Phnom Chisor

About

Phnom Chisor was built in the 11th century by Angkor King Suryavarman I as a place to worship Shiva and Vishnu. After the collapse of the Angkor Empire, the temple fell into disrepair, and then ruin, and today, it’s surrounded by the remnants of a walled gallery with windows. Considering they were built without mortar, the laterite and brick buildings are surprisingly complete, and the intricate carvings on the sandstone lintels are still clearly visible. Looking west from the hilltop, you’ll see the sanctuaries of Sen Thmol, Sen Ravang, and the sacred pond of Tonlé Om form a straight line pointing toward Angkor. When the temple was still in use, the king, his Brahmans, and their entourage would come from this direction, and climb the 400 steps up the hill to Phnom Chisor.