Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia

Bordered by Thailand, Preah Vihear remains underdeveloped owing to the poor infrastructure. This remote province is accessible by road only and either via Oddar Meanchey province from the west or via Kompong Thom from the south. Nevertheless, it is fortunate enough to be the heir of Prasat Preah Vihear, Koh Ker, and Preah Khan temple. Though the accessibility to the 3 sites is not convenient, there are great many of determined travelers visiting these Ankorian temples, especially Preah Vihear temple, which was recently designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Attraction sites: PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE BAK KAM PAGODA KOH KER TEMPLE BAKAN TEMPLE STEUNG KSACH RESORT
PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE
Located at Svay Chrum Village, Kan Tout Commune, Choam Ksan District, on the mountain rank of Dang Rek (Preah Vihear mountain is 800 Meters x 400 Meters. Preah Vihear Mountain has very steep side from Cambodia and gently sloping side from Thailand. Preah Vihear temple has 405-Kilometer distance from Phnom Penh or 108-Kilometerdistance from the provincial town of Preah Vihear by road No 211 to the Choam Ksan District. Preah Vihear Temple has three accesses:
Access from Thailand for international tourists. Access from Cambodia by the ancient road via Svay Chrum. At the mountain of Dang Rek, there is a stair stretching up the top where the Preah Vihear temple located. Access from Cambodia by the Road C1 constructed by Khmer Rouge. Nowadays, most local people and venders usually go up the mountain by the Road C1 because it is easy to go.
Preah Vihear temple is the historical site named “Se Khari Svarak” means “power of mountain” and was built at the end of 9th century and at the beginning of 10th century by four Kings namely:
Preah Bat Yak So Varman I from AD 889-910. Preah Bat Sorya Varman I from AD 1002-1050 Preah Bat Sorya Varman II from AD 1113-1150 Preah Bat Chey Varman VI from AD 1080-1109
Preah Vihear temple was handed over by France to Thailand in 1954 and given back to Cambodia by the sentence of the La Er International Court dated 15 June 1962.
BAK KAM PAGODA
Located at Bac Kam Village, Chhean Muk Commune, Tbeng Mean Chey District in 17-Kilometer distance from the provincial town of Preah Vihear. The area of the pagoda is 400 Meters x 1000 Meters. The local visitors usually visit the pagoda during the holidays or national festivals.
KOH KER TEMPLE
Located at Sra Yong Cheung Village, Sra Yong Commune, Ku Len District in 72-Kilometer distance from the provincial town. The group of Koh Ker temples consists of 38 small temples in varied styles.
The distance from each temple is 2-5 Kilometers. Koh Ker temple located on the highland of Kork Koki and was built by Preah Bat Chey Varman IV from AD 921-942. It is the mountainous temple having seven decks and 35-meter height. The temple is not yet opened for tourists to visit because the area not yet arranged and has mines.
BAKAN TEMPLE
Located at Ta Seng Village, Ranaksei Commune, Sang Kum Thmey District in 105-Kilometer distance from the provincial town by the National Road No 12 (64), then turning right more 30Kilometers. Ba Kan is the cultural site. Nowadays, the temple has no tourists to visit yet.
STEUNG KSACH RESORT
Is the natural resort, locates along the river of Sen at Thmey Village, Kampong Pra Nak Commune, Tbeng Mean Chey District in three-Kilometer distance from the provincial town by a trail. The resort has served the local visitors especially those who live in the provincial town of Preah Vihear with their leisure activities usually like swimming and boating during the national festivals. Preah Vihear Province has 228 ancient temples included:
108 temples in Ku Len District 16 temples in Sang Kum Thmey District 55 temples in Cham Ksan District 18 temples in Chheb District 11 temples in Ro Vieng District 11 temples in Chey Sen District 09 temples in Tbeng Mean Chey District