Quick Facts:
Situated about 12 kilometers to the southwest of Siem Reap town, Phnom Krom is a sacred hill in Cambodia associated with a local legend about the rocks which were exposed by the monkey Hanumanin the Ramayana epic. Climbing up a steep staircase to the hilltop, tourists will have a great vision to see all the magnificent scenery of Tonle Sap Lake.
Phnom Krom is famoust for an ancient Angkorian temple in the Prasat Bakheng art style oriented toward the easternon the hilltop. It was constructed in the late 19th centuryunder the reign of KingYasovarman I (889 A.D.-910 A.D.) to worship Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. He ordered to build3 temples on 3 hills representing the deltas of Angkor: Bakheng, Phnom Krom and Phnom Bok; Phnom Kromtemple is one of which.
Phnom Krom temple is designed in a square structure. Around the temple are walls made of laterite blocks, each wall was gouged a door in four directions. There are four small buildings inside the eastern entrance forming a line from north to south, which thought to be the old crematorium. Meanwhile, inside the walls on the north and south are collapsed three central towers, also arrayed in a north-south rowwith laterite and sandstone as the main materials. They are also built in the square structureand initially had four indented tiers on the upper part. On the walls, pillars and nichesstill remain traces of the carved featured the art and religion during the King Yasovarman reign. The top floor is where visitors can admire the whole lanscapeofTonle Sap Lake and the surrounding area.
Phnom Krom is a wonderful attraction to explore the long lasting history, religion and culture of Siem Reap and have a perfect vision to watch the sunset or sunrise on the Tonle Sap.
