Wat Moha Leap
Cambodia's Last Great Wooden Pagoda, Gilded in Black Lacquer and Gold
Photo: Willuconquer
Wat Moha Leap — Quick Facts
- What is it?
- temple — Cambodia's Last Great Wooden Pagoda, Gilded in Black Lacquer and Gold
- Where?
- Kampong Cham , Cambodia
- Entry Fee
- Free — donations toward the building's constant upkeep are genuinely needed
- Opening Hours
- Daylight hours; ask a resident monk if the vihara is locked
- Time Needed
- 1–1.5 hours at the wat; half a day with the river journey and weaving village
- Best Time
- Morning, combined with a boat trip along the "Small River"
- Dress Code
- Cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering the wooden vihara
- Don't Miss
- Sixty black-lacquered timber columns stencilled in gold leaf, holding up a roof that outlived a century of war
What to See at Wat Moha Leap
The Wooden Vihara
Nearly every wooden pagoda in Cambodia was lost to war, weather or replacement by concrete. Wat Moha Leap — built in the 1890s and consecrated in 1906, raised on a platform against floodwaters — is the great survivor. The prayer hall runs about 25 metres, carried on roughly sixty timber columns up to 40cm thick, the whole interior finished in black lacquer with hand-stencilled gold-leaf patterns and a painted ceiling.
A Survival Story
The Khmer Rouge destroyed pagodas across the country; this one was spared because they converted it into a hospital. Restoration has been continuous since — replacement columns, new foundation stones, ongoing battles with termites and roof leaks — and visitor donations directly fund that work.
Prey Chung Kran Weaving Village
On the riverbank near the wat, the village of Prey Chung Kran is known for silk weaving; under stilted houses, looms clack through the dry season producing sampots and kramas. Most visitors pair the two into one trip.
How to Get to Wat Moha Leap
The wat is about 20km southeast of Kampong Cham town.
- By boat (the memorable way): Down the Mekong and into the Tonle Touch — the “Small River” — a journey through waterside village life; arrange at the Kampong Cham riverfront, water levels permitting
- By road: Tuk-tuk, moto or car on decent roads — around 45 minutes
Practical Tips
- If the vihara is locked, ask at the monastery buildings — a monk will usually open it
- Leave a donation: this building’s survival depends on it
- Photography inside is generally permitted; avoid flash on the painted surfaces
- Combine with Prey Chung Kran for one of Kampong Cham’s best half-days
Nearby Attractions
- Prey Chung Kran — the silk-weaving village on the same riverbank
- Wat Nokor — the 12th-century sandstone temple at the edge of Kampong Cham town
- Koh Paen Bamboo Bridge — the seasonal bamboo crossing at the town riverfront
Nearby Attractions in Kampong Cham
temple Wat Nokor
A 12th-Century Temple Living Inside a Modern Pagoda
island Koh Paen Bamboo Bridge
A Kilometre of Hand-Woven Bamboo, Rebuilt Every Dry Season
temple Wat Hanchey
A 7th-Century Hilltop Sanctuary with the Mekong's Finest Views
temple Phnom Srey & Phnom Pros
Twin Hills Born of a Legend — the Mountain-Building Contest Between Men and Women
Useful Links
Practical Info
- Entry Fee
- Free — donations toward the building's constant upkeep are genuinely needed
- Opening Hours
- Daylight hours; ask a resident monk if the vihara is locked
- Time Needed
- 1–1.5 hours at the wat; half a day with the river journey and weaving village
- Best Time
- Morning, combined with a boat trip along the "Small River"
- Dress Code
- Cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes before entering the wooden vihara