Oddar Meanchey Province : Ta Krabei Temple

Ta Krabey Temple became famous after Cambodian and Thai soldiers fought to control the ancient temple. Currently, the temple site is occupied by both Cambodian and Thai soldiers, but tourists can still visit it regularly. Ta Krabey Temple or Thanvaet Temple is a Khmer architectural monument from the 11th to 13th centuries. During the reigns of King Soyarwavarman I and King Udayathitiyavarman II. Dedicated to the god Iso, similar to Preah Vihear Temple, Ta Moan Thom Temple, and Ta Moan Toch Temple, which are located on the Dangrek Mountain Range. The temple is located in Cheu Thaet Village, Kok Klu commune, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province. The temple became famous after media reports a few decades ago that Cambodian and Thai soldiers fought to control Ta Krabey Temple. Ta Krabey Temple is approximately 85 kilometers from the provincial capital of Oddar Meanchey. To reach the Ta Krabey Temple, one must travel along the red dirt road from the town of Samrong to the west. Along the road are forests, some of which are thick and some of which are thin due to logging to make the road. At Ta Krabey Temple, Thai and Cambodian soldiers patrol the area because the temple is close to the Cambodian-Thai border. At Ta Krabey Temple, two Thai soldiers sit near the temple. Nearby, three Cambodian soldiers also patrol around Ta Krabey Temple. The five Cambodian and Thai soldiers are not allowed to carry weapons. A Cambodian soldier, who asked not to be named, said that the patrolling of the two countries’ armies is done to avoid confrontation and tension between them. A Cambodian military source said that Cambodian and Thai citizens can visit Ta Krabey Temple with soldiers. If you want to see the temple as a Khmer and enter through the gate from Cambodia, when you arrive, the Khmer soldiers will be the ones to show you around the temple and to inform you about where you can go and where you can’t go because it is a military-controlled area. Many sources claim that this temple belongs to the Khmer.

- Mr. Sambor Mannara, a history professor at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and Pannasastra University, said that according to history, Takrabei Temple was built in the 11th and 12th centuries to be dedicated to the god Iso. Mr. Sambor Mannara: “From the perspective of building temples, in general, all temples are built to respect the deity. If the deity is Iso, they value Iso. If they respect Vishnu, they value Vishnu. But in my opinion, this temple is more dedicated to Iso. The real name of Takrabei Temple, from the Khmer perspective, is Prasat Preah Dangvaet.”

- Mr. Chhum Socheat, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense. He said that there is no joint patrol between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in the area of ​​Takrabei and Ta Moan temples. Mr. Chhum Socheat: “At Takrabei temple, it is close to the border. The temple is only 14 or 15 meters from the border, and the Thais come to their border and we stay at our border. The meeting is sometimes romantic, like going to eat and drink together. There is no guarding or sexual intercourse.” - Mr. Hok Sovithya, Deputy Director of the Oddar Meanchey Provincial Tourism Department. He said that Takrabei temple has the potential to be developed as a tourist area. However, because there are still Cambodian and Thai soldiers guarding the temple near the temple and the temple is in an area where there may be fighting, the provincial tourism department has not been able to prepare anything to attract tourists to visit it yet. Mr. Hok Sovithya: “It is now under the protection of our Royal Cambodian Army. The next day, we will negotiate the border issue and everything will be over. The place will become a tourist resort.” But he said that every big festival, such as New Year's Day and Pchum Day, there are always a lot of people visiting the temple. Apart from the festival, there are also people visiting the two temples, but only a small number, especially the elderly, who often rent a car to go up to the temple on the Dang Rek mountain range to pray. If you want to visit Takrabei Temple, don't forget to pack rice and water because there are no rice and water shops in the temple area like other tourist areas.