🛕 West Mebon
មេបុណ្យខាងលិច
Province
Siem Reap
Era
Classical Angkorian
Difficulty
🟠 Challenging
Crowds
😌 Low Crowds
Key Facts
Built: 11th century (1050s)
Built by: King Udayadityavarman II
Religion: Hindu
Entry Fee: Angkor Pass
Time Needed: 1–1.5 hours (including boat ride)
UNESCO: ✅ World Heritage Site
A mysterious island temple in the center of the West Baray — one of the least-visited sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The West Mebon is a temple built on an artificial island in the center of the West Baray, a massive reservoir measuring 8 km by 2.3 km that still holds water today. The temple once housed a colossal bronze reclining Vishnu sculpture, fragments of which are now displayed at the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Reaching the temple requires hiring a boat from the shore, making it one of the most adventurous and least-visited sites within the Angkor Pass area. The island temple consists of a central sanctuary surrounded by a sandstone wall, with the remains of elaborate hydraulic engineering visible in the surrounding structures.
Highlights
- ✦ Island temple accessible only by boat
- ✦ Site of colossal bronze Vishnu sculpture
- ✦ Within the still-active West Baray
- ✦ Virtually no tourists
- ✦ Fascinating hydraulic engineering
Best Time to Visit
Morning — hire a boat from the West Baray
Visitor Tips
- 💡 Hire a boat at the West Baray recreation area
- 💡 The West Baray is popular with locals for swimming on weekends
- 💡 Combine with the nearby Ak Yum temple site
Nearby Temples
13.4297°N, 103.7989°E
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