Prasat Banteay Chhmar Temple Group

BANTEAY CHHMAR TEMPLES is about 20 km east of the Thai border and was constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. One of the temple's shrines once held an image of Srindrakumara rajaputra (the rown prince), probably a son of Jayavarman VII. The long Old Khmer inscription found at the site (K.227), and now on display in the National Museum, Phnom Penh, relates how this prince or a king (samtac) was protected on two different occasions by four royal servants, all of whom lost their lives in his defense. The inscription lists the names of these officials and informs us that their respective images were once placed in the four corners of the shrine.

BANTEAY TOP it’s about 5km south of Banteay Chmar and this temple has five large sanctuaries that look incredibly fragile despite their size. The temple doesn’t look large, but satellite images show it at the centre of an area 800 metres long and 500 metres wide. It’s probably not such a good idea to go clambering within the temple confines it’s all very precarious, but you can still get some lovely shots from the sidelines.

ANG TRAPAENG THMOR is a vast “Baray” by man-made reservoir, originally built by slave labour. Aside from being a staging ground for more than 300 Sarus Crane in the dry (non-breeding) season, more than 200 species of other birds occur here, of which 18 have been classified as globally or near globally threatened. This is also one of the handfuls of sites in Cambodia where the endangered Eld’s Deer can be seen.