Sambor Prei Kuk is located 176 km east of Angkor and 206 km north of Phnom Penh. It makes a great day trip from either or a good place to stop when transiting between the two.

 

This temple complex pre-dates Angkowr Wat, dating back to the Pre-Angkorian Chenla Kingdom of the late 6th to 9th centuries. Isanapura as it was known then was built as a royal sanctuary and capital. In 2017, Sambor Prei Kuk was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and extensive mine clearance was undertaken. It still gets relatively few tourists which make it a lovely place to explore away from the crowds.

 

The central part of Sambor Prei Kuk is divided into 3 main groups. Each group has a square layout surrounded by a brick wall. The southern and north groups were built in the 7th century by Isanavarman I and the central group were built later. The buildings of Sambor Prei Kuk are characteristic of the Pre-Angkorean period. The main building material is red brick, but sandstone is also used for certain structures. Architectural features include numerous prasats, octagonal towers, shiva lingams and yonis, ponds and reservoirs and lion sculptures.

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