The Temple Mountains of Pre Rup and Eastern Mebon in Angkor, Cambodia

The second day of our exploration of the Temples of Angkor began with a visit to the temple mountain of Pre Rup, before venturing out to Banteay Srei. We then came back and visited the similar temple mountain of Eastern Mebon. In Angkor, a “temple mountain” is kind of like a stepped pyramid, perfectly square at its base and rising up to a central point, which in this case is a tower. I had seen this before at Bakong the previous day, but Pre Rup was monstrous in comparison. Both of these temples were built in the 10th century and perfectly align on a north-south axis.

Pre Rup and Eastern Mebon are absolutely huge when you step up to them and it is quite a climb up the huge laterite steps to reach the top of the “mountain”, but the view from the top is well worth it. I kind of felt like the temples were built for giants.

Pre Rup from outside its walls

Walking through an ancient hallway in Pre Rup

Walking up to an ancient door at Pre Rup

Stairs leading up to the top towers. Notice the person walking down for scale.

The towers of the temple mountain of Pre Rup

Temple ruins at Pre Rup

View of Pre Rup from the top of the mountain

A stone carving on one of the towers at the top of Pre Rup

View down an ancient staircase at Pre Rup

View of some ruins from the top of Pre Rup

Ancient Tower at Pre Rup

Ruins at Eastern Mebon

Walking up to the central tower at the top of Eastern Mebon

An ancient elephant statue stands watch at Eastern Mebon

Tower at Eastern Mebon

I found Pre Rup to be the better preserved of the two temple ruins, so if you only want to visit one of these temple mountains, I suggest Pre Rup. That being said, they are both well worth visiting if you have the time…plus, all that climbing is great exercise! 😉