Beng Mealea:
Beng Mealea is a spectacular sight to behold. It’s one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor, as nature has well and truly run riot here. Built to the same floorplan as Angkor Wat, exploring this titanic of temples is Angkor ultimate Indiana Jones experience. Built in the 12th century under Suryavarman 2 ( r1112-52). Beng Mealea is enclosed by a massive moat measuring 1.2km by 900m, much of which has dried up today.
The temple has been utterly subsumed by jungle, and standing just a few metres away from the trees it is hard to tell what lies beneath.Entering from the south, visitors wend their way over piles of masonry, through long dark chambers and between hanging vines to arrive at the central tower, which has completely collapsed. Hidden away among the rubble and foliage are several impressive carvings, as well as a well preserved library in the northeastern quadrant. The temple is a special place and it is worth taking the time to explore thoroughly. There is also now a large wooden walkway to the centre, constructed during the filming here of Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Two Brothers(2004).
Beng Mealea is at the centre of an ancient Angkorian road connecting Angkor Thom and Preah Khan in Preah Vihear Province. A small Anhkorian bridge just west of Chau Srei Vibol temple is the only remaining trace of the old Angkorian road between Beng Mealea and Angkor Thom; between Beng Mealea and Preah khan there are at least 10 ridges a bandoned in the forest. This is a way for extreme adventures to get to Preah Khan temple ( p231); however , don’t undertake this journey lightly.
It now costs US$5 to visit Beng Mealea and there are additional small charges for cars and motorcycles – make sure you work out in advance who is paying this. It is best to undertake a long ay trip combining Beng Mealea, Kbal Spean and Banteay srei. At the very least include BanteaySrei, as you almost pass it a long the way.
Beng Mealea is about 40km east of Bayon (as the crow flies) and 6.5km southeast of Phnom Kulen. By road it is about 80km from siem Reap and is a two-hour trip.
There are two routes to Beng Mealea,but the shortest and fastest is currently via the small town of Dam Dek on NH6 towards Phnom Penh. Turn north immediately after the market and continue on this road for 25km. The main road bears left towards Phnom Kulan but take this road, go straight ahead.you will eventully come to a T-junction.
For the second, longer route,take the road towards Banteay Srei and follow the right fork to Phnom Kulen , continuing right at the major crossroads along the base of the holy mountain. Follow this route for about 35km until you leave Kulen behind and come to a T-junction.
This T-junction is where the two different routes meet. Veer left at this junction; it is another 10km or so northeast to the village of Beng Mealea and the temple is to the main intersection in town. The final 10km or so used to be a mess of miserable sand and mud, but there is now even some tarmac- this is another of these private roads and partly privatized temples, where profit takes precedence over preservation. It usually costs US$2.50 for a car, US$1for a motorbike, but that is each way, believe it or not!
