Wat Hanchey Temple

Wat Hanchey is near Kampong Cham city. From Kampong Cham, take local transport or a tuk-tuk toward the hill temple; the site is accessible by a short climb from the roadside. Confirm directions locally as minor roads and paths lead up to the temple.

• Visit early in the morning to avoid heat and to hear the temple bells and birds.
• Wear modest clothing and follow local customs when entering temple grounds.
• Keep an eye out for bas-reliefs and lintel carvings-small details that are often overlooked.

Wat Hanchey, in Kampong Cham Province, is a pre-Angkorian temple dating to the 7th-8th-century kingdom of Chenla, according to inscriptions recovered here, some of the oldest found anywhere in Cambodia. The inscriptions name King Bhavavarman, a powerful Chenla ruler, while parts of the temple, including a mandapa, are thought to reach further back to the Funan era of the 1st to 7th centuries.

The temple stands in the hilly country north of Kampong Cham, on the west bank of the Mekong. It is not among the most visited temples, but the approach along the riverside is beautiful and the site is peaceful, with many old structures and few if any other tourists. The 8th-century stone buildings are remarkably well preserved, including a largely intact brick prasat, and carry ornate detail such as carvings of serpents and mythical creatures.