Wat Nokor

Wat Nokor (often called Wat Nokor Bachey) is an ancient Khmer temple complex near the town of Kampong Cham in central Cambodia, dating to the 12th century. The site combines preserved brick-and-sandstone ruins with an adjacent active Buddhist pagoda.

The compound is small compared with major Khmer sites but still offers carved lintels, galleries and a clear central sanctuary area that can be inspected on foot. Visitors typically walk the perimeter and enter the newer shrine area to see how the ancient structure and modern religious use sit together.

The original temple was built during the Angkor period and later remained a focus of local Buddhist worship; the modern pagoda was added and continues to host ceremonies. Conservation and local-maintenance work have shaped how the older fabric is displayed.

The site sits close to the town of Kampong Cham, on the Mekong’s western bank in central Cambodia, within easy driving distance of the town rather than in a remote rural setting.

• Best time: Early morning light and cooler temperatures make photographic details on the brickwork easier to see.

What to See #

• Site layout: A compact 12th-century brick-and-sandstone sanctuary with surviving carved galleries and lintels; the modern Buddhist shrine sits beside and within the ancient structure.
• Modern pagoda: A contemporary white-walled pagoda complex built adjacent to the ruins where local religious activity continues alongside the archaeological remains.