Travel Report: Prasat Pram Temple, Koh Ker.
Prasat Pram Temple, Koh Ker, Cambodia.
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June 2020. The final stop of our day exploring Koh Ker’s ancient ruins came at Prasat Pram Temple. By this point we were exhausted, hot and thoroughly drenched in our own sweat. Consequently, we felt more than ready to head home, where a cold shower and swimming pool awaited us at Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel. Looking back, I’m glad we didn’t skip this compound, the so-called Five Towers Temple.
Prasat Pram Temple, Koh Ker.
Pram means five in Khmer and indeed the complex features the ruins of five towers. Historians don’t know much about the temple, although one theory goes that construction was never actually completed. A further hypothesis is that the towers here formed part of a crematorium.
Prasat Pram Temple, Koh Ker.
Koh Ker, Cambodia.
Something that’s not in doubt is the incredible beauty of the towers. Strangler fig trees have completely overtaken two of them, their invasive branches twisting and turning over, around and even within the brickwork.
Prasat Pram Temple.
Historians believe all five towers once housed lingas, although today the interiors are quite empty. The National Museum in Phnom Penh showcases a few pieces discovered here, including a damaged lion statue and a four-armed Vishnu sculpture.
A Prasat Pram linga.
However, I was happy to see that not all the lingas got raided for display in the Cambodian capital.
Prasat Pram is just one of many fascinating temples scattered around Koh Ker. If you want to visit, bear in mind that you can’t gain access with The Angkor Pass. Instead, there’s a separate entry fee before you enter the forest. Tickets go for $15 per person.
Check out more of my reports from The Temples of Koh Ker.
You can also read my articles from the amazing Temples of Angkor.
Or maybe delve further afield with my travel reports from all across Cambodia.
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11 Comments
The picture of you sitting on the tangle of tree roots is priceless.
I’ve heard Cambodia is brutally hot at almost anytime of the year. The Prasat Pram Temple looks like it’s from another world, especially with the buildings being covered by nature. Appears to be an incredible blend of nature and civilization, and your post gives me incentive to go to Cambodia some day. Appreciate the share!
Thanks Rebecca. Yeah, “brutal” is the perfect word to describe the weather, it really can be crippling at times. Glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for commenting!
I’m here budding myself with how long it could’ve taken for those trees to wrap around the temples. It looks like something you’ll find in an adventure movie and very picturesque environment too. No singing princess or guardian on this one? Just the trees?
Yeah we are talking about thousands of years of slow, twisting invasion. Amazing. Ha ha, no just us for this one.
Great!
These photos of the temples are absolutely stunning, and those tree roots are insane. What a special experience!
Thanks! For us, Koh Ker was a step above the Temples of Angkor. I know we’ll always remember that day.
The structure looks ravishing, with the thick creepers around it 👌
Thanks for reading and following! Siem Reap has so much for visitors.
😊👍