A detailed historical excursion that will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!
The religious building Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple. It is considered one of the most magnificent "pearls" of Angkor - the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.
Angkor Wat: history
More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Cambujadesh) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.
The empire reaches its peak a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was erected in honor. The construction of the religious building took over 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, craftsmen were sought throughout Asia.
Sandstone was used as the main material, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. No mortar was applied during installation.
In those early days, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.
The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated, at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. Water was sorely lacking, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218), there were several uprisings, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.
Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into decay. People left the city forever. Only monks remained in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the structures became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.
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In the early 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers stumbled upon mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. Ancient Angkor owes its second birth (late 19th century) to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of researchers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and traders rushed to Angkor.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the former splendor of the capital. The sandstone from which the buildings were built collapsed over time under the influence of wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned down by vandals during the war. Roots and branches of trees have sprouted through the walls of buildings in many places.
Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings of the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After the end of the civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was mainly carried out by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters is under the protection of UNESCO.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
The device and architecture of Angkor Wat
The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat has a length of 1.3 km from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. A rectangular religious building. Consists of three levels (tiers) that increase in height towards the center. In appearance, it somewhat resembles a pyramid. The levels represent three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and reliably protected from all sides by a moat with water. The width of the ditch is more than 100 m. A stone bridge has been laid across it, connecting the rectangular "island" with the land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front of the building are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the east side of Angkor Wat, but it is less visible and can be found with a guide.
The entire territory of the temple has to be bypassed on foot, transport is prohibited here.
Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any side, only three towers out of five are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of the time. The towers and tiers are connected by staircases, crossing galleries and covered walkways. The resulting interior space is divided into numerous square-shaped patios.
The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. The ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate designs. On the territory of the complex there are many statues of strange animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters.
The first tier is the largest and consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main "plots" are the battles of the gods, the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics "Mahabharata" and "Ramayana". The outer wall is designed as a double row of columns.
There are corner pavilions at the end of each gallery. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. Once upon a time, these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn out and are barely noticeable.
The gate towers of the main entrance are connected with the towers of the second tier by means of passages. Between them are four courtyards that fill with water during the rainy season and serve as swimming pools. The inner walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns through which the courtyards-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between the windows with figuratively carved pillars, figures of thousands of heavenly dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.
At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south), corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language are installed. On both sides, on the second tier, there are libraries, each of which has four entrances.
In the very "heart" of the third tier is the central tower (65 m). This is the tallest building in the complex. She personifies the mythical Mount Meru - the home of the supreme Khmer gods. Smaller towers are located around the perimeter. Their tops are like a lotus bud - a symbol of purity and enlightenment. Figures of devatas (demigoddesses) adorn the walls of the third tier.
From here, an extraordinary beauty view of the surrounding area opens up. Since 2010, in order to preserve the monument, changes have been made to the rules for visiting Angkor Wat. No more than 100 people are allowed to enter the upper tier of the temple at a time. During all Buddhist holidays, the upper galleries are closed to visitors. There are also restrictions on clothing: shoulders and knees must be covered.
Sunrise and sunset meetings on the territory of Angkor Wat are very popular among tourists. Angkor Wat, bathed in the rays of the sun, looks especially majestic.
Most of the routes start and end at the temple. To visit and inspect the complex, you need to allocate at least 6-8 hours. Other attractions of Angkor are no less popular among tourists.
And finally, watch an interesting film about this grandiose building!
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An unusually beautiful country with a great history - Cambodia - is located in the southeastern part of Asia. For a long time this kingdom was closed from tourists, but today it has become a very popular tourist destination. This exotic country attracts travelers with its mild climate, warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand, white beaches, and, of course, majestic temple buildings.
People come from all over the world to see the mysterious shrines with their own eyes -ancient temples of Cambodia built over a thousand years ago.
How and when temples were built
The ancestors of the present Cambodians, the Khmers, who from time immemorial inhabited the territory of the kingdom, were engaged in the construction of the sanctuaries. This people, according to legend, originated from the connection between the daughter of the king of snake-like creatures - the nagas, and an Indian hermit.
The grandiose construction began in the 9th century, when numerous Khmer principalities under the leadership of Emperor Jayavarman II united into a great state - the Khmer Empire with its capital in Angkor. In it, the founder of the dynasty erected the first temple complex, and his successors subsequently continued this work. Today, all the surviving temples of the ancient capital form the main attraction of the country - the Angkor temple complex. Its size is amazing -temples of Angkor in Cambodia is located on an area of \u200b\u200bmore than 200 thousand square meters. km.
The construction of religious buildings in the capital continued until the XII century - it was during this period that the most famous temples of Cambodia were built. By that time, a huge city had already been built around them, which was inhabited by over a million inhabitants. In the X-XIII centuries. the great Khmer Empire became the most developed state in all of Southeast Asia militarily and economically.
