Srah Srang

Originally constructed in the 10th century, the Royal Bath boasts striking carvings of lions and mythic creatures like garuda and naga serpents. Now surrounded by local restaurants, the terrace and shady banks of Srah Srang are a popular stop for lunch on Angkor tours and offer a great way to avoid the crowds of Angkor Wat. The eastern shore also makes a great alternative to the sunset temples—Phnom Bakheng and Pre Rup—which get very crowded and have limits on the number of visitors who can enter.

• You need an Angkor pass to visit Srah Srang, as it’s inside the Angkor Archaeological Complex.
• There are many restaurants and cafes which can make it busy at peak times—though you can always come early or late to avoid the rush.
• Don’t forget to bring cash for drinks, food, and snacks, as well as a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water for a day at the temples.
• Srah Srang is not fully wheelchair accessible, as part of the site features stairs and uneven laterite blocks. However, some paths and restaurants are wheelchair friendly.

Located in the Angkor Archaeological Complex between Banteay Kdei and Pre Rup, Srah Srang is most commonly visited as part of an Angkor tour with a driver in a car, tuk-tuk, or motorbike. You can also arrive by bicycle, as the shady pathways around the reservoir provide a scenic stop between the Angkor Ticket checkpoint and Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom temples.

Thanks to the skill of the ancient engineers, Srah Srang is filled with water year-round. Srah Srang’s shady waterside picnic spots are especially popular at mealtimes, so you might want to come early or late to skip the crowds. It’s also worth arriving a little early to grab a good viewpoint for sunrise or sunset.

For years, archaeologists had theorized about a temple in the middle of Srah Srang after discovering remnants of an artificial island just above the water level during the dry season. In March 2020, excavations uncovered artifacts such as metal tridents, sculpted fish, and a large stone turtle dating back to the 10th century, plus a necropolis that housed mortuary vessels and cremated remains—learn more about these discovered on an Angkor tour.