{{Infobox Hindu temple | name = Beng Mealea | native_name = ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា | native_name_lang = km | image = bengmealea.jpg | alt = | caption = Walls and windows at Beng Mealea | map_type = Cambodia | map_caption = Location in Cambodia | coordinates = {{coord|13|28|35|N|104|14|18|E|type:landmark_region:KH_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=inline,title}} | country = Cambodia | province = Siem Reap | district = | location = {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} east of the main group of temples at Angkor and 67 km from Siem Reap by road | elevation_m = | deity = Vishnu | festivals = | architecture = Khmer | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | inscriptions = | year_completed = early 12th century | creator = Suryavarman II | website = }}

'''Beng Mealea''' ({{langx|km|បឹងមាលា}}, UNGEGN: {{lang|km-latn|Bœ̆ng Méaléa}}, ALA-LC: {{transliteration|km|Pẏng Mālā}} {{IPA|km|ɓəŋ miəliə|}}, "Lotus Pond"),<ref name=frejac>Freeman et Jacques, 2006, pp.220-223</ref> or '''Boeng Mealea''', is a temple from the Angkor Wat period<ref name=Higham>Higham, C., 2001, The Civilization of Angkor, London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, {{ISBN|9781842125847}}</ref>{{rp|118–119}} located {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} east of the main group of temples at Angkor, Cambodia, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay.

==The temple== thumb|left|The ruins of Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea was built as a Hindu temple, but some carvings depict Buddhist motifs.<ref name=frejac /> Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. For years it was difficult to reach, but a road recently built to the temple complex of Koh Ker passes Beng Mealea and more visitors are coming to the site, as it is 77&nbsp;km from Siem Reap by road.

The history of the temple is unknown and it can be dated only by its architectural style, identical to Angkor Wat, so scholars assumed it was built during the reign of king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century.<ref name=frejac /> Smaller in size than Angkor Wat, the king's main monument, Beng Mealea nonetheless ranks among the Khmer empire's larger temples: the gallery which forms the outer enclosure of the temple is 181&nbsp;m by 152&nbsp;m.<ref name=rooney>Rooney, 2005, pp.255-258</ref> It was the center of a town, surrounded by a moat 1025&nbsp;m by 875&nbsp;m large and 45&nbsp;m wide.<ref name=frejac />

Beng Mealea is oriented toward the east, but has entranceways from the other three cardinal directions. The basic layout is three enclosing galleries around a central sanctuary, collapsed at present. The enclosures are tied with "cruciform cloisters", like Angkor Wat. Structures known as libraries lie to the right and left of the avenue that leads in from the east. There is extensive carving of scenes from Hindu mythology, including the Churning of the Sea of Milk and Vishnu being borne by the bird god Garuda. Causeways have long balustrades formed by bodies of the seven-headed Naga serpent.

It was built mostly of sandstone: Beng Mealea is only 7&nbsp;km far from the angkorian sandstone quarries of Phnom Kulen, as the crow flies. Presumably sandstone blocks used for Angkor were transported along artificial water canals and passed from here.<ref name=frejac /> Despite lack of information, the quality of architecture and decorations has drawn the attention of French scholars just from its discovery.<ref>{{cite journal|last=de Mecquenem|first=Jean|year=1913|title=Les bâtiments annexes de Bĕn Mãlã|journal=BEFEO|volume=13|issn=0336-1519|pages=1–22|language=fr|doi=10.3406/befeo.1913.2781}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Coedès|first=George|authorlink=George Coedès|year=1913|title=Note sur l'iconographie de Bĕn Mãlã|journal=BEFEO|volume=13|issn=0336-1519|pages=23–28|language=fr|doi=10.3406/befeo.1913.2782}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Boisselier|first=Jean|author-link=Jean Boisselier|year=1952|title=Bĕn Mãlã et la chronologie des monuments du style d'Ankor Vat|journal=BEFEO|volume=46|issn=0336-1519|pages=187–226|language=fr|doi=10.3406/befeo.1952.5162}}</ref>

==World Heritage Status== This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on March 27, 2020 (originally proclaimed December 1,1992) in the Cultural category [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/66/]. 1000px|thumb|center|Beng Mealea which has some dilapidation.

==Gallery== {{commons category|Beng Mealea}} <gallery widths="150px" heights="150px">

File:Beng mealea map path.JPG|Map of Beng Mealea, from a drawing by Léon de Beylié (1849-1910). In red the partially equipped path used to visit the temple. File:Ancient Khmer Temple of Beng Mealea - e.jpg|Collapse stone inside the temple complex. File:Ancient Khmer Temple of Beng Mealea - q.jpg|Carvings of female deities. File:Beng Mealea ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា ベンメリア環濠 DSCF4583.jpg|Circular moat of Beng Mealea. File:Ancient Khmer Temple of Beng Mealea - u.jpg| File:Ancient Khmer Temple of Beng Mealea - j.jpg| File:Ancient Khmer Temple of Beng Mealea - b.jpg|One of the raised libraries of the outer enclosure. Image:Beng Mealea 5.jpg|The fine carvings on the pediments. Image:Beng_Mealea_blind_door.jpg|Blind door, lintel and pediment in Angkor Wat style. Image:Beng Mealea Five Heads Naga.jpg|The magnificent five-headed nagas of the cruciform terraces. Image:Beng Mealea 3.jpg|Vegetations taking over the temple. Image:Beng Mealea 15.jpg|Fallen lintel showing the Churning of the Sea of Milk. </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last1=Freeman|first1=Michael|last2=Jacques|first2=Claude|title=Ancient Angkor|year=2006|publisher=River Books|isbn=974-8225-27-5|ref=FreJac2006|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ancientangkor00free}} *{{cite book|title=Angkor: Cambodia's wondrous khmer temples|last=Rooney|first=Dawn F.|year=2005|edition=5th|publisher=Odissey|isbn=978-962-217-727-7|ref=Rooney2005}}

==External links== *[http://www.earthportals.com/Portal_Messenger/stonesinsky10.html A Pilgrimage to Beng Mealea] by Willard Van De Bogart *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070621175821/http://www.btinternet.com/~andy.brouwer/beng.htm Beng Mealea re-visited] on Andy Brouwer's website * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100316132817/http://www.devata.org/2009/02/death-of-an-angel-how-antiquities-theft-destroys-cambodias-pastand-future/ "''Death of an Angel: How antiquities theft destroys Cambodia's past...and future''" - Article about Beng Mealea site damage] * [http://www.khmer-heritage.de/gallery/beng_mealea/2_tempel/index.html Beng Mealea - Gallery and Photographic Documentation] by khmer-heritage.de * [http://www.timetravelturtle.com/2013/03/beng-mealea-jungle-temple-cambodia/ Photos from inside Beng Mealea]

{{Angkorian sites}}

Category:Hindu temples in Siem Reap province Category:Angkorian sites in Siem Reap province