Morning gold

That time biking into a warm sunrise, leaving the morning chill of the forest in Angkor Park behind.

The bike/walking tracks in Angkor Park gives a great opportunity to get to see a more undisturbed part of the cultural landscape. With fauna and flora really worth enjoying and exploring.

Biking in the morning has the added benefit of less heat and less crowds.

Seeing the great architecture, and nature, from angels not so often shared on Internet makes these rides special.

The tracks are best explored using a mountain bike, being challenging enough in curvature, elevation and structure to make it really fun with a proper bike.

There are guided trips and group biking tours offered for visitors who want to share the experience. And save some time avoiding the truly demanding tracks or dead ends.


#eastmebon #angkor #siemreap #angkortemples #angkorpark #worldculturalheritage #nature #forest #bike #sunrise 🎶🎶#bikingintheangkorwonderland 🎶🎶 #archive #visitsiemreap #cambodia #kingdomofwonder #prasat #pre #rup #prerub #srahsrang #grandcircle #visitcambodia

Just a morning moment by Srah Srang Baray

This is one of the spots in Siem Reap good for both sunrise and sunset moments. The sunrise spot here is the laterite docks in front of the Banteay Kdei temple. From the docks to the temple gate there is a short walk.

Prasat Banteay Kdei, translated as ‘A Citadel of Chambers', but also known as "Citadel of Monks' cells” was built around 1200 CE. It was built a Buddhist temple during the reign on Jayavarman VII, the great god King himself being a Buddhist.
It is quite similar in design as the nearby more famous Ta Prohm. But more compact and with a lower profile.

It is one of the temples in Angkor that has been more or less in constant use from its construction up until modern times.

Visit Banteay Kdei is a suitable activity after enjoying the sunrise, and maybe a snack, drink or even breakfast nearby.

Joy and love sunset
The sunset is both pretty and peaceful from the other side. This is a popular spot for locals to enjoy sunset. Very often young couples meet here.

Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei are in the T-crossing where the roads for the small circle and grand circle meets. These circles are the recommended first visitors’ routes for the core Angkor Temples. Along the reservoir and temple on its north and southwest side there are a lot of cafes, restaurants and street food stalls. Snacks and drinks are sold until past sunset.

Srah Srang Baray measures 700 by 350 meter. There is a platform in the centre of the Baray, meaning there might have been a larger temple there originally. Now there is a small tower with a spire showing that location.

Srah Srang was modified by Jayavarman VII around 1200 CE. Partly to make it able to compensate for the failing East Baray reservoir. And to support the design of Banteay Kdei.

#2019CE #ancient #angkor #angkorpark #architecture #art #biking #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #greentourism #khmer #banteaykdei #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Srah Srang, the dual peaceful sunspot

An October morning bike return to Siem Reap via Srah Srang reservoir. Peaceful and far from crowdy are the qualities of this place in Angkor Park. It carried the promise of a nice, sunny day after the green season.

The Srah Srang reservoir, meaning ស្រះស្រង់, "Royal Bath", is one of those spots deserving a couple of visits. Like in the morning and in the evening. It is a place both to enjoy sunrise and sunset.

Along the reservoir on its north and southwest side there are a lot of cafes, restaurant and street food stalls. Open for both breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or for snacks and coffee breaks.

In the northwest corner, the two main routes of sightseeing of the core Angkor Park meets. This is the Angkor Park small circle of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Keo and Ta Prohm temples. And the Grand Circle of Angkor Thom, Royal Palace/Leper King, Preah Khan, Neak Poan, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup.

Today Srah Srang measures 700 by 350 meter. There is a platform in the centre of the Baray, meaning there might have been a larger temple there originally. Now there is a small tower with a spire showing that location.

This reservoir and its small temple were supervised built by the only known Khmer imperial architect by name, minister and guru Kavindrarimathana to the King Rajendravarman II in approximately 950 CE. He is accepted as the main architect behind East Mebon Temple, Prasat Bat Chum and probably the first architect designing Pre Rup Temple.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2025/06/15/srah-srang-the-dual-peaceful-sun-spot/

#2019CE #ancient #angkor #angkorpark #angkorwat #apsara #architecture #archive #art #Asia #biking #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #daytrip #Empire #greentourism #hinduism #history #imperial #khmer #leaveonlyfootprints #offthebeatentrack #prasatbatchum #prasatbanteaykdei #Rajendravarman #SiemReab #Siem #Reap #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #temple #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

The triple hidden tower temple at the end of red road

Prasat Bat Chum is easily accessible via a red, new dirt road from the south near Prasat Kravan.

Known architect
One unique aspect of this temple is that the architect is known by name. Normally, the god kings are the ones who got their names connected to the temples built during their reign during the 630 years of the Khmer Empire.

Bat Chum was supervised by the architect, minister and guru Kavindrarimathana to the King Rajendravarman II approximately 952CE.

Kavindrarimathana is also accepted as the supervisor behind East Mebon Temple, Srah Srang and maybe the basic designer behind Pre Rup Temple. Meaning that he designed the main reservoirs and elements of most of the Southeast Grand circle Angkor Park.

Mahayana Buddhism
The other unique aspect, Bat Chum was built as Mahayana Buddhist Temple when the Khmer Empire still had Hinduism as the main religion. Another interesting glimpse into religious pluralism early on in this powerful empire.

The three towers are in poor condition when I visited, undergoing a several yearlong restoration project. The three towers are dedicated to Buddha, Vajrapani and Prajnaparamita. Simplified one is for the Buddha, the second for the bodhisattva symbolizing Buddhas power and relentless determination in conquest of negativity, and the third perfection of Wisdom.

This temple is a 12,5 km bike ride from Siem Reap Old Market on mostly flat roads and bike tracks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Chum

#2019CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorpark #apsara #architecture #archive #art #Asia #batchum #biking #bikingintheAngkorWonderland #bluesky #Mahayana #Buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #countryside #Khmer #Empire #greentourism #Hinduism #history #imperial #offthebeatentrack #Pagoda #prasatbatchum #RajendravarmanII #ricefield #roadtrip #Sculpture #SiemReab #SiemReap #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #statetemple #takeonlyphotos #temple #travel #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

That morning trip to Prasat Bat Chum among rich rice fields

Bat Chum Temple – ប្រាសាទបាទជុំ – is one of these off the main track sites where the travel is as interesting as the target.
There are several reasons to take a small side trip to the small Prasat Bat Chum. The beautiful entrance track among rice fields and cultural landscape is an obvious one.

It is near Prasat Kravan and close to Srah Srang reservoir. It is easily accessible both as part of and end point of a Small and Grand circuit tour of Angkor Park.

Or by mountain bike.

This morning, I met this fellow sitting near a small river trying fishing. Or simply enjoy a nice morning in the rice fields.
Good ones, either choice.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2024/02/15/prasat-bat-chum-a-unique-temple-off-main-track/

#2019CE #ancient #Angkor #angkorpark #angkorwat #apsara #ApsaraAuthority #architecture #archive #art #Asia #batchum #biking #bikingintheAngkorWonderland #bluesky #Buddhism #Cambodia #capital #citylife #countryside #daytrip #Khmer #Empire #greentourism #Hinduism #history #imperial #leaveonlyfootprints #Mahayana #offthebeatentrack #Pagoda #prasatbatchum #RajendravarmanII #ricefield #roadtrip #Sculpture #SiemReab #SiemReap #visitsiemreap #srahsrang #statetemple #takeonlyphotos #temple #travel #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage