When people visit Angkor, they focus on Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom. For me, there was a place I had dreamt of visiting; it was the Gate of Death or Gate of Ghosts.

The gate of the ghost is located along the road between Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. There is a way in, a small land road.

Both Cambodians and international tourists don’t visit there.

There are two reasons the gate is kept alone :

1. It is related to the real history of the Gate of Ghosts. During the Khmer Empire, there were wars. The soldiers were injured. They were carried to the city through that gate to the hospital. Some of them could not be cured, so they died. When they died, the dead body was carried out of the city through that door. In another case, the criminal was beheaded; they were carried to be beheaded at that door. Because of that, the door is believed to be a dark place. No one dares to go near it. Cambodians believe there are bad spirits around that can hurt them or bring them bad luck.

2. I was told by the tuk-tuk driver that the gate is quiet so no one goes there because they are afraid of robbery, rape, etc.

Actually, it is really quiet. If you go alone, you will feel the fear coming to your heart. It is not about history. It is about the place, quietness.

But it is a very good place that can inspire writers’ ghost stories. The quietness, the wind, the forest sound, and the stone are a very, very attractive nightmare.

Well, because there are no visitors, the gate is still good; the shape of the gate, the stone, and the sculpture keep their original form.

I think if visitors go there, perhaps it cannot keep its beauty.

If you are interested in going there, please ask for advice from the security guard. Your safety is a priority.