ANGKOR WAT & SIEM REAP TRAVEL
GENERAL INFORMATION- Siem Reap is best known for being the gateway to the Angkor ruins, a sprawling World Heritage-listed complex of more than 400 ancient temples with the magnificent Angkor Wat. The provincial Siem Reap is also the capital of Siem Reap City and is located in the South of the province on the shores of the Tonle Sap Lake , the greatest sweet water reserve in whole Southeast Asia. The name of the city literally means Siamese defeated, to the victory of, the Khmer Empire over the army of the Thai kingdom in the 17th century. The proximity of the Angkorian ruins turned Siem Reap into a touristy city. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. The Town is a cluster of small villages along the Siem Reap River and to the South with the biggest sweet water reserve. A trip on tuk-tuk within Siem Reap should cost US$1 regardless of how many people pile on, though many drivers now try for $2 and getting them down to $1. The taxis (US$7 fixed cost) from the airport to Siem Reap proper may provide a full day of touring for US$25-30.
GEOGRAPHY- Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in north-western Cambodia.
THE GREAT LAKE TONLE SAP AND FLOATING VILLAGES-The Tonlé Sap, for "Vast Body of Fresh Water" and more commonly translated as "Great Lake" is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. Cambodia's great lake, is a part of the mighty Mekong river system, there are 173 floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. This is one of the most magnificent stretches of water on the planet, a UNESCO-designated biosphere, a fish-breeding reserve, a bird-watcher's paradise and the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia. The Lake is the largest fresh water in South East Asia. Its dimension changes depending on the monsoon and dry season. During raining season from June to October, the lake is filled by water flowing from the Mekong with 14 meters in depth and expands the surface of 10,000 square Kilometers. In dry season from November to May its size 3,000 square kilometres with two meters in depth and water flows out from the Lake to the Mekong. Most of these itinerant villagers are Vietnamese, not Cambodian. The lake located about 15 km south of Siem Reap town.
Five provinces circled the area of Tonle Sap Lake, more than three million of population inhabited around the bank of the Lake and 90% of them earn a living by catching fish and making agricultures. The Lake is also an important commercial resource, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia.
Chong Khneas is the name of famous floating village at the edge of the lake. It locates at Southern part of Siem Reap town about 15 Km, and takes only 30 minutes by vehicles to the boat dock where there are always boats waiting for visitors. The boat trip through the floating village takes approximately two hours. You will explore the different of Khmer, Muslim and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, fisheries, clinics, schools, basketball course, pigsty and other boatloads of tourists.
AIRPORT- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is one of Cambodia’s busiest hubs for both domestic and international flights. When arriving in Cambodia you can apply for a Visa on Arrival at the desk just inside the immigrations area. You need to complete the visa application form and submit it along with your passport, one photo and visa fee. Your visa will be granted after around 10-15 minutes. You will find two ATMs just near here and immigration should you need to withdraw the visa fee.The majority of visitors to Siem Reap arrive by air from Phnom Penh and Bangkok.There are also regular flights from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane. The airport sits 6km from town , close to the temples, occasionally affording spectacular views of Angkor Wat during landings and take offs. There are separate terminals for international and domestic flights. Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Independent taxis and motorcycles wait just outside the airport. The town is less than 15 minutes from the airport and taxis charge a flat rate of US$7 to all hotels in town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival. Jetstar Asia (Singapore) and Silk Air (Da Nang, Singapore) is service to Siem Reap and Cambodia Angkor Air (Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Bangkok).
DISTANCE FROM SIEM REAP-
Angkor Wat-7 Bayon Temple-10 Floating Village-15
Bakong Temple-14 Bantey Srey-32 Kulen Mountain-55
Phnum Krom-11 Rolous-13 Phnom Penh-320
PHOTOGRAPHY-Most of the temples are facing east and the best lighting conditions are in the morning except Angkor Wat where the best light in the afternoon because it faces west. Ta Prohm and Prah Khan are surrounded by jungle so the best time is when sun directly over the head and shining through the foliage.
MASSAGE-A 30-minute foot massage with reflexology is an undeniable $3, while an hour, including head, shoulder and arms, will set you back a whole $6. They also offer Khmer and oil massages, with a Khmer massage in a large, communal room with curtained off mattresses at $5. At the budget end, Master Feet (opposite Blue Pumpkin on Hospital Street) has one of the best foot massages in town.
CLIMATE-December and January are the coolest months. The tourist season is from November to February and the temperature is 25-30º C
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Av Max 32 33 35 35 35 33 33 32 32 31 31 31
AvMin 20 21 26 25 25 25 25 25 24 24 22 20
SIEM REAP ATTRACTIONS AND SIGHTS (Except Temples)-
GEOGRAPHY- Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in north-western Cambodia.
THE GREAT LAKE TONLE SAP AND FLOATING VILLAGES-The Tonlé Sap, for "Vast Body of Fresh Water" and more commonly translated as "Great Lake" is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. Cambodia's great lake, is a part of the mighty Mekong river system, there are 173 floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. This is one of the most magnificent stretches of water on the planet, a UNESCO-designated biosphere, a fish-breeding reserve, a bird-watcher's paradise and the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia. The Lake is the largest fresh water in South East Asia. Its dimension changes depending on the monsoon and dry season. During raining season from June to October, the lake is filled by water flowing from the Mekong with 14 meters in depth and expands the surface of 10,000 square Kilometers. In dry season from November to May its size 3,000 square kilometres with two meters in depth and water flows out from the Lake to the Mekong. Most of these itinerant villagers are Vietnamese, not Cambodian. The lake located about 15 km south of Siem Reap town.
Five provinces circled the area of Tonle Sap Lake, more than three million of population inhabited around the bank of the Lake and 90% of them earn a living by catching fish and making agricultures. The Lake is also an important commercial resource, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia.
Chong Khneas is the name of famous floating village at the edge of the lake. It locates at Southern part of Siem Reap town about 15 Km, and takes only 30 minutes by vehicles to the boat dock where there are always boats waiting for visitors. The boat trip through the floating village takes approximately two hours. You will explore the different of Khmer, Muslim and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, fisheries, clinics, schools, basketball course, pigsty and other boatloads of tourists.
AIRPORT- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is one of Cambodia’s busiest hubs for both domestic and international flights. When arriving in Cambodia you can apply for a Visa on Arrival at the desk just inside the immigrations area. You need to complete the visa application form and submit it along with your passport, one photo and visa fee. Your visa will be granted after around 10-15 minutes. You will find two ATMs just near here and immigration should you need to withdraw the visa fee.The majority of visitors to Siem Reap arrive by air from Phnom Penh and Bangkok.There are also regular flights from Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane. The airport sits 6km from town , close to the temples, occasionally affording spectacular views of Angkor Wat during landings and take offs. There are separate terminals for international and domestic flights. Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Independent taxis and motorcycles wait just outside the airport. The town is less than 15 minutes from the airport and taxis charge a flat rate of US$7 to all hotels in town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival. Jetstar Asia (Singapore) and Silk Air (Da Nang, Singapore) is service to Siem Reap and Cambodia Angkor Air (Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Bangkok).
DISTANCE FROM SIEM REAP-
Angkor Wat-7 Bayon Temple-10 Floating Village-15
Bakong Temple-14 Bantey Srey-32 Kulen Mountain-55
Phnum Krom-11 Rolous-13 Phnom Penh-320
PHOTOGRAPHY-Most of the temples are facing east and the best lighting conditions are in the morning except Angkor Wat where the best light in the afternoon because it faces west. Ta Prohm and Prah Khan are surrounded by jungle so the best time is when sun directly over the head and shining through the foliage.
MASSAGE-A 30-minute foot massage with reflexology is an undeniable $3, while an hour, including head, shoulder and arms, will set you back a whole $6. They also offer Khmer and oil massages, with a Khmer massage in a large, communal room with curtained off mattresses at $5. At the budget end, Master Feet (opposite Blue Pumpkin on Hospital Street) has one of the best foot massages in town.
