 Angkor Wat, one of the most important archaeological sites the world is a must-see for any visitor to this region of Southeast Asia. Stretching over 400 square km in the jungles of Cambodia, the Angkor Archaeological Park contains the impressive remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. It is located near the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, one of the major gateways for visitors to this extraordinary metropolis.
This expansive Angkor complex contains over 100 temples. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1992, UNESCO has set up an extensive program to preserve this symbolic site and its surroundings. Today, Angkor Wat receives 1 million tourists per year who come from all corners of the globe to marvel at the sheer grandeur of these ancient temples. |
During its golden age, the Khmer civilization was the second largest empire in Southeast Asia and had far reaching political and cultural influence. Until its downfall in the 14th century, the Khmer Empire ruled over much of what is modern day Cambodia and Laos and reached as far as Vietnam and China and the Bay of Bengal. For centuries the Angkor temples lay in ruin hidden beneath thick, overgrown jungle. Whilst local Cambodian populations had their own stories to explain the origins of these temples, rumored to have been built by gods or giants, it wasn’t until French missionaries discovered the ancient site in 1860 that it became known to the West.
Ever since their discovery in the nineteenth century, scholars have theorized as to why the site was chosen by the Khmer rulers for the construction of these temples. Many scholars believe the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. The theory deduces that the placement of the temples was a deliberate attempt at mirroring the heavens, perhaps to bring about harmony between the earth and stars.
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Angkor Wat:
The most famous temple ruin in the vast temple complex is undoubtedly the breathtaking Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is the best preserved temple thanks to its 150 meter-wide-moat, which, over time, shielded the site from the overgrowth of the nearby jungle. The world renowned Angkor Wat is the most famous symbol of Cambodia and is even represented on the national flag.
Angkor Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by King Suryavaram II, honors the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology. The 5 'towers' of Angkor Wat are believed to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, the Home of Gods and Center of the Hindu Universe.
At the time of its construction, Angkor Wat was the center of the Khmer capital. It took a slave labor force 30 years to build it. Interestingly, the front of Angkor Wat faces west, which is unique in its time since almost all of the Angkor temples face east to align with the rising sun.
There are two conflicting theories as to why this temple faces west. |
The first is that it was meant to be a funeral temple for the King. The second is that a temple dedicated to Vishnu, god of the west, should be so oriented in order to honor the god.
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Bayon:
After Angkor Wat, Bayon is arguably the most recognizable. The giant stone faces carved in the structure have become one of the most famous images associated with classic Khmer art and architecture. More recently, the association for movie goers around the world is with images of Bayon as background for actress Angelie Jolie in her “Tomb Raider” film.
Bayon is a Buddhist temple built under the reign of Jayavarman VII, who ordered its construction on top of a previous Hindu site. The Temple is surrounded by two long walls covered in extraordinary carvings which vividly depict scenes of everyday life in the Khmer Empire in 12th century. There are more than 11,000 carved figures over 1.2km of wall.
37 towers jut out from the impressive Bayon structure, most which feature four carved faces on each surface. The curious, smiling faces, thought by many to be a portrait of God-King Jayavarman himself, has been dubbed by some the "Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia."
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Angkor Thom:
Angkor Thom means "The Great City" in Khmer. The city of Angkor Thom was founded by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII who came to power near the end of the tenth century following the defeat of the former Khmer capital by the Chams. At its peak, Angkor Thom may have ruled over a population of one million.
The vast area of the Angkor Thom ruins, over 1.5 kilometers on one side, contains many stone temples and other features to explore. The city has five monumental gates, 20metres high and decorated with carvings of elephant trunks and the king's favorite motif, the four faces of Avalokiteshvara.
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Ta Prohm:
Unlike the well preserved structures of Angkor Wat and Bayon, visiting Ta Prohm feels like you are on an archaeological expedition in the jungle. While most of the main temples in the immediate Angkor area have been cleared of vegetation, The Conservation Society decided to leave Ta Prohm in its overgrown state. Ta Prohm looks like it has been engulfed by the jungle; the large tree roots that grow all over the structure cleave massive stones apart. Ta Prohm is extensively ruined, but there are many overgrown courtyards and winding narrow corridors to explore.
Ta Prohm was founded in the late 12th century by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII and was built as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.
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Bantaey Srei:
Located 20km north of Angkor, the "Temple of Women", known as Banteay Srei, is unique among the great temples of Angkor in that it wasn't constructed by a king, but by a courtier and scholar named Yajnavaraha ("the sacrificial boar"), who served as an advisor and to the ruler. Dedicated in 967 AD to the Hindu god Siva, the shrine is older than most of the temples in the complex.
Built in pink sandstone, it looks most spectacular in the early morning or late afternoon. It is referred to as the "Jewel of Khmer art" because of its incredibly complex carvings, so delicate in structure that it is said that they could only have been carved by the hand of a woman, hence the name of the temple.
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Rolous group:
The Rolous group is made up of the three temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei. Their construction dates back to the late ninth century and is the earliest site of the 600 year Khmer Empire that is open to visitors. These temples were largely made of brick with some carved plaster reliefs. Many of the later temples in the Angkor group are based on these earlier temples.
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Phnom Bakheng:
Phnom Bakheng is a Hindu temple built on a hill of the same name, where the first city at Angkor was established at the end of the ninth century. This gives its state temple on Phnom Bakheng special significance. It was to here that Yasovarman I moved his capital from Roluos.
Due to its prime location on top of a hill,it has become a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat. |
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Ta Keo:
Ta Kaeo is most famous for being an unfinished temple. Construction began in 1000 for Jayavarman V, but it was never completed. Ta Keo is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods. A tower rises at each of the four corners with a fifth one at the center of the structure. According to legend, during construction the temple was struck by lightning, and all work was abandoned at a stage when the main structure was almost complete. Unlike most of the other Angkor temples which are made of brown sandstone, the sandstone used to construct Ta Kaeo is rich green in color.
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Preah Khan:
Preah Khan meaning 'Sacred Sword' was built in the 12th century. It is a vast monastic complex full of intricate carvings and passages making it ideal for and photo opportunities. It originally served as a Buddhist monastery and school, engaging over 1000 monks. For a short period it was also the residence of King Jayavarman VII during the reconstruction of his permanent home in Angkor Thom.
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Seam Reap:
The gateway for visitors to the Angkor Wat complex is the town of Siem Reap. It has been receiving foreign tourists for more than 100 years and offers a wide range of hotel and private accommodations, restaurants and shops. For more information, visit this month's featured article on Siem Reap.
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