Wat Banan
The best preserved Khmer temple in Battambang province, on a hilltop reached by a stairway of about 360 steps. Its five towers recall those of Angkor Wat and date from the 11th century.
- Where
- Battambang, Cambodia
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 12.9511, 103.1398
Get the Wat Banan stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Wat Banan. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Battambang volume with your photos and a note.
Near Wat Banan
Killing Caves of Phnom Sampeau 9.0 km
Limestone caves on Phnom Sampeau hill, southwest of Battambang, where the Khmer Rouge killed and dumped victims. A glass shrine of bones and a golden reclining Buddha mark the main cave. The hill also has temples and a viewpoint, and is reached by a steep climb or a short drive.
Wat Ek Phnom 24 km
An Angkorian temple of the 11th century on the bank of the Sangker River, about 11 kilometres north of Battambang. Its ruined sandstone sanctuary stands beside a modern pagoda and a large seated Buddha.
Prek Toal 64 km
A bird sanctuary and Ramsar site in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, at the northwest corner of the lake. It is known for its flooded forest and for colonies of large waterbirds such as pelicans, storks and adjutants, which nest here in the dry season.
Phnom Krom 82 km
A hill about 140 metres high, close to Siem Reap city and the southern shore of the Tonle Sap lake. A temple called Prasat Phnom Krom stands on the summit, and it gives wide views over the lake, rice fields and floating villages.
War Museum Cambodia 89 km
An open air museum near Siem Reap with military equipment from Cambodia's decades of conflict, including tanks, artillery and aircraft. Former soldiers often act as guides. Its exhibits show the weapons used across the long years of fighting.
West Mebon 89 km
A temple on an island in the centre of the West Baray, the largest reservoir at Angkor. A huge bronze reclining Vishnu was found here, and fragments are kept in the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
Old Market, Siem Reap 89 km
The main market in the south of central Siem Reap, known in Khmer as Psah Chas. Stalls sell fresh produce, spices, silk, souvenirs and street food, and it is a different place from the Old Market in Phnom Penh.
West Baray 89 km
A huge reservoir west of Angkor Thom, about eight kilometres long and two wide, dug in the 11th century. It still holds water and is a local spot for picnics and swimming.
More hidden gems in Battambang
Questions
Where is Wat Banan?
Wat Banan is in Battambang, Cambodia. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Killing Caves of Phnom Sampeau (9.0 km), Wat Ek Phnom (24 km), Prek Toal (64 km).
How do I get the Wat Banan stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Wat Banan and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Battambang volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Wat Banan before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Battambang volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.