Neak Pean

Neak Pean’s design is noticeably different from the designs of most of the other Angkor monuments. Experts believe that the layout represents the sacred lake Anavatapta and that the temple may have been used for healing or purification. Cross the lake on a wooden walkway and spend some quiet time admiring the temple—the view is particularly nice when the pools are full and the temple is reflected in the water.

While Neak Pean is reasonably close to the main Angkor Empire sights, most visitors visit on a tour of lesser-known temples. Most multi-day Grand Circuit tours also include a stop here. You can enter the area with a 1-day, 3-day, or 7-day Angkor Pass.

• Neak Pean is popular with photographers and those hoping to learn about Angkor art, architecture, and religion.
• History buffs should visit with a guide who can explain the meaning of the temple’s shape and carvings.
• The flat wooden walkway that leads to the island is wide enough for wheelchair access but is uneven in places.

Neak Pean is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of downtown Siem Reap, north of Ta Prohm and east of Preah Khan. There’s no public transportation and road conditions are challenging, so most visitors join an organized tour, book a private driver, or hire a private guide.

Neak Pean has the same hours as most Angkor sites; it opens early in the morning and closes in the late afternoon. This site is at its most beautiful during Cambodia’s wet season, which runs May–October; the temple can be underwhelming when the reservoir and pools are dry.

The Khmer kings created a number of huge artificial lakes known as barays. Neak Pean sits in Jayatataka Baray, which covers an entire square mile (2.5 square kilometers). Experts still debate exactly what the barays were used for; some think they helped irrigate the rice that fed Angkor’s citizens while others think their purpose was mainly religious.