CLIMATE-December and January are the coolest months. The tourist season is from November to February and the temperature is 25-30º C
MONTH JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Av Max 32 33 35 35 35 33 33 32 32 31 31 31
AvMin 20 21 26 25 25 25 25 25 24 24 22 20
SIEM REAP ATTRACTIONS AND SIGHTS (Except Temples)-
001- COMBODIAN CULTURAL VILLAGE- Cambodian Cultural Village situated in Siem Reap province along the road number 6 distanced 3 Km from International Siem Reap Airport and 5 Km Angkor Wat temple. There are 13 unique villages, which represent difference cultural heritages with 8 scenes of show performance. At each scene, the tourist will be able to enjoy with traditional dancing perform by dancers.
Wax Museum- Cambodian Cultural Village has two museums (Wax & Historical) that exhibit the well-known personalities of Cambodia starting from the early centuries until the present such as queens, kings. There are more than thirty wax statues that show the development of Cambodian Cultures from the first century up to 20th century.
Other Attractions are-
Choosing Water & Fire Master
Fishing Performance
New Kroeung Village Show
Peacock Dance
The Greatest King - Jayavarman VII (Fri- Sun at 19h:00-20h:05)
Khmer Wedding Ceremony Show
Charming Scarf Show
Choosing Fiancé Show (Kroeung Minority Dance)
Chum Nor Kadek Dance (Harvesting rice)
Circus
Coconut Shell Dance
Fantastic Acrobatics Show
Lion Dancing & Walk on Stilts
Umbrella Dance
Shedule-http://www.cambodianculturalvillage.com/en/program#achor
Restaurant- Operation Hours: -
Set lunch: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Buffet dinner: 6.00pm to 8.30pm
Archery- Only 1 USD for every 10 arrows.
Opens- 8am-7pm.
Wax Museum- Cambodian Cultural Village has two museums (Wax & Historical) that exhibit the well-known personalities of Cambodia starting from the early centuries until the present such as queens, kings. There are more than thirty wax statues that show the development of Cambodian Cultures from the first century up to 20th century.
Other Attractions are-
- Miniatures-These are collections of the famous and historical building and structures in Cambodia. They are about 8.
- New Theater- Khmer traditional show like- Drumming show, Lotus Dancing show & Apsara Dancing show.
- Mini Theater- the place for holding performances.
- Millionaire House- During the Oudong period, rich families stayed in this old style Khmer construction.
- Chinese Village-show of Chinese culture.
- Traditional Shows-
Choosing Water & Fire Master
Fishing Performance
New Kroeung Village Show
Peacock Dance
The Greatest King - Jayavarman VII (Fri- Sun at 19h:00-20h:05)
Khmer Wedding Ceremony Show
Charming Scarf Show
Choosing Fiancé Show (Kroeung Minority Dance)
Chum Nor Kadek Dance (Harvesting rice)
Circus
Coconut Shell Dance
Fantastic Acrobatics Show
Lion Dancing & Walk on Stilts
Umbrella Dance
Shedule-http://www.cambodianculturalvillage.com/en/program#achor
- Body & Foot Massage-at massage center.
Restaurant- Operation Hours: -
Set lunch: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Buffet dinner: 6.00pm to 8.30pm
Archery- Only 1 USD for every 10 arrows.
Opens- 8am-7pm.
002- ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM- Offers visitors a better understanding of the area's architecture and archaeological treasures. It's composed of eight separate galleries, all connected by a vaulted corridor with a series of fountains and lined with what seems like all the Angkorian limestone lion and demon heads missing from statues at the temples. After an explanatory film screening called Story behind the legend, you're pointed toward the galleries.
Gallery 1: 1,000 Buddha Images.
Gallery 2: Pre-Angkor Period: Khmer Civilisation.
Gallery 3: Religion and Beliefs
Gallery 4: The Great Khmer Kings
Gallery 5: Angkor Wat
Gallery 6: Angkor Thom
Gallery 7: Story From Stones
Gallery 8: Ancient Costume
It's $12 to enter the museum, plus another $3 if you want to bring in your camera and another $3 for an educational headset. The museum is owned and run by a private company.
Daily 8:30-18:00.
Gallery 1: 1,000 Buddha Images.
Gallery 2: Pre-Angkor Period: Khmer Civilisation.
Gallery 3: Religion and Beliefs
Gallery 4: The Great Khmer Kings
Gallery 5: Angkor Wat
Gallery 6: Angkor Thom
Gallery 7: Story From Stones
Gallery 8: Ancient Costume
It's $12 to enter the museum, plus another $3 if you want to bring in your camera and another $3 for an educational headset. The museum is owned and run by a private company.
Daily 8:30-18:00.
003- PSAR CHAS- This is the original Khmer market in Siem Reap, and has some of everything. Sells: souvenirs, silks, silver, jewellery, some antiques, clothes, shoes, household items, hardware, and fresh food. Also, Khmer food stalls, and sewing repair.
Location: Downtown near the Siem Reap River.
Location: Downtown near the Siem Reap River.
004-ANKOR NIGHT MARKET- The first of its kind in Cambodia, Angkor Night Market was founded in 2007 with the prime mission to restore as well as preserve traditional Khmer handicrafts while alleviating poverty and improving the lives of Khmer people. More than 200 stalls and the night market is bounded by a Balinese themed garden and largely reflects the Khmer culture and heritage, with its well laid out thatched hut style stalls – all made using natural raw materials such as bamboo and wood.
Location: Conveniently located a few blocks away from the Old Market, off the Sivatha Blvd in Siem Reap.
Opening Hours: From 16:00 until midnight.
Location: Conveniently located a few blocks away from the Old Market, off the Sivatha Blvd in Siem Reap.
Opening Hours: From 16:00 until midnight.
005- LUCKY MALL-Being the newest shopping centre, the biggest and best, but there are relatively few shops here. Can be very crowded in the evening and on weekends.
Location: Sivatha Blvd., south of Hwy. No. 6
Location: Sivatha Blvd., south of Hwy. No. 6
006- FLOATING VILLAGE- There are three floating villages around Siem Reap - Kompong Khleang, Kompong Phluk, Chong Kneas. With Kompong Khleang considered the most authentic at distance of 15kms and takes only 30 minutes by vehicles to the boat dock where there are always boats waiting for visitors. The boat trip through the floating village takes approximately two hours. You will explore the different of Khmer, Muslim and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, fisheries, clinics, schools, basketball course, pigsty and other boatloads of tourists. The boat trip usually includes two stops: one at a touristy floating 'fish and bird exhibition' with a souvenir and snack shop, and the other at the very highly recommended Gecko Environment Centre, which offers displays and information introducing the ecology and biodiversity of the lake area.
Kompong Phluk Village and Tonle Sap Lake Half-Day Tour from Siem Reap- Chong Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake closest and most accessible to Siem Reap. Boat tours of Chong Khneas are available, departing from the Chong Khneas boat docks all day long. Take a motodup or taxi the 11-15km from Siem Reap to the boat docks where there are always boats waiting for passengers. A two-hour boat trip through the floating village runs $6 and the boats may carry as many as 15 other people. The boatman will probably point out the differing Khmer and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, clinics, schools and other boatloads of tourists. Chong Khneas, while interesting, is over-touristic and is not as picturesque and 'unspoiled' as floating villages further from Siem Reap. The boat trip usually includes two stops: one at a touristy floating 'fish and bird exhibition' with a souvenir and snack shop, and the other at the very highly recommended Gecko Environment Centre, which offers displays and information introducing the ecology and biodiversity of the lake area.
Kompong Phluk Village and Tonle Sap Lake Half-Day Tour from Siem Reap- Chong Khneas is the floating village at the edge of the lake closest and most accessible to Siem Reap. Boat tours of Chong Khneas are available, departing from the Chong Khneas boat docks all day long. Take a motodup or taxi the 11-15km from Siem Reap to the boat docks where there are always boats waiting for passengers. A two-hour boat trip through the floating village runs $6 and the boats may carry as many as 15 other people. The boatman will probably point out the differing Khmer and Vietnamese floating households and the floating markets, clinics, schools and other boatloads of tourists. Chong Khneas, while interesting, is over-touristic and is not as picturesque and 'unspoiled' as floating villages further from Siem Reap. The boat trip usually includes two stops: one at a touristy floating 'fish and bird exhibition' with a souvenir and snack shop, and the other at the very highly recommended Gecko Environment Centre, which offers displays and information introducing the ecology and biodiversity of the lake area.