However, already in the second half of the 15th century, after a long siege by the Siamese, its capital fell and was destroyed.
The residents were forced to flee and abandon the city. Over the years, Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, the humid climate did not spare many living quarters and soon nothing remained of them, but the temple buildings managed to survive. For 400 years, people forgot about the ancient Angkor, until in 1860 the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muo came across it in the impenetrable thickets.
Angkor Wat
The largest temple in the entire globe is Cambodian Angkor Wat, which rises a few kilometers from the city of Siemreal. This shrine was erected in the first half of the XII century in honor of the supreme god in Hinduism - Vishnu. The empire was ruled in those days by King Suryavarman II.
According to scientists, the construction of this structure took 5 million tons of stones - the same amount as was spent on the construction of the second largest Egyptian pyramid, Khafra (Khafre).
The ancient builders put a lot of effort into creating an amazing architectural creation - all the stone blocks from which this sacred structure was built are artistically processed - scenes from the history of the Khmer, Hindu mythology and ancient Indian epics are carved on all surfaces.
But the most amazing thing is that the Khmers did not use any mortars to fix the blocks together - the stones were hewn and fitted to each other so that sometimes it is simply impossible to find the joints between them.
The main cult complexCambodia temple Angkor Wat consists of 3 buildings, inside there are 5 lotus-shaped towers, the height of the central one reaches 65 meters. The complex is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide, which is always filled with water due to heavy rains. As conceived by the builders, this grandiose project symbolizes the abode of Brahma - the sacred Mount Meru: the central tower is the top, the walls are rocks, and the huge moat is the world ocean, washing the Universe from all sides.
Undoubtedly this temple in Cambodia - 8 wonders of the world , after all this is what historians around the world call it.
Bayonne
Not far from Angkor Wat is the second largest ancient religious building. This is the Bayon temple, rebuilt in the XII century under the ruler Jayavarman VII.
Bayon temple in Cambodia has 54 towers, and it is no coincidence - each of them was a symbol of a province that was under the rule of the ruler. Each tower has 4 faces carved - one on each side of the world.
The ancient builders managed to do the impossible - the expressions of all these faces change depending on the lighting and the time of day.
They can be kind, smile, be sad, and sometimes with their glance they even bring chilling horror to the soul. It is noteworthy that in whatever part of the temple a person is, he will always be under the gaze of stone eyes. It is believed that the carved faces are the face of the deity of compassion Avalokiteshvara. King Jayavarman VII became the prototype of his appearance.
Initially, the central tower of the temple had a gold coating, but it was torn off by the Siamese who captured the city. There was a four-meter-high figure of Buddha on it, but it was also destroyed. The walls of the temple are covered with beautiful bas-reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Cambodians - military campaigns, bloody battles, worship of the gods, circus performances, feasts and much more.
Ta Prom
Ta Prohm Temple (Ta Prohm, Ta Prohm) is another Buddhist religious building that is part of the structure of the city of Angkor. This temple-monastery was built at the end of the XII century in honor of the mother of King Jayavarman VII. That is why, scientists believe, in its design in bas-reliefs and sculptures, apsaras prevail - the demigoddesses of Hindu mythology, the spirits of water and clouds.
Great popularityTa Prohm temple in Cambodia acquired in 2001 after the release of the film "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" - it was in this abandoned building that Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie wandered.
At present, the complex is an amazing sight in the best traditions of surrealism - all structures from the base to the roof are enveloped in bizarre dense vegetation. Here the roots and trunks of trees have climbed the walls for centuries, framed doors and windows, broke stone roofs, making their way to freedom.
It seems that there was once a merciless battle between the gods and nature on this territory, and the latter won, making the unique structure part of the earth. Now Ta Prohm and the jungle are indivisible.
Bapuon
In the very center of the holy city of Angkor Thom there is another amazing temple 49 meters high - Bapuon. It appeared in the XI century during the reign of Udayadityavarman II. This structure is shaped like a five-stage pyramid, consisting of three tiers.
Bapuon is distinguished from other sanctuaries by special bas-reliefs - they are made in the form of small squares, in which scenes from the daily life of the Khmers are carved. In his youth, the temple amazed with splendor.
Back in the 13th century, the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan admired him, calling him "a truly amazing sight." To this day, Bapuon reached in a very poor condition, and this is due to the sandy foundation on which it was built. It turned out to be unstable, and the grandiose building began to collapse rapidly.
Less famous temples in Cambodia
In Cambodia, there are several hundred ancient religious buildings that fascinate with their beauty and original architecture. The Koh Ker temple complex, located 90 km from Angkor, is considered to be very interesting. Tourists rarely visit this place, since getting there is not easy. The temple-mountain Prasat Prang with a height of 32 meters in this complex attracts most of all attention.
