Neak Poan Temple

Walking around the island was such a peaceful experience. The bridge leading over had these beautiful lotus flowers lining the sides, their pink and white petals standing out against the green water. It felt like something out of a dream, with the flowers swaying gently in the breeze. The entire atmosphere was so calming. The temple in the center was even more impressive than I expected, standing so still and quiet among all the greenery. There’s a path around the island that you can walk, so I decided to take my time and explore. As I wandered, it felt like the outside world disappeared, replaced by the soft sounds of nature and the occasional rustle of leaves. The place felt sacred, like it was untouched by time. It wasn’t just the temple that caught my attention, but the whole environment. The air felt fresher, the trees taller, and the colors brighter. It was one of those rare places where you feel totally at peace, where you can just breathe and take it all in. Definitely a moment to slow down and soak up everything around you. I could’ve stayed there much longer.

Neak Poan Temple is absolutely stunning! Surrounded by a massive baray filled with blooming lotus flowers and lush nature, it offers a peaceful and serene atmosphere. This Buddhist temple not only exudes spiritual tranquility but also holds historical significance, as it resembles a sacred place once used for healing and medicine in the past. A truly beautiful and sacred site—highly recommended for everyone to visit and experience the tranquility and rich history of this special place.

Very nice place to visit. It was explained to us that this is a former place to treat ppl with medicine. Look also around and you’ll find some animals like frogs, spiders and centipedes if you are not scared 😱… on the was to the island you can experience a beautiful swamp like environment with dead trees and lots of lotus plants.🌱

A really awesome experience. First to get there you walk along a long boardwalk or bridge over the Jayatataka Baray, a trip not to be taken lightly, as people with gephyrophobia (fear of crossing bridges) May have a hard time right off the bat. Once when crossing over i walked past a man who was using his hands like blinders on a horse to keep from seeing the water, I suppose. The first thing that occurred to me was that was an accident waiting to happen. His friends were trying to help but he pushed them away, he must have made it because there were no wet places on the walkway, and the water looked to be 2 or 3 feet deep. The temples themselves were unusual in that they were towers in ponds, a configuration like no other, very much like the temple that sits out in Srah Srang. When i went the last time, it was being very much under reconstruction, but it looked really well done, and soon to be finished.

Neak Poan Temple is a serene and mystical site, beautifully set on an island in the middle of a tranquil reservoir. Its unique design, centered around a sacred healing pool and symbolic architecture, offers a peaceful escape from the busier Angkor temples. Visiting Neak Poan feels like stepping into a quiet spiritual sanctuary, surrounded by nature and ancient Khmer wisdom.

Amazing approach to the island through the Jayatataka baray. The temple, with four smaller ponds surrounding the central, bigger one, holds a lot of sacred symbolism, supposedly representing the Himalayan Anavatapta lake, which was sacred due to its healing properties. Neak Pean had four fountainheads (lion, horse, elephant, and human) at the four chapels linking the small ponds to the central one, just as in the Anavatapta lake four great rivers flew out of the mouths of an elephant, a lion, a horse and an ox. In the central pond, facing the main sanctuary, there is a rising statue of the horse Balaha saving some maritime merchants from an ogress. Balaha is a form of the Boddhisattva Lokesvara, who is also represented (and was surely worshipped) in the sanctuary. Like other temples in the area, Neak Pean has gone through Hindu and Buddhist phases, but its name refers to the two naga serpents carved at the base of the sanctuary, and which may represent two naga kings (Nanda and Upananda) linked to lake Anavatapta.

A small hospital temple located on a small lake within a small island. A beautiful walk across a lily pad pond to reach there. A very peaceful place to sit and enjoy

Neak Poan is a truly unique temple in the Angkor complex. Unlike the monumental stone towers of Angkor Wat or Bayon, this small temple sits in the middle of a tranquil pond, reached by a long wooden walkway across the water. The setting is serene, and the approach itself feels like part of the experience. Built by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, Neak Poan was designed as a place of healing. The central pool, surrounded by four smaller pools, symbolized the sacred Himalayan lake Anavatapta, whose waters were believed to cure illness and purify the soul. Standing here, you can imagine pilgrims coming for both physical and spiritual cleansing. The temple’s name means “Entwined Serpents,” referring to the naga statues that guard the central shrine. When the water level is high, the reflections make the whole scene incredibly photogenic. 👉 Tip: Visit in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is soft and there are fewer people. The walk through the wetlands is peaceful, and the view of the temple appearing in the distance across the water is unforgettable. Neak Poan is not the largest temple, but it’s one of the most atmospheric and symbolic. A must-see for anyone wanting to experience the spiritual side of Angkor beyond the grand monuments.