Beng Melea Temple "Lotus Pond"

Many of us have heard that the main “settings” for the notorious Hollywood adventure film “Lara Croft – Tomb Raider” were the roots of many trees in the Temple of Ta Prohm (the small circle of Angkor), where many guests of Angkor aspire. And, as a rule, the Internet is full of images of this temple, where the combination of wood and stone, nature and monumentalism of ancient occult buildings are intertwined in one – here, in the twentieth century in the vicinity of Siem Reap.

But not many people know about the Beng Melea Temple, translated from Khmer "Lotus Pond" - that's where you had to shoot the above-mentioned adventure movie!

Since 2005, this temple has been open to the public! The views of this structure simply fascinate even experienced tourists: huge blocks of stones covered with moss, bushes and, of course, like a web, thickets of ficus. The temple itself is surrounded by a huge moat.

This temple was built in the early 12th century from huge blocks of sandstone, occupies a large area, is practically not cleared of plants and is not so popular, in comparison with Ta Prom, with numerous crowds of tourists. According to legend, the king was buried here, in whose reign the famous Angkor Wat was built.

Beng Melea seems to stand aside in anticipation of his guests - sophisticated travelers who love unusual and exclusive routes.

A visit to the temple is easily combined with almost all excursion routes, especially with a visit to the temples of Koh Kera (remote temples).