007- KHMER CLASSICAL DANCING- The Apsara dance is a centuries old traditional Khmer dance and an important part of Cambodian culture. Apsara Dancing offer dinner together with the performance. Dinner usually starts around 18hr or 19hr and the dancing around 20hr. The performance will take around one hour in which several dances are presented. Some restaurants also offer buffet. Some of them will ask a fee to watch the show.
a-Classical Dance-The classical dance is known for the arched backs, feet and hands. The dancers make slow and feather light movements. They wear traditional Khmer clothing and have a graceful appearance. The classical dance usually presents a story of the ancient Angkor period.
b-Folk Dance-The Folk Dance is most of the time used for celebrations and holidays. They present particular rituals and are often inspired by scenes from the country side. Popular dances are the Good Harvest Dance and the Romantic Fishing Dance.
c-Shadow Theatre-There are two different kind of Shadow puppet theatre. The Sbeik Thom which presents stories of the Reamker. The Sbeik Toot diplays heroes, love and battle stories. In both forms the puppets are held in front of a light behind a screen telling the story and creating the silhouette effect.
d-Lakhon Khol- Lakhon Khol is also called the masque theatre. In most of the performances, the men appear with ancient masques and perform a battle scene.
Below are a few of the venues offering Apsara Dance.
i- Koulen Restaurant Apsara Cultural Show and Dinner - The restaurant has a total capacity of over 650 seats. Koulen restaurant is fully decorated with tropical plants and flowers that make guests feel refreshed during their stay. The restaurant serves traditional Khmer, Chinese and Western food in dinner buffet. Watch the Apsara traditional Khmer dance and other dances.
Buffet starts at 6pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Address: Sivatha Street, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Oppostite Lucky Mall)
Price-12USD
ii- Apsara Theatre- Opening Hours: Everyday – Dinner 19:30 / Show 20:30
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Off Wat Bo Road, opposite Angkor Village Hotel
Type: Traditional Khmer Dance
Remarks: Seating inside (A/C)
Price Range: Adults – $25
iii- Alliance Café-Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - Dinner 19:00/ Show 20:00
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Wat Damnak area
Type: Shadow Puppet Theatre and Traditional Khmer Dance
Remarks: Seating Indoors
Dinner type: Khmer set menu or a la carte.
Price Range: Set menu + show $20.00, Show only $7.00
a-Classical Dance-The classical dance is known for the arched backs, feet and hands. The dancers make slow and feather light movements. They wear traditional Khmer clothing and have a graceful appearance. The classical dance usually presents a story of the ancient Angkor period.
b-Folk Dance-The Folk Dance is most of the time used for celebrations and holidays. They present particular rituals and are often inspired by scenes from the country side. Popular dances are the Good Harvest Dance and the Romantic Fishing Dance.
c-Shadow Theatre-There are two different kind of Shadow puppet theatre. The Sbeik Thom which presents stories of the Reamker. The Sbeik Toot diplays heroes, love and battle stories. In both forms the puppets are held in front of a light behind a screen telling the story and creating the silhouette effect.
d-Lakhon Khol- Lakhon Khol is also called the masque theatre. In most of the performances, the men appear with ancient masques and perform a battle scene.
Below are a few of the venues offering Apsara Dance.
i- Koulen Restaurant Apsara Cultural Show and Dinner - The restaurant has a total capacity of over 650 seats. Koulen restaurant is fully decorated with tropical plants and flowers that make guests feel refreshed during their stay. The restaurant serves traditional Khmer, Chinese and Western food in dinner buffet. Watch the Apsara traditional Khmer dance and other dances.
Buffet starts at 6pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Address: Sivatha Street, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Oppostite Lucky Mall)
Price-12USD
ii- Apsara Theatre- Opening Hours: Everyday – Dinner 19:30 / Show 20:30
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Off Wat Bo Road, opposite Angkor Village Hotel
Type: Traditional Khmer Dance
Remarks: Seating inside (A/C)
Price Range: Adults – $25
iii- Alliance Café-Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - Dinner 19:00/ Show 20:00
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Wat Damnak area
Type: Shadow Puppet Theatre and Traditional Khmer Dance
Remarks: Seating Indoors
Dinner type: Khmer set menu or a la carte.
Price Range: Set menu + show $20.00, Show only $7.00
008-SIEM REAP BALLOON RIDE-The balloon is located at the road from the International Airport in Siem Reap, Cambodia to the main entrance of Angkor Wat Temple, just 1 km east of Angkor Wat. From the stationery balloon’s vantage point, a bright yellow helium balloon resembling a giant egg yolk, the tethered balloon affords views over the nearby area, Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng, the West Baray and the Cambodian countryside. The German made helium balloon is attached to a rope and ascends approximately 200 metres. On a clear day, you can even see Lake Tonle Sap and Phnom Krom. Depending on the weather conditions, the balloon rises up to 200 meters and can carry up to 30 passengers for a 10 minutes ride. Tickets can be purchased directly on spot. The balloon ticket booth is located within the Angkor Archaeological Park. The balloon operates from sunrise to sunset depending on the weather conditions. (note-nothing can flight over or near Angkor Temple because Angkor Temple is under control of UNESCO)
Admission:- US$15
ANGKOR TEMPLE
Admission:- US$15
ANGKOR TEMPLE
GENERAL INFORMATION-Angkor is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world and world’s largest temple complex. Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Angkor include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area. Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer Kingdom. The architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. The best preserved, and most visited, are Angkor Wat, the Bayon, and Ta Prohm, which were first restored by the French, who established an Angkor Conservancy in 1908.
The ruins of Angkor Wat are located in the Angkor Archaeological Park , the entrance to the park is located about 3km north of modern-day Siem Reap. There are no hotels within the park grounds, and most visitors to the ancient temples stay in Siem Reap, using it as a base from which to make daily visits to the temples. Mostly significant temple ruins are found within 6 to 25km north of town, with the closest major temple being Angkor Wat.
How to Explore Temples- Rent a tuk-tuk – It is best to rent a tuk-tuk for an entire day to get around. They know how to get you in and out of each temple and know the best routes for the complex. It will let you see more places in a day and is very affordable, generally around $20 USD for the day. Or take a half day tour.
https://hellotuktuk.com
HISTORY- Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire flourished from 9th to 14th centuries. The Khmer kings constructed magnificent temples, and huge waterworks and at its zenith the capital city at Angkor was populated by more than a million people. In 802AD, King Jayavarman II declared himself a universal monarch and god king. Angkor Wat was constructed during king Suryavaman II (ruled from 1113AD -1145/1150AD) as king's state capitol temple. In 1145/1150 after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by Chams. A new King Jayavarman VII, who established a new capitol and state temple -Angkor Thom and Bayon a few kms to the north. Jayavarman VII defeated the Chams in battle and in 1181 and assumed the throne. As Jayavarman VII adopted Mahayana Budhism therefore Hindu temples were transformed into Buddhism and he made Buddhist temple known as the Bayon at Angkor Thom .Hindu restoration began around 1243AD with the death of Jayavarman VII's successor Indravarman II. Indravarman II was Shaivite and destroying the Buddhist images and re-establishing the Hindu shrines and the Bayon was made a temple to Shiva and the Bhudha statue of 3.6m tall was thrown to the nearby well .Angkor had a population of over one million, and was the spiritual centre for the Khmers until it was abandoned after being sacked by the Thais in 1431. The great city was cloaked by forest until the late 19th century, when French archaeologist began the restoration process. The French who established the Angkor Conservancy in 1908, and they were first to restore the temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Even after the Thais (Ayutthaya) sacked the city in 1431, people from all across Asia continued to take religious pilgrimages to the ruined city, attributing its enormity and beauty to the gods of Hinduism and Buddhism. After the Thai takeover, Buddhist monks continued to preserve and uphold the sacred status of Ankgor Wat, but they overturned the original dedication of the temple to Hindu deity Vishnu.
