Western Mebon (GPS: 13.43353, 103.80123) is a small temple within a man-made island, which itself is within the huge man-made reservoir called West Baray. It was built in the 11th Century. Construction was started by King Suryavarman I (reigned 1001-1050) and completed by King Udayadityavarman II (reigned 1050-1066).
Western Mebon was built on the orders of King Udayadityavarman II, in the 11th Century, on the man-made island. It comprises a large square pond of some 100 meter square with a sandstone platform in the middle. Today only the east and south gopuras are still standing, along with the walls along the gopuras. A magnificent bronze Vishnu was found on the Western Mebon in 1936 and can now be view at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
Today nothing much remains of the Western Mebon temple, except for its east and south gopuras. This is definitely not a place for anybody but a more serious Angkor enthusiast.
Wall of Western Mebon (27 February, 2006)
How to reach Western Mebon
Western Mebon is not a major sight in Angkor, and considering it is not easy to reach, is often outside most tour itineraries. To reach the Western Mebon, first read the directions to the West Baray. You may need to hire a boat to take you to Western Mebon. The boat ride in West Baray itself forms a most pleasant excursion.
Tim and Chooi Yoke on the Western Mebon (27 February, 2006)
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Disclaimer
Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.
Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.