Ta Keo

ប្រាសាទតាកែវ

An unfinished sandstone pyramid on the Small Circuit. The towers were never carved, which is the point of the visit.

Quick facts

Pass Type: Angkor Pass ($37-$72)
Entry Fee USD: Included
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Commissioning King: Jayavarman V
Century Built: Early 11th Century
Religion & Primary Deity: Hindu · Shiva
Circuit: Small Circuit
Distance from Siem Reap: 10 km
Best Time to Visit: Morning, before the stone steps are too hot to climb

Nicknames and famous highlights

Pyramid TemplesMountain with Golden PeaksUnfinished sandstone pyramidNo narrative bas-reliefsSteep central stairsFive upper towers

History and architecture

Ta Keo was begun around the year 1000 by Jayavarman V as a state temple to Shiva and was left unfinished. A later inscription says work stopped after the temple was struck by lightning, a sign that the site was inauspicious. There are almost no narrative reliefs, so the visit is about mass, proportion, and the very steep staircases. The style sits with the Khleang temples at the turn of the 11th century. It is inside the Angkor Pass, between Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.

How to get to Ta Keo

No origin routes are published yet. See every temple in Siem Reap.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to visit Ta Keo?

Ta Keo is covered by Angkor Pass ($37-$72) and has no extra per-temple fee in this directory.

What are the opening hours of Ta Keo?

Ta Keo is listed as open 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Best time to visit: Morning, before the stone steps are too hot to climb.

Who built Ta Keo?

Commissioned under Jayavarman V, Early 11th Century, c. 1000, dedicated to Shiva. The religion recorded here is Hindu.

What is Ta Keo known for?

Also called Mountain with Golden Peaks. Known for Unfinished sandstone pyramid, No narrative bas-reliefs, Steep central stairs, Five upper towers. Filed under Pyramid Temples

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