TEMPLE ADMISSION PASSES-To visit temples and other sites within the Angkor Archaeological Park, get a valid admission pass, called an 'Angkor Pass'. Admission passes are purchased at the main entrance located on the road to Angkor Wat, and one-day passes can be obtained at the secondary entrance gate on the road from the airport. The cost of the passes is $20 for a one-day pass, $40 for a three-day pass, and $60 for a seven-day pass. A three-day pass is valid for any three days within a one week period, and a seven-day pass is valid for any seven days within a one month period. For three-day and seven-day passes, a passport-sized photo is required when buying the pass. If one visits Angkor for only one day, one will only be able to see the most famous temples (i.e. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom) but not much else. A three-day visit is enough time to explore the main temples, and some of the minor sites, and have some time to explore a few temple sites in depth. One will need to always carry your temple pass with you because you will have to show it each time you enter the park, and when entering major temples.
Tip-i-If you buy your ticket after 5pm you can legally enter the park without using up your allotted days. This means you can technically enter the park and explore before it closes, and still have your 1-, 3-, or 7-days remaining.
ii-Also if you lost your pass/ticket ,you will not get entry into the temple.
The ruins of Angkor Wat are located in the Angkor Archaeological Park , the entrance to the park is located about 3km north of modern-day Siem Reap. There are no hotels within the park grounds, and most visitors to the ancient temples stay in Siem Reap, using it as a base from which to make daily visits to the temples. Mostly significant temple ruins are found within 6 to 25km north of town, with the closest major temple being Angkor Wat.
How to Explore Temples- Rent a tuk-tuk – It is best to rent a tuk-tuk for an entire day to get around. They know how to get you in and out of each temple and know the best routes for the complex. It will let you see more places in a day and is very affordable, generally around $20 USD for the day. Or take a half day tour.
https://hellotuktuk.com
HISTORY- Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire flourished from 9th to 14th centuries. The Khmer kings constructed magnificent temples, and huge waterworks and at its zenith the capital city at Angkor was populated by more than a million people. In 802AD, King Jayavarman II declared himself a universal monarch and god king. Angkor Wat was constructed during king Suryavaman II (ruled from 1113AD -1145/1150AD) as king's state capitol temple. In 1145/1150 after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by Chams. A new King Jayavarman VII, who established a new capitol and state temple -Angkor Thom and Bayon a few kms to the north. Jayavarman VII defeated the Chams in battle and in 1181 and assumed the throne. As Jayavarman VII adopted Mahayana Budhism therefore Hindu temples were transformed into Buddhism and he made Buddhist temple known as the Bayon at Angkor Thom .Hindu restoration began around 1243AD with the death of Jayavarman VII's successor Indravarman II. Indravarman II was Shaivite and destroying the Buddhist images and re-establishing the Hindu shrines and the Bayon was made a temple to Shiva and the Bhudha statue of 3.6m tall was thrown to the nearby well .Angkor had a population of over one million, and was the spiritual centre for the Khmers until it was abandoned after being sacked by the Thais in 1431. The great city was cloaked by forest until the late 19th century, when French archaeologist began the restoration process. The French who established the Angkor Conservancy in 1908, and they were first to restore the temples of Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Even after the Thais (Ayutthaya) sacked the city in 1431, people from all across Asia continued to take religious pilgrimages to the ruined city, attributing its enormity and beauty to the gods of Hinduism and Buddhism. After the Thai takeover, Buddhist monks continued to preserve and uphold the sacred status of Ankgor Wat, but they overturned the original dedication of the temple to Hindu deity Vishnu.
TEMPLE ADMISSION PASSES-To visit temples and other sites within the Angkor Archaeological Park, get a valid admission pass, called an 'Angkor Pass'. Admission passes are purchased at the main entrance located on the road to Angkor Wat, and one-day passes can be obtained at the secondary entrance gate on the road from the airport. The cost of the passes is $20 for a one-day pass, $40 for a three-day pass, and $60 for a seven-day pass. A three-day pass is valid for any three days within a one week period, and a seven-day pass is valid for any seven days within a one month period. For three-day and seven-day passes, a passport-sized photo is required when buying the pass. If one visits Angkor for only one day, one will only be able to see the most famous temples (i.e. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom) but not much else. A three-day visit is enough time to explore the main temples, and some of the minor sites, and have some time to explore a few temple sites in depth. One will need to always carry your temple pass with you because you will have to show it each time you enter the park, and when entering major temples.
Tip-i-If you buy your ticket after 5pm you can legally enter the park without using up your allotted days. This means you can technically enter the park and explore before it closes, and still have your 1-, 3-, or 7-days remaining.
ii-Also if you lost your pass/ticket ,you will not get entry into the temple.
ANGKOR WAT- Angkor Wat is a wonder temple and is beautiful and romantic, grand and most impressive sight in the world. Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, (162.6 hectares -1,626,000 m2- 402 acres). The Khmer King Suryavarman II (ruled 1113AD-1150AD) built it, whose name translates as the “protector of the sun.” The construction of Angkor Wat likely began in the year 1116 AD-three years after King Suryavarman II came to the throne—with construction ending in 1150, shortly after the king’s death. He venerated the god Vishnu, a deity often depicted as a protector, and installed a statue in Angkor Wat’s central tower. The population may have been over 1 million people. It was easily the largest city in the world. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag. The building of Angkor Wat is likely to have necessitated some 3,00,000 workers for about 30 years. The monument was made out of 5 million to 10 million sandstone blocks with a maximum weight of 1.5 tons each. The entire city of Angkor was built with sandstone quarried 40 km (25 mi) away. Recent research proves that they were transported to the site by a series of canals. Most of the visible areas are of sandstone blocks, while laterite was used for the outer wall and for hidden structural parts. The stones, as smooth as polished marble, were laid without mortar with very tight joints that are sometimes hard to find. The blocks were presumably put in place by a combination of elephants, coir ropes, pulleys and bamboo scaffolding. Angkor Wat is oriented to the west rather than the east. (Rituals take place in reverse order during Brahminic funeral services). He was never buried there as he died in battle during a failed expedition to subdue the Dai Viet (Vietnamese). Whatever its original purpose, Angkor Wat is one of the world's most awe-inspiring and breath-taking architectural accomplishments of all time.
SYMBOLISM-Angkor Wat was founded on the political and religious ideas adapted from India and the temples of Angkor Wat were as a place of worship for the king and a way for him to ensure his immortality through identification with Hindu gods. The building of temples by Khmer kings was a means of legitimizing their claim to political office and to lay claim to the protection and powers of the gods. In doing so, the king could make visible his ability to harness the energy and resources to construct the temple, and assert that his temple was the only place that a god would consider residing in on earth.
Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world.
a- The outer wall corresponds to the mountains at the edge of the world
b-Moat as Cosmic Sea-a body of water symbolic of the Cosmic Sea. For Hindus, the Cosmic Sea is the source of creative energy and life, the starting point for the journey toward salvation. The temple visitor begins his journey by crossing the sea on causeways lined with serpents, beasts.
c-Enclosure Walls as Sacred Mountain Ranges-the visitor passes through a series of massive enclosure walls; these walls recreate sacred mountain ranges, symbolic of obstacles that must be overcome on the path to enlightenment.
d- The central tower rises from the centre of the monument symbolizing the mythical mountain, Meru, situated at the centre of the universe. Its four corner towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. Meru a legendary place in Hindu mythology that is said to lie beyond the Himalayas and be the home of the gods. The visitor’s symbolic journey ends in nirvana.
ARCHITECTURE- This is a Khemer Architecture style. It is a temple mountain and galleried temple based on Orissa and Chola of South Indian (Tamil Nadu) Architecture. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the Devtas (& Apsaras).The overall profile imitates a lotus bud.
FEATURE AND SIZE & THE STRUCTURE PLAN & LAYOUT-
-moat measures 1.5 kilometres long by 1.3 kilometres wide, or a total of about 2 square kilometres. The moat is 190 m (620 ft.) wide. This moat is 13 feet deep (4 m) and would have helped stabilize the temple’s foundation, preventing groundwater from rising too high or falling too low.
