Battambang, Phnom Banan, Temple Runs, Hiking, History, Day Trip

Battambang, Phnom Banan, Temple Runs, Hiking, History, Day Trip

Conquering Banan Temple: The "Mini Angkor Wat" 📍 Location 25km South of Battambang. 👟 The Climb 358 Steps (Steep!). 💵 Ticket $2 USD (Included in Battambang Pass). 👑 Era 11th Century (Older than Angkor Wat!). Rising from the flat rice paddies of Battambang is a solitary mountain crowned with five ancient towers. Phnom Banan is the province's best-preserved Angkorian temple. It offers a mix of history, exercise, and stunning panoramic views of the Sangker River. The Journey Up 358 Steps to Glory There is no elevator here! To reach the temple, you must climb a steep laterite staircase flanked by Naga balustrades. It is a workout, but you will have help: local children often run alongside tourists, fanning them with pieces of cardboard to keep them cool (they will expect a small tip at the top!). The Summit At the top, you are rewarded with five towers arranged in a quincunx (the 5-point dice pattern). Although it looks like a "Mini Angkor Wat," Banan was actually built in the 1…