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Prasat Prei is a 12th century temple built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It was originally built as a Buddhist temple.
The temple is very quiet and only a few visitors will stop to see it. It’s mostly ruins with only part of the central tower still standing. There are also some small remains of the surrounding wall.
If you’re looking for somewhere to escape the crowds and relax for a while, then Prasat Prei might just be the temple for you.
Temple Facts
Late 12th Century
Buddhism
Jayavarman VII
Unknown
Bayon
Anytime
15 - 45 minutes
Required
More information about the Angkor Temple Pass.
Location
Prasat Prei is located immediately south of Banteay Prei. It’s just to the north of Preah Khan temple near to Neak Pean and Krol Ko. Located on top of a small hill, Prasat Prei is surrounded by thick forest, hence the name “Sanctuary of the Forest”.
Getting There
To get to Prasat Prei, you can head out of Angkor Thom via the North Gate, then head towards Preah Khan temple. Turn right after Preah Khan and after 50om or so, you will find Prasat Prei on the left side. There is a small track which leads to the temple.
If you are coming from the other direction, you will want to follow the road to Ta Som and then along the Jayatataka baray. When you get to the end of the baray, you will see the small track on the right side.
Coordinates
13.4616332, 103.8661436
Distances
Siem Reap: 15.2km
Angkor Thom: 5.0km
Ta Keo: 6.7km
Neak Pean: 1.9km
Tours
Prasat Prei is not usually visited by tourists. But if you want to see it, you would probably visit Banteay Prei at the same time. Both these temples are on the Angkor Grand Circuit Tour, but your guide might not stop at them unless requested.
If you are on a shared tour of the temples, it’s unlikely that you will see either temple. You might want to visit these temples when visiting either Preah Khan or Neak Pean.
Accommodation
There are no hotels in the Angkor Park. If you want to visit this temple, you will find accommodation in Siem Reap town. The town has many hotels to suit all budgets.
Why Visit Prasat Prei?
There aren’t many reasons why you would want to see this temple. If you find yourself with time to kill, it’s a nice place to sit and relax for bit. If you’re into meditation, the quiet location is perfect to get away from the tourist trail. It’s also a nice spot for photography with the surrounding forest.
History
Like its neighbour, Banteay Prei, not much is known about Prasat Prei. It was built as a Buddhist temple by King Jayavarman VII at some point in the late 12th century.
It’s believed, like the other temples, that it was deserted at some point in the 16th century.
Layout and Design
The small temple features the remains of an outer wall which measures 20 by 24 metres. There are the remains of a central tower and a gopura (entrance building) to the east. There are also some remains of a library and an enclosing wall.
The door to the tower opens up to the east and there are fake doors on the other three sides. Some carvings are still visible on the tower, but most are in fairly poor condition. You can enter the tower, but there is little to see.
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