🛕 Wat Nokor Bachey

Wat Nokor Bachey presents one of Cambodia's most fascinating cultural juxtapositions: a 12th-century Angkorian temple with a vibrant, actively-used modern Buddhist pagoda built directly within and around its ancient sandstone and laterite structure. The original temple was built by Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist sanctuary, featuring the characteristic face towers of his reign. In the 20th century, a modern pagoda was constructed incorporating the ancient walls and chambers, creating a unique architectural fusion where brightly painted modern murals sit beside 800-year-old stone carvings. Monks still live and practice within the compound, and the temple serves as an active community religious center. Located just outside Kampong Cham city, it's easily accessible and makes a rewarding stop en route between Phnom Penh and the northeast.