Angkor : Beng Mealea and Koh Ker

This is the last of these extended posts about Angkor temples and is about an area a bit out of Angkor: 

A day trip from Angkor two temples of very different character are worth a visit which can be combined with a visit to pretty Banteay Srei (see the Jan 30 post) :  Beng Mealea, a jungle temple, largely unrestored but with wooden walkways to explore the site safely, and Koh Ker, a pyramid shaped object in a temple lying in open fields.   

Beng Mealea :

Our guide had grown up in the area and led us up an usual path into the temple avoiding the crowded wooden walkways ....

 a seven-headed naga at the entrance

much remains to be done ...

Koh Ker: 
A very different type of temple reminiscent of an Aztec pyramid is Koh Ker, built at the beginning of the 10th century before Angkor when the Khmer capital resided here for a short time period.  It is a 90 min drive outside of Siem Reap but worth the trip through the busy countryside where one can watch locals working in their fields and small rice paddies. Koh Ker is in an area only recently and partly cleared of land mines and many sites remain to be uncovered. 

The entrance to the temple looks like any other, but once you are through the ruined parts, a very different view opens to the visitor. 

The original steps are broken down, but a sturdy scaffolding has been erected where you can climb on top for a good view of the country side. 

Angkor : Banteay Kdei and Ta Nei

This is about two smaller temples within the Angkor complex: Ta Nei in the jungle and Banteay Kdei close to the beautiful reservoir Srah Srang east of Angkor. 

Ta Nei temple was built by the famous Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century and dedicated to Buddha. It is quite overgrown. Though close to Angkor Wat we did not see too many visitors even during the christmas high season.

Banteay Kdei is another work by the great builder Jayavarman VII in the late 12th/early 13th century. It was constructed as a Buddhist temple. 

 Lichen, mosses and algae make those marvellous colours on the  laterite and sand stone surfaces.

Past this temple the peaceful and elegant water reservoir Srah Srang from the 10th century still holding water is a good place for an idyllic rest.

on their way to school in the early morning

even cows need a bath sometimes

Angkor : Preah Khan

Another "temple in the jungle" is Preah Khan. It is much less visited than the "tomb raider" temple Ta Prohm but equally picturesque with overgrown tumbled piles of carved stone. The visit is very pleasant and photographically rewarding without having to dodge erratically moving groups of colourful umbrella-toting tourists. 

Like Ta Prohm, this temple was built by Jayavarman VII, who dedicated it to his father. Ta Prohm, built five years before in 1186, was built to honor his mother. 

 in the hall of dancers

an unusual structure with round columns in two storeys 

a fully restored out-building, possibly a former library

Walking out to the east gate you will find the Preah Khan Baray, a large swamp-like reservoir with trees and shrubs and varying water levels, best in the wet winter season.