West Mebon, Temple ruins in Angkor, Cambodia
West Mebon is a temple ruin located on a square platform measuring roughly 100 meters per side, featuring three tower-passages decorated with carved stone lotus motifs. The structure sits in the center of the West Baray reservoir and displays traces of its original architectural design.
The temple was built in the 11th century under kings Suryavarman I and Udayadityavarman II, serving as both a religious shrine and part of an extensive water management system. It was integral to the sophisticated hydraulic infrastructure that sustained Khmer civilization.
The temple served as a sacred gathering place where water rituals and offerings honored the gods believed to dwell in the reservoir. Visitors came to experience the connection between this built structure and the natural landscape surrounding it.
Access changes with the seasons: the dry months allow land approach, while rainy months transform the site into an island requiring different travel methods. Visitors should prepare for varying conditions and potentially limited access during monsoon periods.
Excavations in 1936 uncovered the largest bronze sculpture in Khmer art history at this site: a six-meter statue of the Hindu god Vishnu. This remarkable discovery reveals the quality and ambition of the artistic work that once adorned this location.
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