Wat Phnom Banan Travel Guide

Often dubbed a miniature Angkor Wat, this gently crumbling temple is still used to this day as a Buddhist shrine. Wat Phnom is located around 20kms to the south of Battambang, making this an ideal daytrip destination.

Wat Phnom Banan was constructed in the 11th century and is one of the most impressive temples from this era. To reach the temple, visitors must climb a steep flight of stairs, and the view from the top is simply spectacular.

After puffing and panting their way to the top, visitors are able to purchase refreshments from cunning drink sellers. Some of these merchants also double as tour guides that take visitors on a tour of the caves underneath the temple, which were once inhabited by prisoners of the Khmer Rouge.

Although Wat Phnom Banan has been heavily looted over the years, it contains excellent carvings and engravings. Although this temple cannot compete with the world famous Angkor Wat in terms of grandeur, it is certainly one of Battambang Province’s most magnificent temples and the views from here of the surrounding countryside are enchanting.

By far the best time to visit Wat Phnom Banan is at the end of the day, when shutterbugs will be able to capture spectacular shots and the heat of the day is long past. Transportation in this part of the world can be rather thin on the ground, so it is best to secure a taxi in Battambang and pay the driver to wait while visitors explore the temple.

In brief

What is it? One of western Cambodia’s most striking Khmer temples.


Opening hours: 06:30 to 18:30, daily.


Entrance fees: US$1.


Where: Battambang district in the picturesque west of Cambodia.

How to get there: take a taxi to the south of the city of Battambang (40 minutes), which can be reached by bus from Phnom Penh in 4 hours.