Pink stone
Glows in the morning.
Olaf Tausch — CC BY 3.0 · Olaf Tausch — CC BY 3.0 · Olaf Tausch — CC BY 3.0 · Olaf Tausch — CC BY 3.0
A small temple of pink sandstone consecrated on 22 April 967 to Shiva and his consort, and the only major temple at Angkor not built by a king but by a high court official. Art historians call it the jewel of Khmer art for carving of a fineness no other temple matches. Its buildings are unusually small for Angkor, with doorways too low for a standing man, yet every surface is covered with plant scrolls and mythical figures cut deep into pink stone that glows warmly in the morning sun. A moat and a long causeway surround it, and a small centre at the entrance explains the site's history and restoration. It is usually combined with Phnom Kulen or the nearby craft village on the grand circuit. Entry is with the Angkor Pass: USD 37 for one day, USD 62 for three days within ten, and USD 72 for seven days within a month; children under 12 go free with a passport. Temples are living places of worship: cover shoulders and knees, remove your hat where asked and keep off roped-off stones. The heat is fierce most of the year, so carry water and start early.
Glows in the morning.
On every surface.
Low doorways.
Near Phnom Dei hill, about 25 km north-east of the main Angkor temples
Yes, the pass covers it, but it is about 25 km away, so allow a tuk-tuk or car for half a day.