South East Asian Trips

Kampong Thom is Cambodia's second largest province by area. Its capital is named Kampong Thom, a picturesque town on the banks of the Stung Saen River. The Sambor temple and Prei Kuk temple are the two main temples in Kompong Thom as well as other less significant Angkorian sites. Kompong Thom was a very powerful capital in Southeast Asia during the Funan period. Later on, during the French rule, the province was home to a large group named the Stieng, but they have long been assimilated into Khmer society.

'Kampong Pos Thom' was the original name of the present called 'Kampong Thom'. Because originally long time ago, at the dock of the Sen River next to a big natural lake, there was a big cave with a pair of big snakes inside. The people living around this area usually saw these big snakes every Buddhist Holiday. Time after that, the snakes disappeared, and the people of that area called it Kampong Pos Thom. Then, only short words 'Kampong Thom'. During the French colony in Cambodia, the French ruled and divided Cambodian territory into provinces, and named them according to the spoken words of the people 'Kampong Thom Province'.

Kampong Thom is one of the major Tourist Destinations in Cambodia which you cannot miss while you are on your Cambodia Tours. Kampong Thom is a province located at the central point of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It was a powerful capital in south-east Asia during the Funan period. The province of the Kampong Thom has evolved as one of the most well known and frequently visited tourist destinations for its beautiful lakes, rivers, forests, mountain and more than 200 ancient temples.

Visit the Sambor Prei Kuk cluttering sanctuaries in Sambor Village. There are 52 small and big sanctuaries in good condition. The sanctuaries were built of brick and limestone with the decoration of bas-relief on the scenery walls. The base of sanctuary was made of laterite, false door, diamond column and the sculptures were made of sandstone. The Prasat Sambor Group or the Northern Sanctuaries comprised of 11 sanctuaries. The sanctuaries were built of brick and limestone and feature beautiful original Khmer style carvings. The sanctuary was built on a rectangular hill of 25,200 square meters. The sanctuary comprised 14 temples of which only 8 remains. These temples were constructed in various plans-square and octagonal shapes.

The Lion Temple Group of Kampong Thom in Cambodia comprise of 18 temples with two ramparts closed to the pond. The rampart outside had Gopura in two-direction entrances which are connected by the other laterite ramparts. The bottom of the pond is built of laterite and surrounded by the stepped stairs. It is called Lion Temple as there were statues of sitting lions on the tops of all stairs from the four directions.

The Prasat Yeai Poeun Group in Kampong Thom comprised of 22 sanctuaries with two wall rampart. It was built in 7th century during the reign of Isanavarman I and was dedicated to Shiva. The temples were built on a hill with Gopura from the eastern and western entrances joining to an outside laterite rampart. The Kroul Romeas Group features four sanctuaries built during the reign King Suryavarman. These sanctuaries built of brick, were on a rectangular hill facing the East.

Travelers on their way to Siem Reap and Angkor using National Road No.6 will definitely have to pass Kompong Thom which is about 160 kilometers to the north of Phnom Penh. It is also one of the five provinces that surrounds the famous Tonle Sap Lake. From here, tourists may want to stay overnight and visit some of the famous tourist attractions in Kompong Thom which include the pre-Angkorian temples of Sambo Preikuk and the remote temples of Preah Vihear province the next morning.

Sambo Preikuk is a temple complex depicting Khmer civilization and historical site and this is one of the most visited places of interest in Kompong Thom. It is also one of the biggest pre-Angkorian temples found in Cambodia. It is located near the Stung Sen River which is about thirty five kilometers northeast of Kompong Town town itself. King Isanvaraman I built over one hundred temples here in the 7th century in this former Khmer capital city. Among the main attractions in Kompong Thom here are Prasat Sambor with its distinct large linga around the central tower, Prasat Tao known for its lion statues and Prasat Yeay Peau which is easily recognizable by the giant tree covering its eastern gateway.