Phumi Boeng Mealea Travel Guide

 AlbuqRay Says:  We did not try to go inside through the West Gate. We just went under its platform and continued south. Actually there was a huge building just to the west of the platform. From the Beng Mealea diagram it is the same shape as a structure on the east side. The East Gate was... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  Most of Beng Mealea is unrestored making it even more interesting. New areas of the temple are still being added to the boardwalk. The boardwalk is definitely not handicapped accessible. It winds up and down with many steep stairs and ramps. It also goes through the... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  This building was next to the south outside wall and had some really nice carvings on the three doors facing west. These blind doors, lintels and pediments are the style found at Angkor Wat. Notice the large stone hand or foot lying on the ground by the south door. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  We passed another cut tree and saw a previously cut tree starting to grow back before we reached the "tunnel" with the mysterious light. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  The guide led us from the southwest corner of the outer gallery through a maze of buildings and rubble to another "tunnel," and then back to where we started the walking tour. I am sure glad that I did not have to find the way myself. Also, a mysterious energy tried to... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  Many trees (e.g. strangler figs) grow on the ruins in Cambodia. When they get too large and their weight starts to crack the building or wall, they must be cut down. This is an example on the south outside wall of Beng Mealea next to the three-corridor building. The tree had... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  There are several interesting artifacts lying around in the southwest part of the outer gallery. There is also a three-corridor building with nice carvings (see the next tip). 

 AlbuqRay Says:  The normal way to finish the Beng Mealea walking tour is to head directly south from the Northeast Library toward the Southeast Library, then back to the original boardwalk. In the picture that is through the hole in the wall on the left. Instead, we went over the north... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  The east side of Beng Mealea's outer gallery is off the boardwalk so there are fewer people. To get there you must walk along a ledge overgrown with roots. See also a videoclip. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  From the platform at the top of the steep stairs on the north side of the inner gallery the path goes down and through a dark "tunnel" toward the Northeast Library in the outer gallery. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  Inside the collapsed Turtle Carving Library in the northeast corner of the inner gallery there is a large rectangular stone lintel with a carving of the churning of the ocean of milk with a turtle. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  From the parking area near the market, you cross a stone bridge over the moat and approach Beng Mealea along a dirt walkway to the unrestored, impassable south gate. There are public restrooms on the right just before you get to the ruins. See also a videoclip. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  After surviving the dark "tunnel" with the mysterious energy, it was not far back to where the walking tour started. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  There were no other people on the west side of Beng Mealea except us. The outside wall is collapsed in most places. 

 AlbuqRay Says:  We just walked around the outside of this corner. It was totally unrestored but had some interesting carvings. 

 Bonobo2005 Says:  Many types of snakes are living around the Angkor sites and although not very often sighted around Siem Riep due to large crowds, in places like Beng Mealea I recommend to be more careful. I spoke a local farmer from the village working in the fields around Beng Mealea.... 

 AlbuqRay Says:  There is essentially a small village across the road from Beng Mealea. It is a typical market area with places to buy food and souvenirs. We did not actually stop there though.