Phnom Kulen Adventure by Motorbike

Early start this morning at 7am to depart your hotel in Siem Reap for the drive to Phnom Kulen, considered the most sacred mountain in Cambodia. It was here that Jayavarman II declared himself a ‘god-king’ and gave birth to the Khmer Empire in AD 802.

Arrive at the Kulen Mountain near the Preah Ang Thom pagoda. Meet your motodup (motorbike) driver who will take you for the next few hours around the mountain. You will ride as a passenger along bumpy or slippery country roads and tracks, over volcanic rocks and occasionally through shallow streams.

The first stop is at Poeng Tbal where a riverbed reveals a well preserved stone with details of Shiva and Vishnu and the rocks carvings of Ganesh and wise men.

A short ride on leads to one of the most important sites in all of Cambodia: a small pedestal that is set on top of three tiered pyramid temple called Prasat Rong Chen. Whilst there is little to see today the significance is huge: it is at this point that Jayavarman II declared himself the absolute monarch of the Cambodian Kingdom and announced independence from Java. The linga has been stolen from the pedestal but as you stand here take a few moments to contemplate that the Khmer Empire began at this very spot. Whilst the sites on the mountain have been known for many years to the Khmer people and those living on the mountain, it has only recently confirmed that Phnom Kulen was the location of Mahendraparvata. It was only discovered in mid-2012 as a result of Australian archaeologists using laser mapping equipment flying overhead. Mahendraparvata served as a huge service city for Angkor, a completely unrivalled urban landscape in the pre-industrial world.

Head across more paths to a modern temple with colorful statues and a scenic view. Enjoy a simple, packed lunch at the temple dining room.

Continue after a short break to a Bat Cave which with the help of torches you can enter for a few hundred meters and see a modern shrine. Both the cave and the temple attract many pilgrims to the area.

A short distance on is Srah Damrei (or Elephant Pond). The life size stone elephant served as a guardian for the mountain. The smaller statues of lions, a cow and a frog will also impress.

Head on to back to the starting point with some more stone carvings to be seen at Damrei Khrap (Kneeling Elephant). The motodup adventure then finishes at Preah Ang Thom.

Two more stops are made before your return – the first one is a short visit to see the River of a Thousand Lingas – hundreds of the linga carvings can be seen on a stretch of the river. After visit Kulen Waterfall where you can take a refreshing bath.

It is then time to drive back to Siem Reap.