-The rectangular outer wall, 1,024 m (3,360 ft.) by 802 m (2,631 ft.) and 4.5 m (15 ft.) high. The outer wall encloses a space of 820,000 square metres (203 acres).The outer wall, has a gate on each side, but the main entrance, a 235m-wide porch richly decorated with carvings and sculptures, is on the western side.
-Before the Western gate is a 350 meter long processional walkway elevated about 1½ meters above the ground.
- Entry and exit to Angkor Wat can be access from west side only through a sandstone causeway. The west entrance begins with steps leading to a raised sandstone terrace in the shape of a cross at the foot of the long causeway. Giant stone lions on each side and Naga snakes guard the monument.
--Tip- Before proceeding along the causeway turns right, go down the steps of the terrace and walk along
the path a few meters for a view of all five towers of Angkor Wat. Or when return see the towers.
-The outer gallery measures 187 m (614 ft.) by 215 m (705 ft.), with pavilions rather than towers at the corners.
-Connecting the outer gallery to the second gallery on the west side is a cruciform cloister called the "Hall of a Thousand Gods" used to house hundreds of Buddha images before the war, but many of these were removed or stolen .The four small courtyards marked out by the cloister may originally have been filled with water.
-The second-level enclosure is 100 m (330 ft.) by 115 m (377 ft.). On each of its four corners are towers that have partly collapsed.
-The third level in three storeys supports five towers –four in the corners and one in the middle.
-The inner gallery is a 60 m (200 ft.) by 60 m (200 ft.) with axial galleries connecting each gopura.
-The central shrine tower rises 43 m (141 ft.) to a height of 65 m (213 ft.) above the ground.
-The stairs to the upper level are immensely steep, because reaching the kingdom of the gods was no easy task.
-The upper level of Angkor Wat is open to a limited number per day with a queuing system in a batch.
-The central shrine was occupied by a statue of Vishnu and open on each side
BAS-RELIEF FRIEZES-The bas-reliefs are divided into eight sections, two on each wall of the square gallery each section depicts a specific theme. The panels run horizontally along the wall and generally consist of two or three parts. Themes for the bas-reliefs derive from two main sources-Indian epics and sacred books and warfare of the Angkor Period. Enter at the west entrance, turn right into the gallery and continue walking counter clockwise. Total 4-wall and eight episodes:-
SYMBOLISM-Angkor Wat was founded on the political and religious ideas adapted from India and the temples of Angkor Wat were as a place of worship for the king and a way for him to ensure his immortality through identification with Hindu gods. The building of temples by Khmer kings was a means of legitimizing their claim to political office and to lay claim to the protection and powers of the gods. In doing so, the king could make visible his ability to harness the energy and resources to construct the temple, and assert that his temple was the only place that a god would consider residing in on earth.
Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world.
a- The outer wall corresponds to the mountains at the edge of the world
b-Moat as Cosmic Sea-a body of water symbolic of the Cosmic Sea. For Hindus, the Cosmic Sea is the source of creative energy and life, the starting point for the journey toward salvation. The temple visitor begins his journey by crossing the sea on causeways lined with serpents, beasts.
c-Enclosure Walls as Sacred Mountain Ranges-the visitor passes through a series of massive enclosure walls; these walls recreate sacred mountain ranges, symbolic of obstacles that must be overcome on the path to enlightenment.
d- The central tower rises from the centre of the monument symbolizing the mythical mountain, Meru, situated at the centre of the universe. Its four corner towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. Meru a legendary place in Hindu mythology that is said to lie beyond the Himalayas and be the home of the gods. The visitor’s symbolic journey ends in nirvana.
ARCHITECTURE- This is a Khemer Architecture style. It is a temple mountain and galleried temple based on Orissa and Chola of South Indian (Tamil Nadu) Architecture. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the Devtas (& Apsaras).The overall profile imitates a lotus bud.
FEATURE AND SIZE & THE STRUCTURE PLAN & LAYOUT-
-moat measures 1.5 kilometres long by 1.3 kilometres wide, or a total of about 2 square kilometres. The moat is 190 m (620 ft.) wide. This moat is 13 feet deep (4 m) and would have helped stabilize the temple’s foundation, preventing groundwater from rising too high or falling too low.
-The rectangular outer wall, 1,024 m (3,360 ft.) by 802 m (2,631 ft.) and 4.5 m (15 ft.) high. The outer wall encloses a space of 820,000 square metres (203 acres).The outer wall, has a gate on each side, but the main entrance, a 235m-wide porch richly decorated with carvings and sculptures, is on the western side.
-Before the Western gate is a 350 meter long processional walkway elevated about 1½ meters above the ground.
- Entry and exit to Angkor Wat can be access from west side only through a sandstone causeway. The west entrance begins with steps leading to a raised sandstone terrace in the shape of a cross at the foot of the long causeway. Giant stone lions on each side and Naga snakes guard the monument.
--Tip- Before proceeding along the causeway turns right, go down the steps of the terrace and walk along
the path a few meters for a view of all five towers of Angkor Wat. Or when return see the towers.
-The outer gallery measures 187 m (614 ft.) by 215 m (705 ft.), with pavilions rather than towers at the corners.
-Connecting the outer gallery to the second gallery on the west side is a cruciform cloister called the "Hall of a Thousand Gods" used to house hundreds of Buddha images before the war, but many of these were removed or stolen .The four small courtyards marked out by the cloister may originally have been filled with water.
-The second-level enclosure is 100 m (330 ft.) by 115 m (377 ft.). On each of its four corners are towers that have partly collapsed.
-The third level in three storeys supports five towers –four in the corners and one in the middle.
-The inner gallery is a 60 m (200 ft.) by 60 m (200 ft.) with axial galleries connecting each gopura.
-The central shrine tower rises 43 m (141 ft.) to a height of 65 m (213 ft.) above the ground.
-The stairs to the upper level are immensely steep, because reaching the kingdom of the gods was no easy task.
-The upper level of Angkor Wat is open to a limited number per day with a queuing system in a batch.
-The central shrine was occupied by a statue of Vishnu and open on each side
BAS-RELIEF FRIEZES-The bas-reliefs are divided into eight sections, two on each wall of the square gallery each section depicts a specific theme. The panels run horizontally along the wall and generally consist of two or three parts. Themes for the bas-reliefs derive from two main sources-Indian epics and sacred books and warfare of the Angkor Period. Enter at the west entrance, turn right into the gallery and continue walking counter clockwise. Total 4-wall and eight episodes:-
- The Battle of Kurukshetra (from the Mahabharata, showing the Kaurava and Pandava)-The armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas march from opposite ends towards the center of the panel where they meet in combat. The scene begins with infantry marching into battle and musicians playing a rhythmic cadence. The battlefield is the scene of hand-to-hand combat and many dead soldiers. Bisma (near the beginning of the pane), one of the heroes of the Mahabharata and commander of the Kauravas, pierced with arrow, is dying and his men surround him. Arjuna (holding a shield decorated with the face of the demon rahu) shoots an arrow at Krsna, his half-brother, and kills him.
- battle between the Khmers and their enemies. The central figure of this gallery is King Suryavarman II. On the upper tier the king (seated with traces of gilt on his body) holds an audience on a mountain. The military procession resumes with a troop of Thai soldiers led by their commander who is mounted on an elephant. A number of the Khmer warriors wear helmets with horns of animal heads (deer, horse, bird) and some of their shields are embellished with monsters for the same purpose.
- Judgement by Yama-the 32 hells and 37 heavens of Hinduism.
- The Churning of the Sea of Milk -This is the most famous panel of bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat and derives from the Indian epic Bagavata-Pourana. The Ocean of Milk is churned by gods and demons to generate Amrta Showing 92 asuras and 88 devtas using the serpent Vasuki to churn the sea under Vishnu's direction.
- Krishna's victory over Bana- At the beginning of the panel Visnu in his incarnation as Krisna sits on the shoulders of a Gruda. The Garuda extinguishes the fire with water from the sacred river Ganges. The demon Bana (multiple arms, mounted on a rhinoceros) approaches from the opposite direction.
