Phnom Baset

The Phnom Baset is a steep hill, north-west of Phnom Penh. You follow the National Road 5. 12 km north of the Japanese Friendship Bridge, at Preak Phnov, a vivid market, you turn left and follow the asphalt, then laterite road to the West. After 12 km the road bends half right. At your right hand sight you see a golden 'pagoda' topping the Phnom Basset. An narrow asphalt road runs up the hill.

The Prasat Phnom Baset is situated on a terrace on the north slope of this hill. It is a rectangular brick edifice, 12 m west-east by 8.45 m north-south. It shelters a rounded granite rock, with a natural grotto, facing west. The temple also opens west. 

Scholars are at issue if it was vaulted with brick or covered with light material. The entrance door is framed by sandstone colonnettes and a lintel showing foliage. The outer walls are decorated with reliefs of palaces. At the East is a false door of brick. 

Aymonier has visited the site in 1882 and saw "sculptured debris, altars, pedestals, bas-reliefs representing Shiva on the bull Nandi, Vishnu on Garuda". Nothing has remained. 

Scholars suppose that the temple was built around the middle of the 8th century. Recent constructions of Neak Ta shrines have damaged and are defacing the temple.