This temple in Cambodia it is also called the "pyramid of death" due to the fact that there is a deep well at its top. According to legend, after sacrifices to demons, lifeless bodies were thrown into it. It was believed that this well leads to the underworld.
Another amazingly beautiful temple is Preah Vihea, or, as it is also called, "Temple in Heaven". It was erected on a mountain, at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. It is considered a very significant building for the ancient Khmers, since it took a very long time to build - the construction stretched out during the reign of seven kings.
The Buddhist temple Neakpean, created in the XII century, is distinguished by its originality. It is located in Angkor, near the city of Da Nang, on a small artificially created island in the middle of a reservoir. According to an ancient legend, the water in these places is endowed with healing properties. Actually, this prompted King Javayarman VII to build a temple here.
Another miracle of Khmer architecture is the Banteay Srei Temple, located in the province of Siemreal. It was built in honor of the god Shiva in the X century. The temple became famous for its decoration - all its walls are covered with jewelry carving, which was practically not touched by time. Another feature of this structure is that it contains ancient pink statues of guardian monkeys.
- British researchers G. Hancock and D. Grisby conducted large-scale computer studies, and came to a very curious conclusion: the main religious buildings of Cambodia are associated with a map of the sky of 10500 BC. e. In their opinion, the Angkorian temples of Cambodia on the map, if connected by one line, recreate the outlines of the constellation of the Dragon.
- The temples of Cambodia were not intended to be visited by believers. These places of worship were considered the abode of the gods, and only priests and monks could enter them. In some temples, tombs were erected for the rulers, whom they considered the embodiment of God on earth.
- Each Khmer king followed the tradition - having ascended the throne, he began the construction of two temples - for himself and his ancestors. If he died, and the structures were not yet completed, they were left unfinished, and immediately began a new construction.
- An image is carved on the wall of the Ta Prohm temple, which to this day haunts scientists around the world. A herbivorous dinosaur is captured there, or more precisely, a stegosaurus that lived on the planet more than 150 million years ago. How the ancient Khmers learned about this animal still remains a mystery.
- There are several pyramid-shaped temples in Cambodia. As you know, such grandiose structures have been found only in Peru, Egypt and Cambodia. An ancient legend explains this fact - they were all built by the same people who roamed these countries.
- Many Cambodian temples are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Thousands of people from all over the world travel to the Kingdom of Cambodia to see the unique Angkor Wat temple complex. We were no exception and visited Angkor with pleasure. The scale of the buildings, as well as the fact that it was built as a Lego constructor, are impressive. Today we will briefly tell you what we saw, what we felt and show our photos of Angkor Wat. You can take a car, tuk-tuk or bicycle to explore the Angkor temple complex. We chose the second option, hired a tuker for the whole day for $ 20 on the condition that he would show both the big and the small circle.
How much is the entrance to Angkor Wat - $ 20 per person. You can buy a subscription for 3 days ($ 40) and for a week ($ 60).
We arrived at the ticket offices at about 9 am. Not many people. They paid twenty. We were photographed with a webcam and given tickets. The tuk-tuk driver and his chariot pass free
To the temple from the ticket office go no more than 5 minutes along the lake
Historic temple of Angkor Wat
The first stop on our way is the main temple of Angkor - Angkor Thom.
Angkor Wat Cambodia 
Angkor Temple in Cambodia looks like this 
Historic temple of Angkor Wat
Before entering, you can look back at the alley and imagine how proud Khmers in national dress and monks walked along it many centuries ago.
We go into the main building.
Angkor Wat Cambodia photo inside the temple
We overheard one of the guides and learned that these are the pools in which the royalty washed themselves upon entering the temple.
Temple complex Angkor 
After passing a string of corridors and passages, we finally find ourselves in the heart of this wonderful temple.
It looks like Angkor Wat
The spectacle is amazing! By the way, there is a good photo point in this corner. We need to be captured together. We caught some tourist with a large lens around his neck, believing that he knew about photography and would take a good shot. I think we were not mistaken. Tip: If possible, ask someone to photograph you with a large camera. More likely to get a good shot than asking an aunt with a soap box taking pictures of everything around her.
It's good that we arrived at Angkor Wat on our own without a tour. We do not need to rush anywhere, you can sit anywhere for as long as you want. Admiring the temple, it was very funny to watch a Russian couple who came with a guide. He told them something from history for a couple of minutes, and then uttered the signature excursion phrase: « so, now we are quickly taking pictures and p-o-b-e-w-a-l-i ".
An excellent view opens up from this point.
It's a shame you can't climb the stairs. The passage to the third floor is open only on certain days of the lunar calendar.
