Ek
Phnom Pagoda is located along 1734 road about 10Km from Battambang
City and it takes
about
20 mn to reach there.
It was built during the Bayon period and unfortunately is much worse
for the wear than Phnom Banan. It is an interesting place, however,
because there is a freshly constructed working temple right in front
of the ruins.
Ek Phnom is also easy to get to-just head north on the River Road (Road 1) a bit over 10 km (the road north of the Cobra Bridge snakes around a bit, but goes back to the river). As you are getting close to the temple, you will pass over a small concrete bridge. The road beyond will veer off to the right, but the modern temple is there to the left. Enter the new temple grounds and the ruins are located to the rear.
The
ruins are on a very small hill so there is no workout involved in
viewing them much of the temple is in shambles and was heavily
looted. There are still some sitting Buddha images intact higher up
on the walls. On the inside is a carving of a tug-of-war with
participants tugging away on a serpent. The participants on the left
have lost their heads to looters (they lost face), with the guys on
the right still having their heads intact.
Wat Ek Phnom an atmospheric, partly collapsed, 11th-century temple situated 11km north of Battambang, measures 52m by 49m and is surrounded by the remains of a literate wall and an ancient baray (reservoir). A lintel showing the Churning of the Ocean of Milk can be seen above the east entrance to the central temple, whose upper flanks.
Construction of the giant Buddha statue about 28m height next door has been stopped by the government because, they say, it mars the site's timeless beauty. This is a very popular picnic and pilgrimage destination for Khmer at festival times.
Wat Ek Phnom is a must for anyone visiting the Battambang area as it actually gives you the impression that you are discovering a forgotten temple become the center of holiday festivities for the people of the nearby village. They dress up in their Sunday best and have a celebration between the old and the new temples and climb all around the ruins with their families.
Location
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