About

User’s Guide

Do you want to know more about one specific, lesser-known temple you visited one day or some friends mentioned to you after a trip to the vast area once influenced by ancient Khmer civilization?
Are you fascinated with some particular aspect of the architectural, sculptural or scriptural creativity in the Angkorean era? Browse by keyword, tag or theme.
Are you looking for the latest findings and studies on timeless cultural or social topics such as music and performing arts, ethnic minorities, medicine and healthcare, the evolution of religious and mystical concepts? Browse by theme.
Puzzled by some technical term or the etymology of a specific word? Check our built-in glossary.
Do you want to browse rich collections of period photographs or art reproductions? Enjoy our partnered online iconographic collections.
We are tagging our vast collection of photographs and reproductions by type, time period and location. Soon [as of May 2026], users will be able to filter their iconographic research across the whole website.

A dedicated, growing section of maps and plans from all time periods is also available.

Using the latest resources in web development, Angkor Database online platform remains ad-free and accessible without login thanks to the generous support of its sponsors.

ADB Library at **Templation Angkor Resort**, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Print and Digital Documents

From 19th-century pioneer studies to novel publications, from rare printed documents to literary and art works reflecting Angkor, close to 1,500 books are available in the ever-developing ADB library at Templation Angkor Resort, Siem Reap.

We are digitizing rare books for preservation in accordance with copyright laws, and encouraging the translation of major texts into Khmer and English languages. The library, along our online platform, reflects our main endeavor: in collaboration with researchers, historians, artists, creators, illustrate the scope of Angkor impact on present-day culture and mores of modern Cambodia.

Angkor Database contribution also involves:

facilitate access to rare or out-of-print studies on Angkor and Khmer civilization;
offer a stimulating environment for researchers so they can comment our posts and debate online;
build an ever-growing database of original, updated bio-bibliographies of researchers and artists (close to 1,000 bioprofiles as of June 2025).

This is an ongoing labor of love and respect dedicated to Cambodia, its history, its people and its perceptive visitors.

1) Aerial view of **Angkor Wat**, c. 2017 [author unknown]. 2) Walking to the gates of **Angkor Thom**, 2019 [photo by Sakphearoth Kea].

About Angkor Database

Angkor Database is a nonprofit online and physical library resource developed since 2016 as a Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Involvement initiative by Templation Angkor Resort, Siem Reap with the support of MAADS-Living Cambodia.

We are committed to scrupulously credit intellectual and artistic authorship. Please notify us email hidden; JavaScript is required for any discrepancy or disambiguation. We work within the framework of Creative Commons and other community-approved guidelines for sharing and crediting.

ADB Music Selection

Timeless Khmer traditional music, with its Royal Court legacy, the influence of native peoples’ dances and ceremonies, the derivations from neighboring cultures…and, always, Angkorian civilization in the background.

Our musical selection is now available on YouTube. Suscribe to Angkor Database Musical Library.

AI and Us

As this online platform intends to be a reliable tool for carefully sourced research references, making rare text and iconographic documents accessible while situating them in a long-term history context and without taking them out of their context, we are staying away from the spreading and reckless use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in content creation. The history we explore here was made by complex human beings and that is how it should be considered.

We do believe in primary source reading, for accuracy and from the conviction that we shouldn’t separate form from content, as AI is trained to do: after all, the history of ancient, pre-modern and even present Cambodia lays both in oral traditions and scriptuary evidence, and that is also the beauty of it.

Whenever we use AI online tools, it is for translations of lengthy texts that are not literary creations, or for searching meta data in documents, we’re adding a specific note. And like a growing number of reference websites, Angkor Database doesn’t accept AI-generated content in our visual library.

Hosted Collections

In partnership with independent researchers, Angkor Database hosts their valuable image and document collections to be easily browsed on this platform.

Credits & Acknowledgements

Concept and coordination: email hidden; JavaScript is required | Researchers: Kea Sakpearoth (2018−2020); Soboros Rathanaranith (since 2024) | Web Creator: Paul Manem. Web Development since 2022: Miranj | Logo Design: MAADS Creative Studio.

Thanks to all researchers worldwide and in Cambodia who are helping us in perfecting this resource, and to various documentation and iconographic resources available in the country, in particular the teams at

Center for Khmer Studies Library (Siem Reap),
EFEO Library (Siem Reap),
APSARA Documentation Center (Siem Reap),
Preah Norodom Sihanouk Angkor Museum (Siem Reap),
National Library of Cambodia (Phnom Penh),
National Archive of Cambodia (Phnom Penh),
National Museum of Cambodia (Phnom Penh),
Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum សារមន្ទីរ ព្រះស្រីឦសានវរ្ម័ន (Sosoro Museum) (Phnom Penh),
The Queen Mother Library (Phnom Penh),
Reyum Institute of Arts and Culture (Phnom Penh),
Bophana Center & Archives (Phnom Penh),
Royal Academy of Cambodia Library (Phnom Penh),
Carnets d’Asie Bookstore (Phnom Penh),
Angkor Editions Bookstore (Phnom Penh),
CamEd Business School Library (Phnom Penh).

Disclaimer

This online platform was created and developed under the general guidelines of Creative Commons. Design and specific contents are ©Angkor Database 2016- and can be shared as fair use of creative contents with the mention of source, Angkor Database. All reproduced material with specified authorship remain under the copyright of respective authors or labeled as Public Domain otherwise.

We are doing our best to properly credit authors of creative works (texts, photographs, films, visual arts…) regardless of the time period or the location. Please email hidden; JavaScript is requiredof any erroneous or uncomplete information published here.