Beng Mealea temple, Cambodia is an Angkor-era temple dating from the early 12th century CE and built during the reign of Suryavarman II
Few people come away from a trip to Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples without some kind of Indiana Jones / Lara Croft fantasy. Even if it’s just a passing thought, as you finds yourself with a quiet moment of solitude amongst the ruins, it’s easy to imagine being the first explorer to stumble upon the place. Despite the almost one million tourists annually that visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed site, there are still opportunities to escape the crowds and revel in those fantasies. For travel photographers, the Angkor region never fails to delight while there. You may be standing shoulder to shoulder with 100 other photographers all trying to capture the same sunset but you do it anyway because it is such a spectacular scene. The majority of tourists who visit Angkor do so on a three day pass, rushing around from site to site until they begin to blur together, and in the bars and restaurants in the nearby town, you can often hear people stating that they are “templed out”. In a seeming contradiction, travelers who take advantage of a seven day pass don’t seem to become so overwhelmed by everything. Having the ability to take things at a more relaxed pace, to break up the trip with a side journey to the floating villages on the lake or the bird sanctuary, allows for a more thorough enjoyment of the ruins without them blurring into one another. For those who really want an adventure though, taking a trip to one of the more remote temples is a must. At a site such as Beng Mealea, you can really believe that you are an intrepid explorer, and you will return with photographs, stories and memories that suggest as much.
Located approximately 60km north east of Siem Reap, Beng Mealea is the place to go if you want a real jungle experience. Unrestored and largely covered in dense vegeatation, if you approach the ruins from the western entrance you’ll truly get a sense of discovery as you get a first glimpse of the West Tower rising in front of you. Head over a collapsed section of terrace and into the enclosure, taking where you step, especially if it has been raining as it gets extremely slippery. This is not for the faint-hearted. If you after something a little easier and safer, make use of the main southern entrance. Inside the enclosure itself, the increasing popularity over the past few years has led to wooden walkways being constructed but there are still places that most don’t venture into.
Beng Mealea itself was constructed in the early 12th century CE by Suryavarman II (1112-52). Although a little smaller than Angkor Wat, it features the same basic floor plan, although you would never know it to look at it, such is the state of ruin. It literally appears to be a huge pile of rubble hidden amongst the trees and therein lies its charm. Unlike all of the other temples in the Angkor region, at Beng Mealea it is possible to walk along the tops of walls and on the rooftop. Whether this is desirable is a point of debate. To some, it’s an essential part of the experience but to others it is just hastening the damage that is being done to the structure. Most information about the temple has been lost to history. What is known is that it is constructed primarily of sandstone and is dedicated to the Hindu God, Vishnu, although Buddhist motifs can also be seen in places.
A trip to Beng Mealea is a must for those who desire a little extra adventure and wish for a sense of discovery. Dave Perks and the team at Peace Of Angkor were some of the first to arrange trips there and are my recommended choice, particularly for photographers as the company is run by a photographer.
I’ll leave you with a slideshow featuring additional images. All are available for licensing, as is a longer written article that can be supplied for editorial usage upon request.
