Tep Pranam Temple

Tep Pranam, found to the north of the Leper King Terrace, boasts a 75-metre long laterite causeway, at the end of which sits a large seated Buddha.

A long walkway with a Buddha figure at the far end. Tep Pranam was originally a Buddhist shrine in the 9th century under Yasovarman I, the king that moved the capital to Angkor. It was expanded over the years with 12th century balustrades, 13th century lions and significant post-Angkorian modifications and additions. The Buddha statue at the western end is made from reused material. It is unclear how long that particular Buddha has been there.

The site is dated to around the ninth century, when a Buddhist temple would have sat atop a 30-metre by 30-metre platform, only the base of which remains today. Various additions, such as the balustrades and lions, are thought to have been made in the 12th and 13th centuries. The five- or six-metre tall Buddha is in the subduing Mara position, and is made of repurposed stone. Tep Pranam is worth a quick glance for its pleasant tree-filled setting. An active Buddhist temple remains at the site.

The Layout of Tep Pranam Temple

The entrance to Tep Pranam is marked by a laterite causeway bordered by double boundary stones at the corners and a terrace in the shape of a cross. The sandstone walls of the base of the temple have a molded edging. Two lions precede the walls and there are serpent balustrades, which are of a later date. See map page 80.

The Buddha

The large Buddha seated on a lotus pedestal is in a molded base and coated in sandstone. The body of the Buddha has been reassembled from numerous stones.