- Battle of Gods-A battle between the Hindu gods and asuras. A series of adversaries follow, the Kubera, God of riches (with bow and arrow), appears on the shoulders of a Yaksa; followed by Skanda ,God of war (multiple heads and arms), mounded on a peacock; Indra stands on his mount the elephant; Visnu (four arms) sits on his mount, a Guard; a demon (tiered heads) shaking swords; Yama, God of Death and Justice (sword and shield), stands in a chariot pulled by horses and Varian, God of the Water, stands on a five-headed serpent harnessed like a beast of burden.
- The Battle of Lanka (from the Ramayana, in which Rama defeats Ravana)- This scene from the Ramayana is a long and fierce struggle between Rama and the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms), near the centre. The central figures are the monkey warriors who fight against the Raksas on Rama's side. Rama stands on the shoulders of Sugriva surrounded by arrows. Laksmana, his brother and an old demon, stand by Rama. Nearby, the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms) rides in a chariot drawn by mythical lions.
Opening Hours: - Angkor Wat is open from 05:00 to 18:00.
TIPS-
i- The amazing structure as a whole is best viewed in soft light. The best lighting conditions for viewing are after 14:00 and is at sunrise .
ii- Guided tours usually start with the bas-reliefs that cover the first level exterior wall, and which are perhaps the most beautifully done and follow them around the temple in a counter clockwise direction.
iii- A popular location for sunrise viewing is the northern reflecting pool. You will need to get there early before sunrise, as the most beautiful colours are just before the sun breaks over the horizon.
iv-When the sun comes up behind Angkor Wat, it will give a silhouette of the distinctive shape of the towers of Angkor Wat against a beautifully coloured sky.
DECORATION-
i-Apsara/ Celestial Nymphs -They are celestial nymphs, always bare-breasted and usually dancing, representing an ideal of female beauty. Angkor Wat is famous for having more than 3000 apsaras (heavenly nymphs) carved into its walls. Each of them is unique, and there are 37 different hairstyles for budding stylists to check out.
ii-Kala- Monstourous face without a lower jaw, often found on temples gateways, meant to guard against evil.
iii- Naga- Many headed mythical serpent. The most famous Nagas in Angkor can be found on the guardrails of each entrance to Angkor Thom
HOW TO EXPLORE- Enter through the west entrance and when reach entry tower, walk to the right to get a glimpse of all the five towering Gopuras. Passing the tower and the libraries on both sides of the walkway, climb down the steps towards the left side and get to the water basin from here have the glimpse of reflection in the water of the temple. Go past the basin and reach the left end of the temple, and by now have reached the starting point of the famous bas reliefs depicting scenes from various mythological stories and historic events . Walking from left to right (anticlockwise) will come across scenes of Ramayana, Mahabaharat, Army of Suryavarman II, Judgement by Yama, Churning of Ocean and the gods get the Amrita, Vishnu victory over demons, victory of Krishna over Bana and other scenes .
Climb the steps to reach the second tier .For going to third tier take south(right) steps now fitted with handrail.
TIME REQUIRED TO VISIT- Plan at least three hours to explore the whole complex.
ANKOR THOM
GENERAL INFORMATION- Angkor Thom means "the great city" in Khmer. Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) is a 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. After Jayavarman VII(reigned 1181-1219), recaptured the Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city, enclosing residences of priest, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom. At its height, Angkor Thom may have governed a population of one million people in the surrounding area. He began with existing structures such as Baphuon and Phimeanakas and built a grand enclosed city around them, adding the outer wall/moat. He then constructed some of Angkor's greatest temples including his state-temple, Bayon, set at the centre of the city. There are five entrances (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal point, and the victory gate leading to the Royal Palace area. Each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces. The city lies on the west bank of the Siem Reap River, a tributary of Tonle Sap, about a quarter of a mile from the river. Temples inside the walls of the city are Bayon, Phimeanakas, Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Prah Palilay, Tep Pranam and Prasat Suor Prat.
THE STRUCTURE & PLAN - LAYOUT-
- Angkor Thom, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Ankor Thom was a fortified city enclosing residences of priest, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom. These structures were built of wood and have perished.
- located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors.
- Temples inside the walls of the city are Bayon, Phimeanakas, Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Prah Palilay, Tep Pranam and Prasat Suor Prat.
- Angkor Thom was abandoned some time prior to 1609.
- Angkor Thom is a microcosm of the universe, divided into four parts by the main axes. The temple of the Bayon is situated at the exact centre of the axes and stands as the symbolical link between heaven and earth. The wall enclosing the city of Angkor Thom represents the stone wall around the universe and the mountain ranges around Meru. The surrounding moat (now dry) symbolizes the cosmic ocean.
- Angkor Thom consists of a square, each side of which is about three kilometers (1.9 miles) long(total-12kms long) and in 9km2 area, a laterite wall 8 meters (26 feet) in height around the city encloses an area of 145.8 hectares (360 acres).It is much larger than that of Angkor Wat.
-An earth embankment 25 meters (82 feet) wide supports the inner side of the wall and serves as a road around the city.
- A moat with a width of 100meters (328 feet) surrounds the outer wall. said to have contained ferocious crocodiles.
-A causeway leading to each entry tower is flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side – demons on the right and gods on the left-to make a total of 108 mythical beings guarding the city of Angkor Thom. The demons have a grimacing expression and wear a military headdress whereas the gods look serene with their almond-shaped eyes and wear a conical headdress.
-A serpent spreads its nine heads in the shape of a fan at the beginning of the causeway. Its body extends the length of the causeway and is held by the gods and demons forming a serpent-like railing. It may symbolize the rainbow uniting the worlds of man and the gods.
- The south gate of Angkor Thom is 1.7 km north of the entrance to Angkor Wat. The south gate is now by far the most often visited, as it is the main entrance to the city for tourists.
- The walls are of laterite buttressed by earth, with a parapet on the top.
- There are gates at each of the cardinal points, from which roads lead to the Bayon at the centre of the city. Another gate—the Victory Gate—is 500 m north of the east gate; the Victory Way runs parallel to the east road to the Victory Square and the Royal Palace north of the Bayon.
-The five entry towers are among the most photographed of all the ancient Cambodian ruins. Each sandstone tower rises 23 meters (75 feet) to the sky and is crowned with four heads, one facing each cardinal direction. The faces may represent the rulers of the four cardinal points at the summit of mount Meru. The opening of the gates are 7 meters high by 3½ meters wide in which there were originally massive wooden doors that were closed at night.
-The lower half of each gate is modeled like an elephant with three heads. Their trunks, which serve as pillars, are plucking lotus flowers. The Hindu god Indra sits at the center of the elephant with an Apsara on each side. He holds a thunderbolt in his lower left hand.
- At each corner of the walled city is a Prasat Chrung—corner shrine—built of sandstone and dedicated to Avalokiteshvara.
- At the center of the Kingdom rises a Golden tower Bayon flanked by more than twenty lesser towers and several hundred stone chambers.
FAMOUS TEMPLES AND BUILDINGS INSIDE THE ANGKOR THOM CITY-
- Angkor Thom, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Ankor Thom was a fortified city enclosing residences of priest, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom. These structures were built of wood and have perished.
- located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his successors.
- Temples inside the walls of the city are Bayon, Phimeanakas, Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Prah Palilay, Tep Pranam and Prasat Suor Prat.
- Angkor Thom was abandoned some time prior to 1609.
- Angkor Thom is a microcosm of the universe, divided into four parts by the main axes. The temple of the Bayon is situated at the exact centre of the axes and stands as the symbolical link between heaven and earth. The wall enclosing the city of Angkor Thom represents the stone wall around the universe and the mountain ranges around Meru. The surrounding moat (now dry) symbolizes the cosmic ocean.
- Angkor Thom consists of a square, each side of which is about three kilometers (1.9 miles) long(total-12kms long) and in 9km2 area, a laterite wall 8 meters (26 feet) in height around the city encloses an area of 145.8 hectares (360 acres).It is much larger than that of Angkor Wat.
-An earth embankment 25 meters (82 feet) wide supports the inner side of the wall and serves as a road around the city.