There are many tourists. International. As usual, Asian faces dominate, but Russians are also not uncommon.
And this comrade was the star of Angkor. Tourists of all nationalities took pictures with him
Photo: Angkor Cambodia
Photographers with professional cameras were not seen this time, so they asked to take a picture of a guy passing by, who turned out to be Russian. It turned out well too.
Monkeys are running along the road in this place. You can grab something from breakfast at the hotel to feed them.
By the way, I was pleasantly surprised that in such a place there are no breeders and traders who offer to buy food for monkeys from them.
Then we went towards the exit, where our tuk-tuker was waiting for us to take us to other temples. In general, the walk through the territory of the main temple took us about 2 hours.
On the way back, we admired the ancient bas-reliefs. Some of them are well preserved
Finding our tuker was not easy. We agreed that he would be waiting for us at the tuk-tuk parking lot opposite the exit. We walked around it three times and looked at all the neighboring cafes. Our driver is nowhere to be found. Several times other tukes came to us and offered their services. We refused. Already thoughts crept into my head, what if this is such a divorce on an excursion to the Angkor temple, the meaning of which is that you do not find your driver and go with another, and then the first one comes to your hotel in the evening and asks for money, like, I was standing where agreed, you did not find me ... At some point, we met a French couple who could not find a driver either. We laughed together and went to search further. Bad thoughts drove away. And after 20 minutes the driver found us himself. He said that he went to eat. Well ok, let's move on!
Where can I book an airport transfer?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online, paid with a card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name. Drove to the hotel in a comfortable car. They have already told about their experience in this article
Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a temple complex, not a separate temple. The city of Angkor occupies a huge territory, all the temples are several kilometers away from each other. That is why, in addition to tickets, you need to take transport. The excursion will be conducted by any taxi driver (tuk-tuker) in Siem Reap. Only the main temple can be walked on foot in one day.
After passing the bridge with the heads of the Buddha and the northern gate, we arrived at another large temple. It is located a couple of kilometers from the Angkor Thom temple.
The best part is that you can climb everywhere and touch everything. Nobody shouts at you like in a museum.
The towers depict the faces of the Buddha
Probably, getting lost at night in a maze of corridors and passages would be very scary
For $ 1, you can light an aroma stick and tie a red thread on your wrist
We wandered around the temple and went out into the street.
The bas-reliefs of this temple are mostly women.
We go down through the side exit
We need to walk to the next temple. It's 5 minutes away. Looking back to admire this temple again
And now the next one. People walk to him across the bridge
Here you can go up to the second and third floors
If you are afraid of heights, then I do not recommend climbing. The staircase is very steep and the height is impressive. Descending will be very scary.
Then we went to the tuk-tuk parking lot. Our driver was found immediately. We bought water right at the parking lot - 2 bottles of 0.5 each for $ 1. The price is very affordable
Now we're heading for another jungle temple
Judging by the fact that there are much fewer tourists here, we realized that these are temples of the great circle of Angkor Wat.
In these parts, trees grow right on the walls. An unforgettable sight
And again endless transitions
Further along the way, we saw several more small temples, as well as one of medium size, which we remembered for the fact that trees also grow in it right on the structures and gradually destroy them with their huge roots.
From so many mystical ancient ruins, my head was already spinning. Therefore, we looked quickly at the last temples. Still, it is very difficult to master the temples of a large circle in one day.
We returned to the hotel happy, but tired, dirty, dusty and hungry.
Our vehicle looked something like this:
Our expenses for 1 day at Angkor Wat
We spent only $ 61 on the tour. We examined the temples of Angkor: from 8.30 am to 5 pm.
- Entrance tickets: $ 20 x 2 \u003d $ 40
- Tuk-tuk for the whole day in a big circle: $ 20
- 2 bottles of water: $ 1
Positive points
- I was very pleasantly surprised that in such a world-famous sight there are no breeders, molesters, Bedouins, traders and beggars. Who has been to, he will understand me. Maximum, at the entrance they may ask if you need a guide.
- There are no trade points in Angkor Wat temples. The only exceptions were the most distant temples, in which one could see 1-2 merchants with magnets or paintings. But they did not grab anyone by the hand and did not shout at the whole street. You can buy souvenirs, water or something to eat only outside near the tuk-tuk parking lot.
- Prices for water and food are quite low for such a tourist destination.
- The walls of the temples are not painted with inscriptions and drawings. Although no one looks after the visitors, the guards stand only at the entrance to check tickets.
- It seemed to me that Angkor Wat is one of those places that has not yet been spoiled by tourists. And maybe the contingent of vacationers in Cambodia is a little different than we are used to.
