Pre Rup: The Best Sunset Alternative

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What

A massive brick Temple-Mountain.

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Builder

King Rajendravarman II (961 AD).

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Material

Laterite & Brick (Not Sandstone).

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Famous For

Sunset Views over the jungle.

Just south of the East Baray, Pre Rup stands as a bold and beautiful monument to the Khmer Empire. Built a century before Angkor Wat, this temple-mountain offers a fascinating glimpse into a different era of architecture. Today, it is famous as the "local secret" for sunset—offering views just as good as Phnom Bakheng but with far fewer crowds.

Exploring the Mountain

The Climb

Pre Rup is a three-tiered pyramid. The climb to the top is notoriously steep and the steps are narrow, so please use caution! As you ascend, notice the material. Unlike the grey sandstone of Angkor Wat, Pre Rup is built from Laterite (a clay-rich soil), which gives it a warm, reddish-orange hue that glows beautifully in the late afternoon sun.

🔥 The Legend of "Turning the Body"

The name Pre Rup literally means "Turning the Body." This refers to a traditional cremation ritual where the body's outline is traced in the ashes. Local folklore believes this temple was a giant funeral pyre for kings. In the center of the courtyard, there is a large stone cistern that locals believe was used for cremation, though archaeologists say it was likely a pedestal for a statue of the sacred bull, Nandi.

The Golden Hour

This is why you come here. The temple's height and eastward-facing orientation provide an unobstructed 360-degree view of the vast Cambodian jungle and rice paddies. As the sun dips, the red brick towers ignite with fiery color. It is a magical experience that feels much wilder and more raw than the manicured lawns of Angkor Wat.

Pro Tip: Timing

Arrive around 4:30 PM. This gives you 30 minutes to explore the towers and the "cremation cistern" before finding a comfortable spot on the upper tier to watch the sunset at 5:30 PM.

Book a Sunset Tuk-Tuk