- A moat with a width of 100meters (328 feet) surrounds the outer wall. said to have contained ferocious crocodiles.
-A causeway leading to each entry tower is flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side – demons on the right and gods on the left-to make a total of 108 mythical beings guarding the city of Angkor Thom. The demons have a grimacing expression and wear a military headdress whereas the gods look serene with their almond-shaped eyes and wear a conical headdress.
-A serpent spreads its nine heads in the shape of a fan at the beginning of the causeway. Its body extends the length of the causeway and is held by the gods and demons forming a serpent-like railing. It may symbolize the rainbow uniting the worlds of man and the gods.
- The south gate of Angkor Thom is 1.7 km north of the entrance to Angkor Wat. The south gate is now by far the most often visited, as it is the main entrance to the city for tourists.
- The walls are of laterite buttressed by earth, with a parapet on the top.
- There are gates at each of the cardinal points, from which roads lead to the Bayon at the centre of the city. Another gate—the Victory Gate—is 500 m north of the east gate; the Victory Way runs parallel to the east road to the Victory Square and the Royal Palace north of the Bayon.
-The five entry towers are among the most photographed of all the ancient Cambodian ruins. Each sandstone tower rises 23 meters (75 feet) to the sky and is crowned with four heads, one facing each cardinal direction. The faces may represent the rulers of the four cardinal points at the summit of mount Meru. The opening of the gates are 7 meters high by 3½ meters wide in which there were originally massive wooden doors that were closed at night.
-The lower half of each gate is modeled like an elephant with three heads. Their trunks, which serve as pillars, are plucking lotus flowers. The Hindu god Indra sits at the center of the elephant with an Apsara on each side. He holds a thunderbolt in his lower left hand.
- At each corner of the walled city is a Prasat Chrung—corner shrine—built of sandstone and dedicated to Avalokiteshvara.
- At the center of the Kingdom rises a Golden tower Bayon flanked by more than twenty lesser towers and several hundred stone chambers.
FAMOUS TEMPLES AND BUILDINGS INSIDE THE ANGKOR THOM CITY-
001-Bayon Temple- The temple is best known today for the gigantic face sculptures that adorn its thirty-seven surviving towers. Bayon was the state temple of Jayavarman VII. The temple sat at the centre of Angkor Thom City. Four of the city's five gates sat on axis with the temple, and the walls of the city substituted for the enclosure walls normally found at Khmer temples. The walls sit at such a distance from the temple that the temple seems to rise abruptly from the ground like an artificial mountain. In fact, the temple was intended to evoke the form of Mt. Meru—the cosmic mountain at the centre of the world in Buddhist cosmology. In keeping with this cosmic symbolism, the plan of the temple is based on a 'yantra', a symbol used by Tantric Buddhists as the basis. The temple honoured not just one deity, but a host of gods found throughout the Khmer empire. Its central shrine held an image of Jayavarman VII, who perhaps imagined himself as a god-King ruling in the name of the Buddha.
-The Bayon was the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, built at the end of the 12th century.
-It is a mountain temple built to represent Mount Meru, the centre of the universe. The Bayon was built as a Buddhist temple.
-A few decades after the death of King Jayavarman VII, the temple was turned into a Hindu temple when King Jayavarman VIII reverted the official Khmer religion back to Hinduism; images of the Buddha were destroyed or turned into Hindu images.
-The temple was constructed in the center of Angkor Thom, the 9 km2 large capital city of the Khmer empire.
-As the Bayon itself has no wall or moat of its own, those of the city are interpreted by archaeologists as representing the mountains and oceans surrounding the Bayon's Mount Meru .
-Bayon is divided into three separate levels. The first and second floors contain galleries rich in bas-reliefs whilst the third or upper floor consists of a cruciform shaped central sanctuary where you can see the signature Bayon faces that have become the Bayon Temple Highlights.
-Originally there were 49 towers, decorated with large carved faces looking into each of the four cardinal directions. Close to 200 faces, the largest ones being almost 2½ meters high.
-One of the most popular routes is to start your visit from the eastern entrance. Climb the steps to the raised platform and you will reach the first floor gallery with deeply carved bas-reliefs, although they are not as detailed as those at Angkor Wat.
-The inner gallery is on a different level from the first one. The carvings on this level mainly depict mythical scenes and should be read from right to left in a clockwise direction.
-The third or upper level is the most architecturally rich and impressive, with the central sanctuary containing 16 shrines and the famous faces of boddhisattva Lokesvara. The four faces on each one of the eight towers, by respectively pointing at the four cardinal points, reinforce the idea that the gods should have an eye over the whole kingdom.
-The Bayon was the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, built at the end of the 12th century.
-It is a mountain temple built to represent Mount Meru, the centre of the universe. The Bayon was built as a Buddhist temple.
-A few decades after the death of King Jayavarman VII, the temple was turned into a Hindu temple when King Jayavarman VIII reverted the official Khmer religion back to Hinduism; images of the Buddha were destroyed or turned into Hindu images.
-The temple was constructed in the center of Angkor Thom, the 9 km2 large capital city of the Khmer empire.
-As the Bayon itself has no wall or moat of its own, those of the city are interpreted by archaeologists as representing the mountains and oceans surrounding the Bayon's Mount Meru .
-Bayon is divided into three separate levels. The first and second floors contain galleries rich in bas-reliefs whilst the third or upper floor consists of a cruciform shaped central sanctuary where you can see the signature Bayon faces that have become the Bayon Temple Highlights.
-Originally there were 49 towers, decorated with large carved faces looking into each of the four cardinal directions. Close to 200 faces, the largest ones being almost 2½ meters high.
-One of the most popular routes is to start your visit from the eastern entrance. Climb the steps to the raised platform and you will reach the first floor gallery with deeply carved bas-reliefs, although they are not as detailed as those at Angkor Wat.
-The inner gallery is on a different level from the first one. The carvings on this level mainly depict mythical scenes and should be read from right to left in a clockwise direction.
-The third or upper level is the most architecturally rich and impressive, with the central sanctuary containing 16 shrines and the famous faces of boddhisattva Lokesvara. The four faces on each one of the eight towers, by respectively pointing at the four cardinal points, reinforce the idea that the gods should have an eye over the whole kingdom.
002-The Terrace of the Elephants- The so-called "Terrace of the Elephants" is part of the Royal Terraces, a 360 meter long sandstone wall that forms the eastern boundary of the Royal Palace area. It runs north-south and faces the Prasat Suor Prat towers across a wide esplanade to the east. The terraces are about 4 meters high and 15 meters wide along their entire length, although the north, south, and central section’s include flights of stairs that project eastward toward the parade grounds. The terraces are named after the rows of life-size elephants carved in high relief along the walls and fully in the round with projecting trunks along the stairs. The terraces probably served as an observation point from which the king and his retinue could observe military reviews, dances, and various ceremonies in the large open area to the east.
003- Terrace of the Leper King- The so-called "Terrace of the Leper King" is located just to the north of the Elephant Terraces and is considered a part of the larger Royal Terraces ensemble, a 360 meter long sandstone wall that forms the eastern boundary of the Royal Palace area. The terrace is named after a statue of the "Leper King" that originally stood at the centre of the terrace. The original statue now stands in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. The terrace’s outer walls are 25 meters long and 6 meters high. Nagas, Apsaras, demons, and other mythological creatures are carved in high relief out of the sandstone walls.
004-Baphuon Temple-Just north of the Bayon is the stalwart Baphuon. Baphuon was erected in the reign of Udayadityavarman II, who ruled from 1050-1066. It served as the state temple of Yasodharapura, the capital city of the Khmer empire in the 11th century. As with Angkor Wat, the Baphuon was converted to a Buddhist temple in the 16th century. This involved the demolition of the outer galleries, causeway stones, and other structures to reuse the material for construction of an enormous reclining Buddha statue on the west side of the temple. The work was never completed, however, and the half-finished Buddha is only barely distinguishable.
005-Phimeanakas Temple-It is located on the site of the now-disappeared royal palace, is another pyramidal representation of Mt. Meru. Most of the decorative features are broken or have disappeared, but it is an interesting structure and can be climbed for good views of Baphuon Temple.