How to get to Angkor Wat
Angkor is a 5-minute drive from the city. To visit Angkor, you need to hire a taxi driver. The city offers taxis and tuk-tuk to Angkor at every step, on the streets you can find various travel agencies with signs in the windows "excursion to Angkor Wat". The safest way to order a tuk-tuk is at the reception of your hotel.
Hotels in Siem Reap
- Tropical Breeze Guesthouse
Where is the Angkor Wat temple
Angkor Wat is located in Siemrip city, Cambodia. In the city itself, to visit Angkor, you need to hire a taxi driver or take a tour. Since the temple complex is located outside the city. You can also take a bike, but in the heat, riding long distances will not give much pleasure. You can come to Siem Reap either by land, for example, by bus from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, or by plane. Siem Reap has an airport.
Angkor Wat on the map
It is a constitutional monarchy with a king as its head. The legislature is the parliament, which consists of two chambers. Its capital is Phnom Penh, and its main attraction is Angkor Wat (Cambodia). The photo below shows it at sunset.
A little about the country and its population
A small state lost in the green jungle. It originated in the 600s A.D. The nature is still pristinely beautiful and surprises the traveler with amazing plants of the wet savannah and unusual animals. In the center is A, surrounded by mountains on three sides. And the fourth overlooks the Gulf of Thailand. The main artery of the country and Tonle Sap flow through the valley. This amazing stream periodically changes its direction. A river can drain into or out of a lake. The population of the country is the Khmer people (approximately 14 million), who are 95% Buddhists. There are more than 4 thousand temples for them. The language that is used in everyday life is Khmer, the elderly speak French, the youth are learning English and Chinese. The climate is humid and hot. The best months to visit are from late October to April, when there are dry winters with temperatures ranging from + 22 ° C to + 26 ° C. But the humidity is 93% all year round.
Landmarks of the country
The tourism business in the country is still poorly developed. The city of Siem Reap is known for its pagodas, temples and wats: Wat Bo (wall paintings), Preah Angcherk and Preah Angchorm pagoda (very revered by the locals. There are two Buddha statues here), Yatep - local spirits live here who guard the city. Sihanoukville has beautiful beaches and diving centers. But still, the main thing that Cambodia is proud of is the Angkor temple complex. Everything fades before it, like the stars and the moon before the light of the sun. It is located near the city of Siemrap. Sights - Angkor - are located in the center of Cambodia in all their grandeur.
In addition, in this historical reserve there is This is also a visited and very interesting temple. A magnificent view of Angkor opens from above. The jungle dominates Ta Prome and is not going to leave it yet. There are also more modest, but no less remarkable temples: Baksei Chamkorng, Thama Bai Kaek and Prasat Bey.
World Heritage under the supervision of UNESCO
Giant, the largest - that's all about Angkor. Cambodia a thousand years ago very quickly, in just 30-40 years, erected and also decorated a temple for Hindus, worshipers of the god Vishnu. This was done at the direction of King Suryavarman II. He was a warrior who spent time not in amusements, but in worries about strengthening and centralizing the state. But he remained in history as the creator of the Angkor temple. Cambodia has attracted all its forces for its design and construction.
Design
By the time Angkor was created, Indian culture had existed for at least 4-4.5 millennia. The knowledge of Indian astronomers was extremely high. It can be assumed that they were involved in creating the layout of Angkor. Cambodia could hardly have done it on its own. Moreover, the temple was dedicated to the deity Vishnu - the keeper of the universe, the protector from evil, the connecting link between people and the Universe.
At the end of the 20th century, the British historian D. Grisby concluded that the main structures in Angkor are projections onto the ground. He was prompted to search for a similar relationship by an inscription on an excavated stele of the 12th century, which reported that their country was similar to the sky. This connection is indicated by another inscription of an earlier time, which says that the stones of Angkor are associated with the movement of the stars in the sky. This has given rise to numerous modern studies and discussions in the world of historians and archaeologists. They do not stop today.
Building
There was a lot of sandstone in the kingdom of Cambodia at that time. The Angkor temple complex was built from it. The construction took about five million tons of material. It was floated down the Siemrap River. All stones are very smooth, as if they were polished. No mortar was used to hold them together and they are only held by their own weight. They fit together so perfectly that the blade of a thin knife does not pass between them. It is believed that elephants were used in the construction. Absolutely all surfaces are covered with kilometers of thread. These are scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, unicorns and dragons, warriors, griffins, charming dedavasis (dancers). From all of the above, it follows that there were very skillful craftsmen who built Angkor. Cambodia, by all assumptions, had centuries of experience in such construction.
