Cambodia Travel Takeo - Temple Trail - Phnom Da ភ្នំដា (Pre-Angkorian Temple Funan Period)

Cambodia Travel Takeo - Temple Trail - Phnom Da ភ្នំដា (Pre-Angkorian Temple Funan Period)  (2014 0412)

The ancient Funan sites of Angkor Borei (Khmer: អង្គរបុរី) and Phnom Da (Khmer: ភ្នំដា) is located in the Angkor Borei District, Takéo Province, of southern Cambodia. 
The earliest dated archaeological material from these sites is from roughly 400 BC. They contain the earliest known dated Khmer inscriptions as well as the earliest tradition of Khmer sculpture. 
The hill of Phnom Da contains an 11th Century temple that is still standing. It is a temple built of unusual material for Khmer construction. A very hard basalt stone has only been used in two temples in Cambodia, and it is one of a very few temples in Cambodia that has an internal “womb” (Garbhagṛha) where the priests (Pujari) go inside to make ceremonial actions.

Coordinates    10°59′42″N 104°58′29″E

Getting There:

Phnom Penh via National Highway 2 to Junction of No Name Road with temple arch connect to Road 203 at ថ្នល់បំបែកដើមធ្លក shop house, Pass by Chisor Mountain Temple ប្រាសាទ​ភ្នំជីសូរ, connect to Road 203 at CHISO Hill south entrance, Turn right before Prey Lvea Market ផ្សារព្រៃល្វា (Prey Lvea District) onto Road អង្គរបូរី, until Angkor Borei city, At the roundabout, take the 1st exit (140meters) to Da Mountain

Note: During the dry season, Phnom Da can be reached by road or boat. In the wet season, it can only be reached by boat from Takeo Boat Port

Trail

At the Phnom Da Circle រង្វង់មូលផ្លូវចូលភ្នំដា, take the 1st exit (140meters) to Da Mountain

Phnom Da Tourist Information

About a 1,000 Steps go up to Phnom Da Temple

Mid Mountain Resting Area

Around the foot of the mount of Phnom Da, some five caves have been located – three on the north face, one on the east and one on the west.

Hermit Cave រូងតាឥសី

Continuous Walking Up Hill

The principal temple, now known as Phnom Da temple ភ្នំដារ - was built in the 11th century on foundations remaining from the Funan period

Internal of Temple, The linga and yoni that were originally part of the temple can be found at the Angkor Borei museum, about 8 kms away. (Foreigners have to pay USD2 to get to the museum)

Linga Stand in Prasat at Phnom Da

Beautiful Blossom during my visit in April

Northeast slope of the mount is another temple named Asram Maha Rosei ប្រាសាទ​អាស្រមមហាឫស្សី - dedicated to the Hindu got Harihara, a representation of Vishnu and Shiva in combination build during 6th century in Zhenla Period.