Neang Khmau Temple or Prasat Neang Khmau (ប្រាសាទនាងខ្មៅ) is an attractive temple located about 6 kilometers for the Prasat Thom Complex. The temple was built in the 10th century of the Angkor era by Jayavarman IV in the Koh Ker style. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddesses and made of sandstone and laterite. There are beautiful artistic designs that reflect the great civilization during that time.
It means a “Dark Skin Lady”, deriving its name from the dark bluish color of laterite, caused by an oxidation process. Built between 921-928 C.E., the temple constructed by laterite stones and sandstones, a tower faces to western side. The main door temple has a lintel with a carving of Brahma seated on a lotus flower with four faces (Three faces of Brahma can be seen). It offers images of lotus petals in very shallow relief on the depressed arches of the false openings and the presence of roughly sketched miniature monuments on the corners. The pedestal with the spot is still found inside the cellar but its Linga has been plundered. The temple has a tower made of laterite facing west and has a single entrance from the west, with a sandstone door frame and decorated with false doors on the other three corners.
The tower is built on a sandstone floor with a deceptive roof adorned with compact laterite towers. In the towers of the temple, there is a 160-meter-wide and 130-centimeter-high sandstone pedestal support for a single sandstone Linga that has been broken, leaving only the base of the mantra drainage (បង្ហូរទឹកមន្ត សោមសូត្រ) to the north. On the lintel, there is a statue of a deity of creation called Brahma with four faces, four arms, with the upper left hand holding the Vedic scriptures “គម្ពីរវេទ” (sacred texts of Vedas), the lower left hand holding an ornamental bead “ខ្សែអង្គាំ” (symbolizing time), the upper right hand holding a spoon or ladle “ស្លាបព្រា ឬវែក” (symbolizing means to feed sacrificial fire), the lower right hand holding a jug of sacred water “ថូទឹកអម្រិត” (symbolizing the means form where all creation emits), the pink body, a swan or goose as vehicle (called Vhana-Hansa). The sculpture of Brahma has the gesture of standing or sitting on a lotus flower that grows from the navel of Vishnu. His consort names Saraswati (ព្រះនាងសរស្វតី) and has daughters, called Thaksap or Ku, and Samthya or Thantiya (ទក្សភឬគុ និងសំធ្យាឬាន្ធិយា). Prasat Neang Khmau is a special structure in the group of Koh Ker temples and enclosed by a single-story laterite wall, 2 meters high, measuring 47 by 44 meters, with a gopura (gate) entering from the west (facing to the pond western side). The pond, was name Trapeang Prasat Neang Khmau, is about 3 hectares and located approximately 350 meters from the temple. This area offers rich tourism potential, featuring a natural landscape, wild fruits, wild flowers, and diverse bird species.
Today, much of the front wall is exposed. Laterite stone was found west of a pond about 100 meters south of the temple. In front of the temple, there are remnants of broken tiles used in that period. However, in protection, conservation, and development of tourist destination, National Authority of Preah Vihear conserves the temple and restored the pond, aiming improving biodiversity and natural landscape for visitor.
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Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
Neang Khmau Temple © National Authority of Preah Vihear 