Architecture
It was a period of maturity in the development of sophisticated architecture with complete harmony of all its parts. As in many ancient civilizations, the sanctuary was the abode of the gods. It collected only the priestly estate and kings, and it was also intended for the burial of rulers. Angkor Wat, a temple complex in Cambodia, is a rectangle with dimensions of 1.5 x 1.3 thousand meters and an area of \u200b\u200btwo km². The area of \u200b\u200bthe Vatican is almost three times smaller. Along the entire perimeter there is a moat filled with water, 190 m wide. A platform is installed in the center of the courtyard, which is fenced off by a wall. A temple was built on it. No capsule has been found anywhere with its original name or construction start date. Temple Angkor Wat (Cambodia) consists of three buildings with a common center. It houses five lotus-shaped towers. The highest central tower rises 65 meters from the ground. The main entrance leads from the west. The road to it, made of sandstone blocks, is surrounded by low parapets on which sculptures of seven-headed snakes are located.
Today, the entrance to the gopuram (gate tower above the entrance) takes place through a sacred place under the south tower. It contains a huge Vishnu figure with 8 arms. It fills the entire space.
The sculptural design is organically connected with the entire composition of the temple. On the first tier, the most remarkable are eight huge images, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 1.2 thousand square meters. m. The walls of the 2nd tier are decorated with bas-reliefs of apsaras (heavenly maidens). There are two thousand of them. The entire courtyard can be seen from the second level. Stone steps lead to the third level, to the huge conical towers. The highest is the center of the universe. All the towers represent, as the ancient Khmers understood it, the abode of the gods. In the tallest one, a reclining figure of Buddha is still preserved, although the temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu.
Historical reserve
The temples of Angkor in Cambodia are not limited to the colossal and mysterious Angor Wat. The city of Angkor itself was the "City of Capitals" with a population of more than 1,000,000 people who lived in wooden houses that rotted due to high humidity. Its ruins are located about five km from the Angkor Wat complex. There are preserved temples that were built from sandstone and tuff: the terrace of elephants, Ta-Prohm, Angor-Thom (included in the UNESCO heritage list), Preah-Kan (translated as "sacred sword"), Ta-Proum and the Bayon temple. He has 54 towers directed to the sky, and all of them are decorated with images of Buddha.
Angor Thom ("Great Capital") and Bayon Temple
It was the capital under the ruler Jayavarman VII. He adopted the philosophy of Buddha and built a square city in his honor with a fantastic area of \u200b\u200b900 hectares. It is divided by roads into 4 equal parts. Remains of stone buildings have grown into the jungle. In the center stands the Bayon Temple.
Its size is smaller than other sights of Cambodia, but if you come closer to it, it strikes with grandeur. Bayon has three levels. The first depicts scenes from a peaceful life and battles. On the second, which is much better preserved, the tourist finds himself in a labyrinth of galleries with low ceilings. On each of the fifty towers, faces are carved, which, depending on the lighting, can look either good or evil. These ruins look majestic, especially when viewed from the third level.
Ta-Prohm
This is a temple-monastery that was called Rajakhavira ("royal monastery") with a complex layout. Its territory is heavily overgrown with trees with powerful trunks and branches. Clearing it began back in 1920. But the jungle does not want to part with him. This Buddhist temple is very romantic, as part of the destruction and tropical trees was deliberately left in it. It makes an indelible impression on tourists. On the territory of the monastery, among the ring structures, there are large silk trees and strangler trees.
If the seed remains in the crack of the masonry, then it gradually grows and breaks the wall with its roots and a heavy trunk. Initially, they become the frame of the building, but when they die, they destroy it. The temple itself consists of three galleries with one center. It is surrounded by a moat. Entrances through the gopura (entrance towers) are located on the four cardinal points. The stele in the monastery describes its riches (tons of gold dishes, silk beds), and also credits the king with the creation of hundreds of statues of gods, decorative towers, almost half a thousand stone dwellings, as well as the presence of hospitals in the kingdom. All the remaining walls are, of course, exquisitely carved. The place where the episode of the film "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider" with Angelina Jolie was filmed is very popular among tourists. Red paint has been preserved on one of the pillars. As the guides say, human blood was added to it. In fact, iron oxides were added to it, which are very resistant to fading. The stegosaurus that is carved into one of the medallions is something inexplicable about Ta Prohma.
Angkor, Cambodia: how to get there
By air
There are no direct flights from Russia to Cambodia. There is an international airport near the city of Siem Reap. It receives liners via China (eastern and southern airlines), Korea (Seoul), Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand (Bangkok, Pattaya). The most expensive but also the most popular flight is Bangkok-Siem Reap. It is easier to fly to Bangkok, and then take a flight via Kuala Lumpur or Phnom Penh. From the capital of Cambodia, you can go further by taxi or by bus. The airport is 7 km from Siem Reap, and the hotel can be easily reached. And if a room is booked, then the tourist will be met free of charge and taken to the hotel.
