Hotels near Preah Khan

Preah Khan covers 56 hectares and was dedicated in 1191 by Jayavarman VII to his father. Like Ta Prohm it is only partly cleared of jungle, but it is larger, far quieter, and laid out on a long east-west axis you can walk from end to end. Its inscribed stele records 97,840 people attached to the temple and a resident troupe of 1,000 dancers.

The corridors narrow as you move inward, doorways shrinking until you are stooping by the time you reach the central sanctuary. That was deliberate. On the north side stands a two-storey building with round columns, unusual anywhere in Khmer architecture and still unexplained. The World Monuments Fund has worked here since 1991, and its approach keeps the ruin looking found rather than rebuilt, which is much of the appeal.

Pro Tip: Enter through the west gate and have your driver collect you at the east, so you walk straight through instead of doubling back. The crossing takes about 50 minutes at a slow pace and you will pass almost nobody.