Hidden deep within the lush forests of Cambodia, about 40 kilometers east of the famous Angkor Wat, lies one of the most enigmatic and breathtaking ancient sites: Beng Mealea. Often overshadowed by the grandeur of Angkor, Beng Mealea offers a more intimate and wild experience. The sprawling temple complex, overrun by nature, provides visitors with a sense of discovery that makes it feel like the jungle itself is trying to reclaim its ancient secrets.
Introduction to Beng Mealea
Beng Mealea, which translates to “Lotus Pond” in Khmer, is one of the most fascinating and relatively unexplored temples near Siem Reap. It was built in the early 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II, the same Khmer king who commissioned Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece is thought to have served as a prototype for Angkor Wat, with its similar layout, intricate carvings, and expansive galleries. However, unlike Angkor, Beng Mealea has been left largely unrestored, making it a hauntingly beautiful site where visitors can witness firsthand how nature has consumed the remnants of this ancient temple.
The crumbling stone walls, intertwined tree roots, and moss-covered structures give the temple an air of mystery, reminiscent of something straight out of an adventure movie. It’s no wonder why many travelers are now dubbing Beng Mealea as the “best jungle-consumed temple in the world.”
Location and Accessibility
Located about 65 kilometers from Siem Reap, Beng Mealea Siem Reap is a perfect day trip for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure. The journey to Beng Mealea is as picturesque as the temple itself, as you pass through traditional Cambodian villages, rice paddies, and dense forest areas. Many tourists hire tuk-tuks, cars, or even motorcycles to reach the site, with the journey taking approximately 1 to 1.5 hours from Siem Reap.
For the longest time, Beng Mealea remained relatively difficult to access due to poor road conditions. However, recent improvements have made it easier for tourists to visit this remote temple. Despite its increased accessibility, the temple remains far less crowded than the more popular Angkor temples, offering a peaceful escape for travelers looking to avoid the throngs of tourists.
A Journey Back in Time
Walking into Beng Mealea is like stepping back in time. The temple has been left mostly untouched, with no major restoration work carried out, allowing visitors to experience it in its most authentic form. Unlike Angkor Wat, where pathways and stairs have been reconstructed, Beng Mealea feels raw and untamed, as if the jungle is slowly swallowing it whole.
The temple complex covers about one square kilometer and is surrounded by a massive moat, similar to Angkor Wat. It follows a classical Khmer architectural style, with its primary structure centered around a rectangular layout. Visitors can explore a series of courtyards, galleries, and towers, many of which have collapsed over the centuries due to the force of tree roots and the ravages of time.
One of the most striking features of Beng Mealea is its blend of architecture and nature. Massive trees, with roots like tentacles, have grown over and through the temple’s stone walls, prying apart ancient blocks and creating a natural labyrinth. This gives the temple an otherworldly atmosphere, where nature and human creation seem to be locked in an eternal struggle.
Exploring the Temple: Highlights of Beng Mealea
While the entire temple complex is a marvel, certain sections of Beng Mealea stand out as must-see highlights. These areas demonstrate the temple’s grandeur and the unique way in which nature has intertwined with the ancient structure.
- The Entrance Pavilion: The approach to Beng Mealea begins with a wooden walkway that takes you over the moat and into the temple’s entrance pavilion. This pavilion, although partially in ruins, offers the first glimpse of the temple’s scale and the extent of the jungle’s intrusion. The entrance is flanked by intricately carved stone lintels and bas-reliefs that depict scenes from Hindu mythology, although many of these carvings have been damaged or weathered over time.
- The Central Tower (Prasat): At the heart of the temple lies the central tower, or “prasat.” While much of this structure has collapsed, the remnants of its once towering walls and windows hint at the temple’s former glory. The prasat was likely dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, as evidenced by carvings and statues found at the site. The tower’s proximity to overgrown trees and fallen stones makes for a dramatic scene, with sunlight filtering through the dense canopy to create an ethereal atmosphere.
- Gallery Walks: One of the most exciting aspects of Beng Mealea is the opportunity to explore its crumbling galleries. Unlike many other temples that have restricted areas, Beng Mealea encourages a more hands-on exploration. Visitors can clamber over fallen stones, squeeze through narrow passageways, and walk along galleries that are half-submerged in the forest floor. These galleries feature intricate carvings of apsaras (celestial dancers) and divine figures, many of which are still visible despite the temple’s dilapidated state.