Waterway
Siem Reap can be reached by speed boat from Phnom Penh, if time and money permit. Tickets are sold at the hotel reception or at travel agencies. Traveling along the lake and river in six hours will allow you to get acquainted with the life of the local population.
Bus
From neighboring Asian states (Thailand, Vietnam), as well as from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, you can get there by bus. There are a lot of flights. The cheapest are Cambodian. Bus during the day is quite safe transport. Night trips are not recommended.
Tours "Angkor-Cambodia"
Tour operators offer a trip to exotic Cambodia. For example, the Moscow companies Level.travel, VAND, Coral Trevel, and TEZ-tour. Tours are designed for three days and two nights.
Angkor (Cambodia) - the center of the ancient Khmer Empire, a complex of temples that have survived to this day. This cultural heritage is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered to be the most popular attraction in the country. How to get to Angkor, opening hours and the cost of visiting temples - all the information you need for a successful trip is in this article.
Angkor Wat
Don't be confused! Angkor is an ancient city, on whose territory there are more than 20 temples, among which the largest is Angkor Wat.
An excursion into history
The beginning of the construction of the Angkor complex was laid by the founder of the local dynasty - the prince, who declared the independence of Cambujadeshi (today's Cambodia), Jayavarman II. Since then, almost every king has erected one or more sacred buildings during his reign, often marking certain events. The construction of the complex was completed in 1218, after the death of Jayavarman VII, by whose order the temples of Prea-Kan (in honor of the victory over the tyams), Ta-Prohm (in memory of the mother of the majestic ruler) and others were erected.
Interesting fact! The largest temple in history, Angkor Wat, was built for over 30 years. It occupies the same territory as the Vatican State.
The majestic Khmer empire fell in the middle of the 15th century as a result of centuries of struggle with the Tams and Tays. In 1431, Siamese troops occupied Angkor, and all its inhabitants left their homes, deciding that it was better to live in peace, albeit far from their homeland. In the end, the devastated city, along with all the temples, swallowed up the jungle.
Angkor was rediscovered in 1861 by the French scientist Anri Muo, but due to difficult times in Cambodia's history, accompanied by bloody wars, no one was involved in its restoration. Only 130 years later, UNESCO will add the temple complex to the World Heritage List, and an organization will be created in China uniting specialists who are still engaged in the restoration of this majestic landmark of Cambodia.
Amazing details! All the temples of Angkor were built without the use of cement or other bonding materials.
Where is Angkor
You can get to the temple complex by tuk-tuk (about $ 2), bicycle ($ 0.5 / hour) or taxi (from $ 5), having previously entered the city of Siem Reap, located in the west of Cambodia. To do this, you can use:
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Angkor opening hours and cost of visiting
The ticket offices of the temple complex open at 5 am and work until 5:30 pm, at the same time tourists are allowed here. According to the official rules, all travelers must leave Angkor territory before 18:00, but if you do not get caught by the police, you can stay there a little longer and enjoy the beauty of the temples as the sun goes down.
Entry price to Angkor varies from the number of days. There are three options in total:
- One day visit for $ 20;
- $ 40 three-day cultural education;
- Seven-day temple walk for $ 60.
You can use a subscription for three days within a week from the date of purchase, and a subscription for 7 days will be valid for a month. On the front side of such a ticket there should be your photo, it is taken at the box office directly upon purchase.
Note! You can buy a day-to-day ticket only until 17:00, the remaining half hour are sold for the next day tickets.
Structure of Angkor (Cambodia)
On the territory of the ancient city, there are more than 30 temples, which occupy an area of \u200b\u200b500,000 square meters. To visit them all in one day is absolutely unrealistic, most often travel agencies and travelers who have visited this attraction of Cambodia are advised to spend from three to five days walking around the temple complex.
The most popular route in Angkor lasts three days and is divided into visiting the temples of the small circle, the great circle, as well as distant temples, which are reached by the most persistent and curious.
Advice! If you are going to visit the temple complex as a company, rent bikes or bicycles. This will help you save time and effort (since the length of the same route through the temples of the small circle is 20 km), and not lose your rented property if you are distracted to take a photo of Angkor Wat and other places.
Small circle
This includes those temples that every traveler must see - the most majestic, beautiful and valuable. The distance of the route is 20 km, calculated for one day. The direction of travel is shown in the titles of the following sections: first Angkor Wat, then Angkor Thom, etc.
Angkor Wat
This temple occupies a huge territory and can rightfully be considered a whole complex. It is surrounded by a moat that fills with water during the rainy season, there are many trees, green grass, flowers and wild animals around.
In the center of Angkor Wat there is a mountain temple, built in such a way that its five identical towers can be seen from any side. The second key attraction of the complex is the library - a one-story building surrounded by palm trees and tourists.