The name 'Phimeanakas' is a derivation of the Sanskrit words 'vimana' and 'akasha' which together mean 'celestial palace of the gods'. In contrast to this illustrious name, the temple itself is a fairly modest edifice measuring 36 x 28 meters at the base and 30 x 23 meters at the top, rising only 12 meters above the surrounding landscape. It was constructed during the reign of Rajendravarman II or Suryavarman I and probably functioned as a private temple for the king and a select group of invitees. Evidence for this is the location of the temple within the royal palace compound, as well as the limited space on the upper terrace which permitted only a single tower (rather than the usual five on other temple-mountains). There was also no causeway leading to the temple, and access to the top level could only be obtained by climbing extremely steep staircases without landings.
OTHER WORTH VISITING TEMPLES IN THE AREA-
The name 'Phimeanakas' is a derivation of the Sanskrit words 'vimana' and 'akasha' which together mean 'celestial palace of the gods'. In contrast to this illustrious name, the temple itself is a fairly modest edifice measuring 36 x 28 meters at the base and 30 x 23 meters at the top, rising only 12 meters above the surrounding landscape. It was constructed during the reign of Rajendravarman II or Suryavarman I and probably functioned as a private temple for the king and a select group of invitees. Evidence for this is the location of the temple within the royal palace compound, as well as the limited space on the upper terrace which permitted only a single tower (rather than the usual five on other temple-mountains). There was also no causeway leading to the temple, and access to the top level could only be obtained by climbing extremely steep staircases without landings.
OTHER WORTH VISITING TEMPLES IN THE AREA-
006-TA PHROM TEMPLE (Jungle Temple)- Ta Prohm is one of the most popular temples for tourists in the Angkor region because of the atmosphere created by the trees and plants which have been left to grow in it. Built from 1186, Ta Prohm was a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. It is one of the few temples in Angkor where an inscription provides information about the temple’s inhabitants. The temple was home to more than 12,500 people, including 18 high priests, while an additional 80,000 Khmers, living in the surrounding villages, were required to maintain the temple. The inscription also notes that the temple contained gold, pearls and silks. After the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century, the temple was abandoned and swallowed up by the jungle.
007-TA KEO- Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, Ta Keo was built as the state temple of Jayavarman V, son of Rajendravarman, who had built the Pre Rup temple. Jayavarman V was 10 years old when he succeeded his father, in 968 AD. When he was aged 17, he began the construction of his own state temple, whose modern name is Ta Keo. The temple was never completed however. Legend has it that the temple was struck by lightning during its construction, and all work was abandoned at a stage where the main structure was complete but no external carvings had been added. Also unique is the fact that Ta Keo is made of green sandstone versus the deeper brown or grayish color of other temples at Angkor. The climb to the top of the temple is very steep, but the view is well worth it.
008-BANTEAY KDEI- Little is known about this mysterious temple. It is presumed that Banteay Kdei was a Buddhist monastery as hundreds of Buddha statues have been excavated from the site. The temple was probably built in the 12th century, around the same time as the Ta Prohm temple. Known as ‘the citadel of cells’, its design is quite similar to Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, but less complex and smaller in scale.
SIEM REAP DAY TOURS-
01-Day Tour of Angkor Wat and other Temples-These sites provide of hiring professional tour guide and private driver for Siem Reap Angkor Wat tours.
A-http://siemreapguideservices.com/tour-fees.html
Private tours including many types of vehicles with driver and tour guide service for touring inside Angkor Area ( Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom including South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace and Royal Plaza, Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple occupied by giant trees and jungle ) and sunset at Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup )
a-By a Motorized moped Tuk Tuk with driver and tour guide with chilled drinking waters and cold towels just - $ 60 a day.
b-By a Motorized Tuk Tuk (4 seats ) costs $ 20 a day for capturing tours around Angkor Park ( Angkor Wat , Angkor Thom , Ta Prohm , Bantey Kdei , sunset Phnom Bakheng over Angkor Wat )
c-By a taxi-Pick up at your hotel 5: 00 AM hotel meet driver / Tour guide in lobby to go Angkor Wat see sunrise, Bantay Srey - Taphroum - Angkor Thom ( Bayon - Baphoun - Phi Meanakas- Royal Palace - Peah Pilalay-The Terrace of Elephants- Terrace of Leper King) and sunset at Phnom Bakeng. , Drop Off Hotel, any place you wish local Apsara Dance with buffet Dinner, restaurant end of tour.
-http://www.cambodiataxidriver.com/info_detail.php?id=15
02-Siem Reap: Full-Day Small Group Temples Tour-
Price-18USD Duration-8hrs
03-Angkor Wat Full-Day Sunrise Tour-
Price-25USD Duration-8hrs
04-Sunset Dinner Tour: Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village
Price-38USD Duration-4hrs
05- Koulen Restaurant Apsara Cultural Show and Dinner - The restaurant has a total capacity of over 650 seats. Koulen restaurant is fully decorated with tropical plants and flowers that make guests feel refreshed during their stay. The restaurant serves traditional Khmer, Chinese and Western food in dinner buffet. Watch the Apsara traditional Khmer dance and other dances.
Buffet starts at 6pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Address: Sivatha Street, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Oppostite Lucky Mall)
Price-12USD
Presented by- V P Gupta
01-Day Tour of Angkor Wat and other Temples-These sites provide of hiring professional tour guide and private driver for Siem Reap Angkor Wat tours.
A-http://siemreapguideservices.com/tour-fees.html
Private tours including many types of vehicles with driver and tour guide service for touring inside Angkor Area ( Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom including South Gate, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace and Royal Plaza, Ta Prohm (Tomb Raider Temple occupied by giant trees and jungle ) and sunset at Phnom Bakheng or Pre Rup )
a-By a Motorized moped Tuk Tuk with driver and tour guide with chilled drinking waters and cold towels just - $ 60 a day.
b-By a Motorized Tuk Tuk (4 seats ) costs $ 20 a day for capturing tours around Angkor Park ( Angkor Wat , Angkor Thom , Ta Prohm , Bantey Kdei , sunset Phnom Bakheng over Angkor Wat )
c-By a taxi-Pick up at your hotel 5: 00 AM hotel meet driver / Tour guide in lobby to go Angkor Wat see sunrise, Bantay Srey - Taphroum - Angkor Thom ( Bayon - Baphoun - Phi Meanakas- Royal Palace - Peah Pilalay-The Terrace of Elephants- Terrace of Leper King) and sunset at Phnom Bakeng. , Drop Off Hotel, any place you wish local Apsara Dance with buffet Dinner, restaurant end of tour.
-http://www.cambodiataxidriver.com/info_detail.php?id=15
02-Siem Reap: Full-Day Small Group Temples Tour-
Price-18USD Duration-8hrs
- Visit of Angkor Wat, built at the height of Khmer civilisation
- Visit the beautifully crafted the Bayon temple.
- Visit the Ta Prohm, a jungle-enveloped temple.
03-Angkor Wat Full-Day Sunrise Tour-
Price-25USD Duration-8hrs
- See the sunrise at Angkor Wat, the largest sacred structure in the world
- Visit jungle-enveloped Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom City and Bayon Temple
- Learn about the centuries-old monuments from a professional guide
04-Sunset Dinner Tour: Tonle Sap Lake Floating Village
Price-38USD Duration-4hrs
- Enjoy a spectacular sunset cruise on Tonle Sap Lake
- Visit the crocodile and fish farm
- Dine on a lovely full buffet meal with all inclusive drinks aboard the Queen Tara, the biggest boat on the lake
05- Koulen Restaurant Apsara Cultural Show and Dinner - The restaurant has a total capacity of over 650 seats. Koulen restaurant is fully decorated with tropical plants and flowers that make guests feel refreshed during their stay. The restaurant serves traditional Khmer, Chinese and Western food in dinner buffet. Watch the Apsara traditional Khmer dance and other dances.
Buffet starts at 6pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Address: Sivatha Street, Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia. (Oppostite Lucky Mall)
Price-12USD
Presented by- V P Gupta