Prasat Thom
A seven-tiered pyramid.
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Koh Ker is a remote archaeological site in northern Cambodia, in sparsely populated forest, and for a short time it was the capital of the whole Khmer empire. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List on 17 September 2023. Visitors are struck by its tall seven-tiered pyramid, which looks nothing like the temples of Angkor. It was the empire's capital from 928 to 944 under the kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II. The first of them built an enormous water tank and about forty temples, and developed the Koh Ker style, in which sculpture reached a high point. More than 180 sanctuaries have been found in a protected area of 81 sq km. The main sight is the Prasat Thom complex, whose seven-tiered pyramid rises 36 m, its grey stone standing out among the trees. Around it are red brick towers topped with plants, heaps of fallen stone tangled with roots and walls with stone-barred windows. Visitors can see only about two dozen monuments, while the rest stay hidden in the forest. It is about 86 km in a straight line from Siem Reap and about two and a half hours by car. The village of Seyiong, 10 km away, has guesthouses. The whole area has not been fully cleared of mines, so never leave the marked paths. Bring water, start early and combine it with Beng Mealea if you wish.
A seven-tiered pyramid.
Brick topped with plants.
Roots among the ruins.
Northern Cambodia, Preah Vihear Province, about 120 km from Siem Reap
Yes. The drive is about two and a half hours, but start early, as the site is large and spread out.
Keep to the marked paths, because the area has not been fully cleared of mines.