The Mysteries of Koch Ker and the Ruins of Beng Melia

Koh Ker is one of the most mysterious and unusual places in Cambodia. At the beginning of the X century, by order of King Jayavarman IV, a huge city was built here for twenty years, comparable in its grandeur to Angkor itself. However, after the king's death, his heirs returned the capital to Angkor, and the city remained empty and abandoned for a thousand years.

The symbol of Koch Ker is the majestic thirty-seven-meter pyramid of Prang, towering above the surroundings and as if watching them. In the center of the pyramid is a mine leading to its base. According to local legends, once there was a passage to other worlds.

Due to the remoteness of these places, and from Siem Reap the path to Koh Kera takes almost two hours, very few people come here, so you can wander here all day and hardly meet a single living soul. The amazing nature of these places, together with the loneliness of the temples, create an indescribable atmosphere, breathing eternity, loneliness and some ancient mystery. Beng Melia (Bangmealea) is halfway from Siem Reap to Koh Ker. This temple, like Ta Prohm, is a stunning symbiosis of stone and plant life.

Massive, artfully folded walls cause surprise with their grace and grace, and the play of light and shadows on the stones animates the stones. It seems that from the nearest corner will now jump with a sequira, and from the dark passage will appear an old king with a gray beard and a piercing look. Beng Melia (Bangmealea) is one of the few temples where you can still climb the roofs and fully feel like a pioneer.