Beng Mealea

About

Despite being one of the largest Angkor temples, the history of Beng Mealea was lost in time. Scholars could only date the temple by its architectural style, and being identical to Angkor Wat, ascribe it to king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. After falling into ruin, the temple and surrounding town were reclaimed by the jungle, with the access road only recently being constructed. Visitors wind their way past piles of sandstone blocks and through dark passageways and chambers all of which are supporting various levels of forest growth. Though the large central tower has collapsed, you’ll still be able to spy several impressive carvings among the rubble and foliage, and there’s still a well-preserved library in the northeastern quadrant. While maybe not as well preserved as other Angkor temples, it’s the ‘lost temple’ atmosphere that makes Beng Mealea so attractive.