Destinations Magazine

Around Battambang – Three Temples and a Train, Cambodia

By Sonyaandtravis @sonyaandtravis

Our second day in Battambang we decided to hire a scooter to explore some of the outer around Battambang regions.

Sonya and Travis on their scooter in Battambang

Killing caves of Phnom Sampeau

After arriving at Phnom Sampeau hill we first visited the killing caves, the killing caves was a natural cave with skylight opening that was used by the Khmer Rouge to toss victims through the skylight to their death.  Inside the cave are glass cased memorials of skulls and bones.

[Show as slideshow]
Sleeping Buddha inside the  killing caves
Shrine to those murdered, inside you can see the skulls
Looking up towards the skylight of the killing caves

Wat Phnom Sapeau

[Show as slideshow]
Gold sitting Buddha
View from Phnom Sapeau hill looking towards Battambang
Monkey statue found at Phnom Sapeau Temple

Statue sticking out of the lush canopy
Man feeding a monkey a piece of fruit
Monkey perched on a scooter

A young monk and three monkeys
A monkey and a young monk resting
A baby monkey at Phnom Sapeau Temple

Monks feeding some of the monkeys
Two monks and two monkeys
Monkey sitting in the lush canopy

Wat Banan

From Wat Phnom Sapeau we headed to Wat Banan which was an ancient temple situated on a hill near the Sangker River. Wat Banan has a five tower design similar to Angkor Wat, as well some well preserved stone carvings.

[Show as slideshow]
Mythical lion statue at the start of the stairs
A few of the stairs leading up to Banan Temple
The temple structure of Wat Banan

One of the five corn-on-the-cob towers
Sonya reading the LP with Wat Banan in the background
Wat Banan was consecrated as a Buddhist temple

Graffiti on the cactus leaves
Intricate Kala deity carved in the stone
Entrance to one of the five temples

Bamboo Train

One of the more enjoyable experiences was the bamboo train. The bamboo train is a rudimentary train consisting of no more than two axels, a metal base lined with bamboo and an small engine. All components could be lifted with two persons, though the axels which they were lifting individually were extremely heavy. As it is a single track, the protocol for two trains going in opposite directions, meeting is for the least passengers and cargo to disembark and disassemble to allow the other train to parse.

[Show as slideshow]
Approaching another bamboo train
Reassembling the bamboo train after dismantle
Our driver of the bamboo train

Our bamboo train driver waiting for the other train to pass
Sonya looking out towards the tracks

Wat Phnom Ek

A ruined eleventh century temple with some well preserved stone carvings. Nearby is a newly built temple and sitting Buddha statue.

[Show as slideshow]
Sitting Buddha statue
Standing Buddha statues
The new Buddha Temple at Phnom Ek

Magenta flower growing between the temples stones
Some poorly preserved stone carvings
Phnom Ek Temple in ruin

Entrance to one of the temples
Phnom Ek Temple

Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog