WEST MEBON

The West Mebon is located in the middle of West Baray on an island about 11km northwest of Siem Reap. It is a flat temple was built on the right center of an artificial island of the lake (Island’s diameter is 150m) the temple consisted a single tower stood on a square base 10m for each side and was surrounded by a square sandstone wall is 100m for each side. 

This temple was built in the reign of the king Udayadityarman II dating from the second half of 11^th century which was consecrating to the god Vishnu. The temple was originally surrounded by a square rampart with three square, sandstone gopuras(getway) and a sanctuary on one level crowned with a lotus. Most towers have collapsed but the three on the East side are still reasonably intact. A sandstone platform at the center is linked to a causeway of laterite and sandstone that leads to the east dyke. 

This side of the towers are carved with lively animals set in small squares, a type of decoration found also at the Baphon. Temple. In this temple they found a gigantic reclining bronze statue of Vishnu with 4 arms and 5.6m high, it is a large statue of Khmer art and it was taken to Phnom Penh National Museum in 1936 by Mr. Maurice Glaize.