Banteay Thom

Buddhist Temple

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Pigalle

Banteay Thom is a lesser-known temple located in the Angkor Archaeological Park, near the Angkor Wat complex. It is a relatively small but significant structure that is often overshadowed by the more famous temples in the area. Built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, Banteay Thom is one of the many temples that reflects the architectural style of the Bayon period, featuring intricate carvings and a distinctive design.

The temple is situated in the northwest corner of Angkor Thom, not far from other prominent temples like Banteay Kdei and Ta Prohm. It has a relatively simple layout, but what makes it interesting is its well-preserved carvings and the peaceful, less-crowded atmosphere surrounding it. Visitors can explore the small sanctuary, which is adorned with detailed bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Despite its location near the more popular tourist sites, Banteay Thom remains relatively quiet and is often bypassed by most tourists. This makes it a great spot for those looking to explore the quieter corners of the Angkor complex.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.7 (74)

Banteay Thom Temple in Krong Siem Reap is a peaceful, off-the-beaten-track ruin set down dirt roads and often free of crowds, making it easy to feel like you have the place to yourself; visitors describe it as compact but surprisingly large and impressive, partially overgrown with big trees integrated into the walls and undergoing restoration work, with scaffolding and bracing visible; access is by bike or motorbike (rough dirt/sand trails that can challenge weaker machines and become difficult in the rainy season), and the site is often inhabited only by restoration workers rather than tour groups.

Seyhassneth Heng

5 months ago

"What a tranquil place with the full of calmness and despair created by the silence and no crowd at all. This is the atmosphere needed to feel discoected from the world back into the history. This temple is well off track and peaceful. It can be reach by bike or motor only. And the structure js exceptional also...."

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Alex

6 months ago

"Surprising gem of a temple located off the beaten track. You won’t find big tour groups here as the dirt roads at best can accommodate a tuktuk.Definitely worth the trip if you can make it. You’ll likely be the only one there, and there is lots to see...."

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Gu ar Caya

a year ago

"This temple is a hidden gem for sure. If it were in the middle of the Angkor Archeological Park it would be full of tourists. But it being so farremoved from the main temples, you are likely to be the only person here (except maybe the workers doing restorations). The temple is surprisingly large and quite impressive. It is in a partially ruined state, and you will likely see scaffolding, bracing, and other remediation measures in place when you visit. But it is still quite beautiful nonetheless. Getting here is a bit of an adventure in and of itself. It is quite a ways away from the main temples. It is a relatively short distance from the main road that forms a ring around the Angkor Archeological Park. But getting here you must navigate dirt roads which would likely be a nightmare in the rainy season. Also the dirt roads sometimes split up, end, or run into someone's property. Not to mention this is smack in the middle of a village, so you are likely to encounter village dogs that hate barangs and are quite aggressive. But that kind of adds to the whole experience I think. If you're looking for an adventure and a temple to yourself, this is a great option...."

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The Banteay Thom appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting !

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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