🛕 East Mebon
មេបុណ្យខាងកើត
Province
Siem Reap
Era
Classical Angkorian
Difficulty
🟢 Easy
Crowds
😌 Low Crowds
Key Facts
Built: 10th century (953 AD)
Built by: King Rajendravarman II
Religion: Hindu
Entry Fee: Angkor Pass
Time Needed: 30–45 minutes
UNESCO: ✅ World Heritage Site
A temple originally on an island in a vast reservoir, featuring life-sized elephant statues at each corner level.
The East Mebon was built on an artificial island in the center of the East Baray, a massive reservoir measuring 7 km by 1.8 km (now completely dry). Originally accessible only by boat, the temple served as a Hindu dedication to Shiva. The most distinctive features are the life-sized stone elephant statues guarding each corner of the first and second tiers — among the finest animal sculptures in Angkor. The five brick towers on the top platform retain excellent carved lintel decorations, and several towers preserve remains of stucco ornament that once covered the brick. Round holes visible in the towers once held metallic ornamental coverings.
Background
The East Mebon is a 10th-century temple at Angkor, built during the reign of King Rajendravarman on what was an artificial island at the centre of the now dry East Baray reservoir. It was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and honours the parents of the king, and was dedicated in 953 CE. Built in the general style of Pre Rup, it has two enclosing walls and three tiers, with a central tower on a square platform surrounded by four smaller brick towers at the corners. The temple lies on a north-south axis with Pre Rup, Rajendravarman's state temple. The sculpture includes two-metre-high free-standing stone elephants at corners of the first and second tiers, and four landing stages at the base are a reminder that the temple was once reached by boat.
Adapted from the Wikipedia article “East Mebon” (revision 1367094639, retrieved 19 October 2026), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; text condensed and edited.
Print references cited by the Wikipedia article:
- Freeman, Michael and Jacques, Claude. Ancient Angkor. River Books, 1999. ISBN 0-8348-0426-3
- Rooney, Dawn. Angkor. Airphoto International Ltd. 2002
Highlights
- ✦ Life-sized stone elephant statues
- ✦ Originally accessible only by boat
- ✦ Well-preserved brick lintels
- ✦ Remnants of stucco decoration
- ✦ Peaceful, uncrowded setting
Best Time to Visit
Morning or late afternoon
Visitor Tips
- 💡 Part of the Grand Circuit
- 💡 The elephant statues are at the corners of the lower platform
- 💡 Combine with Pre Rup just across the road
Nearby Temples
13.4500°N, 103.9065°E
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