

World Heritage Sites to be proposed in Cambodia

Sambor Prey Kuk Temple

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodia will ask the United Nations to register four temples - one dating back some 1,400 years - as World Heritage Sites, a government official said Tuesday.

Listings by UNESCO, the world body's cultural agency, normally get international assistance to preserve the sites, and inevitably attract a larger number of tourists.

Kum Polin, a senior official at the Ministry of Culture, said the highest priority will be given to the 7th century Sambor Prei Kuk temple, located at what was once the country's capital some 80 miles (128 kilometers) north of the current capital Phnom Penh.

A master plan for development and conservation of the temple is now being drawn up and the submission to UNESCO is expected within three years, he said.

The country will also nominate the Banteay Chhmar temple, built in the 12th and 13th centuries in northwestern Cambodia; the 13th century Nokor Bachey temple east of Phnom Penh; and Oudong, the country's capital in the 17th and 18th centuries, 27 miles (45 kilometers) north of Phnom Penh.

The ancient temples of Angkor, the country's top tourist attraction, were declared a World Heritage Site in 1992, while the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was added to the list last year.

Cambodia to ask UN to list 1,400-year-old temple as world heritage site

PHNOM PENH, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will ask UN to list the Sambo Prey Kuk temple, which was built from 615 A.D. to 650 A.D., located in the Kompong Thom province, as a world heritage site, Khmer-language daily newspaper the Rasmei Kampuchea reported on Monday.

"We are preparing the proposal for UN to register the temple, which was built during the rule of Khmer King Isanavarman I, with the Committee of World Heritage," the newspaper quoted Som Sokhun, secretary of state at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, as saying.

The government has to organize a master plan for development and conservation of the temple, he said.

It was even older than the world-renowned Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, which has been the hottest sightseeing spot of the kingdom, he said.

It was built with clay, but not stones, with which the Angkor Wat was constructed, he said.

The Sambo Prey Kuk temple is expected to become a place for people to study and research Khmer culture, construction, arts and history, he added.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) already listed the Angkor Wat and the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province as World Heritage Sites.