- Tree-Root Covered Walls: The most iconic image of Beng Mealea is its tree-root-covered walls. Massive fig trees and other jungle flora have grown over the temple’s structures, creating a surreal blend of nature and architecture. These roots snake their way through cracks in the stone, gradually breaking apart the temple but also holding parts of it together. This phenomenon has made Beng Mealea one of the most photographed temples in Cambodia, with many visitors enchanted by the eerie beauty of these natural and man-made fusions.
- Collapsed Chambers: Many parts of Beng Mealea have succumbed to the weight of time and nature, resulting in collapsed chambers and rooms filled with rubble. While this might seem like a hindrance to exploration, it actually adds to the allure of the site. Visitors must carefully navigate these areas, sometimes using wooden platforms or scrambling over piles of stone. This interactive experience heightens the sense of adventure, making Beng Mealea feel like a true hidden gem waiting to be uncovered.
Nature’s Role in the Allure of Beng Mealea
The defining characteristic of Beng Mealea is undoubtedly the way the jungle has reclaimed the temple. Unlike other temples in the Angkor region, which have undergone significant restoration, Beng Mealea has been left in a semi-ruined state. This has allowed nature to thrive, with dense vegetation growing over and around the temple complex.
The interplay between the stonework and the jungle creates an eerie, mystical ambiance that is hard to find anywhere else. Visitors often describe the experience as walking through a “lost world,” with vines hanging from trees, the sound of birds echoing through the temple corridors, and the occasional rustle of leaves as small animals move through the underbrush.
The presence of nature adds a sense of timelessness to Beng Mealea. While the temple itself may be deteriorating, the surrounding jungle gives the impression that life continues to thrive in its place. This contrast between decay and growth is what makes Beng Mealea such a captivating destination for travelers looking to experience a true jungle temple.
A Comparison with Other Jungle Temples
Beng Mealea is often compared to another famous jungle-consumed temple in Cambodia: Ta Prohm, located within the main Angkor Archaeological Park. Ta Prohm, made famous by the film Tomb Raider, also features a blend of ancient stonework and encroaching trees. However, there are several key differences between the two temples that make Beng Mealea a unique experience.
- Crowd Levels: Ta Prohm is one of the most visited temples in Angkor, and as such, it can be difficult to enjoy the atmosphere with so many tourists around. Beng Mealea, on the other hand, remains relatively quiet and secluded. Visitors often have large portions of the temple to themselves, allowing for a more personal and immersive experience.
- Restoration: While Ta Prohm has been partially restored, with wooden walkways and supports added to prevent further collapse, Beng Mealea has been left in its natural state. This gives Beng Mealea a wilder, more untamed feel, where visitors can explore the ruins with fewer restrictions.
- Size and Scale: Beng Mealea is larger than Ta Prohm and offers a more sprawling complex to explore. The lack of crowds and the sheer size of the temple make it feel like a true adventure, as if you are discovering a hidden temple in the depths of the jungle.
For these reasons, many travelers who visit both temples often come away feeling that Beng Mealea is the superior jungle temple in terms of atmosphere and sense of discovery.
Beng Mealea in the Modern Day
While Beng Mealea remains a relatively uncrowded and peaceful site, its popularity has been growing in recent years. As more travelers seek out off-the-beaten-path destinations in Cambodia, Beng Mealea has become a favorite for those looking to experience the mystique of the Angkor era without the crowds.
Local authorities have made efforts to preserve the site while still allowing visitors to explore freely. Wooden walkways have been installed in some areas to prevent damage to the more fragile parts of the temple, but overall, the site remains largely untouched by modern interventions.
For those interested in photography, Beng Mealea offers countless opportunities to capture the interplay between nature and architecture. The soft light filtering through the trees, the gnarled roots winding their way through the temple walls, and the crumbling stone structures create a photogenic landscape that is both haunting and beautiful.
Conclusion
Beng Mealea is a temple like no other. While it may not have the fame or grandeur of Angkor Wat, it offers a different kind of experience—one that is more intimate, wild, and deeply connected to nature. For travelers looking to explore an ancient site where the jungle reigns supreme, Beng Mealea is undoubtedly one of the best jungle-consumed temples in the world.
The temple’s unique charm lies in its untamed beauty, where crumbling ruins and creeping vegetation form a breathtakingly harmonious blend. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an adventurer, or simply a traveler in search of something different, Beng Mealea near Siem Reap should be at the top of your Cambodian itinerary.
