Looking for a scenic temple near Angkor that is off the tourist trail? You know there are some still left waiting for you to discover. One of them is Beng Mealea. It’s somewhat secretive nature and location off the main temple group ensures that the site remains shrouded with mysticism. That’s good for you, right? Ready to uncover a long lost temple relic?

Part of the reason why Beng Mealea has not been accessible is because of the roads. Navigable paths to and from the temple has only recently been completed, making travel time between this temple and its more famous cousins at Angkor a mere 30 minutes.

Much of the temple’s history is unknown and can only be deciphered from its architectural style, which is similar to Angkor Wat. Because of this, scholars believe that Beng Melea was probably built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. This certain lack of concrete evidence sure adds to the temple’s mystique, doesn’t it? Although smaller than Angkor Wat, it is nonetheless a large temple complex, measuring well over one square kilometer within its moat.

And what makes this temple so intriguing is that what you see now is exactly how it was seen when explorers rediscovered it in the 19^th century. And all those jungles and trees create a somewhat dim atmosphere to the scene. It certainly adds to the aura and mythical appearance of the temple. While you’re there, you’ll feel like an explorer who just discovered a long lost temple.

Looking to break away from the mainstream and be a pioneer? Beng Mealea is your ticket to uniqueness. But with word of this temple spreading fast, that can change soon, and with good reason. So, get on it! Check the site out with our Beng Melea & Phnom Kulen Excursion day trip. And what is this Phnom Kulen? The site is nothing more than the birthplace of the Khmer Empire, which is in fact an impressive sandstone mountain. A double dose of Khmer history in one day trip.

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