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6 of the best temples to visit at Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap literally translates to ‘Siam Defeated’, Siam being the former name of Thailand. It is the gateway to the Angkor region, itself a mega city in the 12th Century, supporting 0.1% of the world’s population making it the largest pre-industrial urban centre in the world. Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire which flourished from the 9thC. to the 15th C. covering most of what is now Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and southern Vietnam. Angkor Wat, Wat meaning temple, is claimed to be the world’s oldest religious monument and one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World – although that seems to be an ever changing list. Clearly, the Cambodians are proud of their most iconic symbol, it is the main feature on their flag, and we were to find out why with a 5:00AM excursion to see the sunrise over the iconic temple. Angkor Wat is a complex rather than a single monument, built between 1113 and 1150 for King Suryavarman II as his state temple and capital city, and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It was later converted to a Buddhist temple in the 14th C. so statues of Buddha were added to the already elaborate stone artwork; it makes for quite a confusing religious chronicle. As the sunrise lit the famous central tower and its four smaller supporting towers, the layout of this remarkable palace became clear so we made our way past the stone lions guarding the route, to the main entrance of the 500 acre site. Making it not only the oldest but the largest religious monument in the world. Considering the temple is around 900 years old it is in remarkably good condition, thanks largely to the moat preventing the jungle from reclaiming the area. The detail in the 3,000 heavenly dancing nymphs (Apsaras) ornately carved into the walls is very well preserved, extraordinarily each is unique. During the 300 years between 900 and 1200 the Khmer Empire built some of the world’s most magnificent architectural masterpieces. In fact, the temples in the Angkor area alone number over one thousand, ranging in scale from nondescript piles of brick rubble scattered through the landscape of rice fields to minor temples and the magnificent Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom with the huge smiling faces and Ta Prohm. An equally astonishing three thousand were built within the whole Khmer Region. A day of rest and recovery was definitely welcome before we took on the ‘Big Circuit’ as it’s known locally, a visit to seven temples culminating with sunset over Phnom Bakheng. The scale of the Empire was best seen at Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) a 9 km square walled and moated city built in the 1180’s with stone smiling faces carved into the 23 metre towers at the city gates and the wonderful central temple of Prasat Bayon, in my view the most impressive of all we visited. In front of the Royal Palace area is the Terrace of Elephants, a 350 metre viewing platform built for the king and his subjects to view the victorious army returning from war. It reminded me of the military parades we see in Red Square and Pyongyang, the landscape clearly shows where the armies marched in front of the 12 towers of the zodiac across the shallow valley from the king’s position. It must have been quite a spectacle. Another temple named Ta Som was constructed in the middle of a man made square reservoir. This was their hospital, where those suffering from malaria, dysentery or any other common ailment in the 12th C. would be taken by their family to be treated. There are stone built quarantine rooms in each corner to house the sick, once capable of movement the patients were treated in the island temple, usually with a blessing and copious amounts of holy water. We continued our journey of temples crossing a bridge of fifty beautifully carved but headless torsos until we reached the temple everyone wants to see – Ta Prohm made famous in the film ‘Tomb Raider’. It is an astonishingly atmospheric place, where the crumbling towers appear to be in a slow wrestling match with the jungle as the vast roots have locked the temple walls in an embrace which can realistically only have one outcome. Our last venue was Bakheng Hill a towering temple from which we watched the sun set on a glorious couple of days of adventure and discovery, and our time in Cambodia, a country of extremes that touched us like none other on this 15 country adventure. David Moore is Author of ‘Turning Left Around the World’. Published by Mirador and available from Amazon, it is an entertaining account of David and his wife’s travel adventures – often intriguing, frequently funny and occasionally tragic.  If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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10 Comments

  1. Those temple carvings are amazing, particularly when you consider the number of them and the age. (Are they as old as the temple itself???)

  2. They are indeed and extraordinarily each is unique. It was good to see the artists and sculptures had a sense of humour; there are 37 different hairstyles, one nymph bearing her teeth and another smiling as she clasps a biting snake to her breast.

    On the walls around the outside of the central temple hall is an 800 metre long series of intricate and astonishing carvings (bas-reliefs) depicting historical events and stories from Hindu mythology.
    Well worth a visit
    David

  3. I just love Cambodia it is such a spiritual and beautiful place. There’s nothing more beautiful than a place of worship. These temples look just stunning. I have actually visited the terrace of elephants and i can second that it is worth the trip. I must make sure I visit the others next trip.

  4. Siem Reap must be up there as one of the Wonders of the world but there seems to be do much to visit, see and take in. Is there a strategy for making the most of the place? Where do you go first? And what about guides do they balance Buddhist and Hindu perspectives? I love those Buddhist Monks orange robes. Is anywhere still an active place of worship?

    Sadly for me it will probably be a once in a lifetime place and I want to make sure that I don’t leave with any regrets.

    1. Hi Jen
      It was certainly a highlight of our 10 month adventure visiting 15 countries.
      It is very well organised once you have bought the pass everyone needs, you can take the big tour or the small one – we did the small one on the first day then up early for the larger one.
      I would strongly recommend a good guide and driver (not a tuk-tuk) and start the day by watching sunrise at Angkor Wat.
      Our guide managed the balance between Buddhist and Hindu very well and yes they are still practicing.
      You can see a video of Helene having a blessing here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-C-Moore/e/B07F1TLJT4/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
      It turns out to be quite funny in the end!
      Happy travels
      David

  5. Angkor Wat is really majestic in person. Pictures doesn’t do it enough justice. I suggest wearing comfortable clothes and shoes if you want to trek the complex and climb some of the structures. It also gets hot and humid so bring water to hydrate and wet wipes to cool down.

  6. I agree with all your suggestions Tonya and would add a couple…
    – Always go with a guide
    – Go to Angkor Wat for sunrise
    – And the temple at Bakheng Hill for sunset
    Happy travels
    David

  7. Siem Reap is such a relaxing, vibrant place and when you get downtown, it’s lively and welcoming. Very different from what I experienced in Phnom Penh. Cambodia is a unique place with a rich cultural history in both extremes of dark and light. Also, when I went there in January … it was the hottest place I’d ever been to! So remember that too, as they said here. Go early!

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