If you are travelling to the Battambang District of the country of Cambodia, you will find many attractions to visit. This area is one of the most beautiful, with rolling hills and green countryside. As well as this, you can view many temples (known as Wats), statues and historical artefacts in this region, many of which date back to the 10th or 11th century.

One such attraction is the Wat Banan. It is located approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Battambang City and is a popular spot with the locals. Many families go to Wat Banan of a weekend to sit at the top of the hill, eat some lunch and admire their beautiful country. It is a place of serenity with deep cultural and religious significance. Indeed, it is still in use as a Buddhist shrine. As a visitor, you may think that it will be crowded with tourists but it still remains less visited than the temples of Angkor.

You can either reach Wat Banan by taking a hire car, taxi, or moto from Battambang, the cheapest of which is the moto, which will cost you around US$1. You may find that many of the local children will offer to be your guide around the temple site; they generally only ask for their moto fare home as payment! Through this you can gain a lot more local knowledge of the site; but you may just wish to go there by yourself and take in the unique atmosphere. There is also a dirt road from Phnom Sampeou to Wat Banan, which takes you through some of the most scenic countryside in Cambodia. Once at Wat Banan, you will notice that it is quite a steep ascent! The temples sit atop a seventy metre high hill and there are 359 laterite steps to navigate to reach them. This may seem like a daunting task but I promise you that what awaits you at the top is well worth the effort!

Once you reach the summit you will be able to wander around the five “corn-on-the-cob” style buildings. Wat Banan is deemed to be one of the best preserved temple sites in the region and you will be able to see intricate artwork and beautifully ornate apsaras on the buildings. Indeed, it is claimed that the work that can be seen on Wat Banan inspired the works at the temples of Angkor.

One thing you will notice is that Wat Banan is not immaculate and well kept. This lends to the charm of the place and as stated, it is still one of the best examples of temple art and design to be seen in Cambodia. Instead, it is best to take in the differing experiences that the eye can behold here; dotted along the pathways are beheaded statues and some dilapidated carvings which can all be enjoyed in the relative peacefulness of this site. Not only this, but with its elevation, you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area. You can also glimpse nearby Phnom Sampeou from the summit of Wat Banan.