Prasat Banan is an Angkor temple ruin on top of the small mountain Phnom Banan (102m) which rises abrupt above the otherwise flat countryside outside Battambang. It was build in the 11th century and consists of five classic Angkor towers. It is a tiny temple compared to Angkor Wat standard, but the location and serenity makes up for the small size - chances are you are going to have the whole place for yourself (beside the drink sellers). Dangers signs reminds you that the ruins are crumbling and judged by the leaning angle of some of the towers, they look like they could collapse at anytime. There are also some caves which can be explored - alone or with the help of one of the local kiddie guides.
The temple is located in the Ba Nan District.
About 25-kilometer distance from the provincial town
Battambang. You can reach the
temple by taking the provincial Road No 155,
which is parallel to Sang Ke River. At the mountain's valley, there are Ku Teuk and two main natural wells, namely: Bit Meas and Chhung or Chhung Achey.
This Angkor-era mountaintop temple is definitely worth a look. At the top are beautiful views of the winding Sangker River set amidst sugar palm trees, rice fields and small villages. To the south you will see a mountain range that features a crocodile shaped mountain.
The temple itself is beautiful looking from the ground as well as the top. The structures are pretty much intact, but unfortunately like so many Khmer ruins, they have fallen victim to massive looting.
Still, there are some interesting works to see. There are five temple structures, like Angkor, with the middle being the largest. (Use caution around the entrance to the center structure-there is a large hanging block-a headache-in-waiting for some poor soul). |
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