Phnom Krom is a hill located about 12 kilometers southwest of Siem Reap, and is home to a spectacular Angkorian temple built in the 9th century, called Prasat Phnom Krom. The hill is also the best spot to catch the sunset in the Siem Reap area, which can be enjoyed from a beautiful pagoda at the top of the 140-meter-high hilltop.

History

The Angkorian temple that towers atop Phnom Krom is a Hindu temple originally built in the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman. The temple has three towers, each dedicated to a Hindu god. The southern tower is dedicated to Brahma, the central tower to Shiva, and the northern to Vishnu.

Eleven hundred years of erosion have significantly weathered the temples. This isn’t surprising considering the building material is sandstone, and the hilltop temples are subject to the constant winds blowing off of nearby Tonle Sap Lake. Unfortunately, this means many of the carvings and detailed designs have been lost forever.

Phnom Krom is actually one of three hilltop temples built during King Yasovarman’s reign in the region. The other two are Phnom Bakheng and Phnom Bok.