Equally interesting are the galleries of Angkor Wat, which can be viewed from above by climbing the stone stairs in the backyard. In total, 8 galleries with bas-reliefs, densely covering the walls, were built on the territory of the temple. The most famous among them is the Gallery of Hell and Heaven.
Advice! If you want to take uninhabited photos of Angkor Wat, wait until the sun rises completely and look into the backyard of the temple. At this time, all tourists who met the dawn go to rest, and newly arrived travelers disperse to the main parts of the complex.
Angkor Thom
This is another must-see attraction in Cambodia, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and a majestic 13-14 century city with a population of over a million. Its name explains its popularity in the modern world - "Big Angkor" really impresses with its scale, unusual architecture, harmony and splendor.
The structure of Angkor Thom is very logical - the city is a square with stone walls, inside which there are various buildings. The most significant of them:
In addition, Angkor Thom has the Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of the Elephants, several prasats, the Gate of Victory and an unusual bridge with figures of gods and demons. The recommended time for visiting this attraction is 3-4 hours.
Advice! Travel to Bayonne before sunrise to avoid the crowds and get the most spectacular photos.
Ta Prom
Another of the most beautiful buildings in Cambodia is Ta Prohm, which became popular after the filming of the film "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and today bears the proud name of the Angelina Jolie Temple. For seven centuries this building played the role of a monastery and a university, where local residents received education and scientific research.
Ta Prohm is several times smaller than Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom, there are no separate significant sights on its territory, all of them are part of the temple itself. So, Ta Proma galleries are one of the most interesting in the whole complex, since they are built into one another and resemble a small labyrinth.
Another feature of the temple is its proximity to the jungle - the roots of trees twine around stone walls and amaze with their size. To this day, Ta Prohm cannot be cleared of vegetation, because it is due to it that the building has been preserved to our times.
Millennium mystery. Among the picturesque bas-reliefs of the temple there is an image of a dinosaur. The question of what this ancient creature is doing on the walls of Ta Prohma is not the first year that both scientists and tourists have been fighting.
Small temples of the small circle
This category includes Pre Kan (built by the last king of Cambodia in honor of his father), Ta Keo (the highest mountain temple, the construction of which was not completed, as the building was struck by lightning, which was considered a bad sign) and Phnom Bakeng (a temple in the rock , which offers a panoramic view of the entire Angkor). The total duration of a visit to all three buildings is 4-5 hours.
Big circle
Banteay Kdey The route includes more than ten small temples, the total duration is 25 km. The most popular buildings worth visiting first of all:
- Banteay Kdey. It was built as a Buddhist temple and consists of many galleries decorated with bas-reliefs.
- Pre Rup. Temple-mountain, created in honor of the god Shiva.
- Banteay Samre. Differs in graceful architecture and unusual walls with carvings. It was erected in honor of the ancient Indian god Vishnu.
- Ta Som. A place for spectacular photographs that reflect the unity of nature and ancient buildings.
Distant temples
Several temple complexes located at a decent distance from the center of Angkor belong to this category. You can get there only by taxi or a rented car (you shouldn't take a bike or bicycle, otherwise you will get bogged down in the dust of Cambodia's dirt roads). The cost of such a trip is $ 50-60, so try to find fellow travelers or become one yourself.
Beng Melia
Located 67 km from Siem Reap, this temple is definitely worthy of your visit. At the entrance you will be greeted by unusual guards in the form of seven-headed snakes, and once you get inside, you will understand what is the beauty of stone chaos. The peculiarity of Beng Melia is that the hands of restorers did not touch its walls, so you have an excellent opportunity to see it as it was found in the late 19th century.
Important! The cost of visiting the temple is $ 5, not included in the general ticket to Angkor.
Banteay Srey
It is called the "Fortress of Beauty", the citadel of women and the pearl of Angkor. This is a unique building, unlike all other buildings in the complex due to:
- Its size. Banteay Srei is really tiny, which is very impressive, especially after visiting Angkor Wat;
- Materials. The temple is built of pink sandstone (the rest are yellow), which gives it a special charm and beauty, especially in the early morning;
- Handmade carvings and bas-reliefs that covered the walls of Banteay Srey.
On the territory of the temple there is a library, a central sanctuary, and many statues. The recommended visit time is 2-3 hours. Distance from Siem Reap - 37 km.
This place is sacred for all Cambodians, because it was here that the country's independence was proclaimed 1200 years ago. There is the famous statue of the reclining Buddha, a sacred temple where pilgrims go every year, the river of a thousand lingams and the most picturesque waterfall in Cambodia.
The cost of visiting Phnom Kulen is $ 20 (paid separately from the general ticket to Angkor), located 55 km from Siem Reap. You can only get there by taxi or a rented car.
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Siem Reap city map, which shows the sights, including Angkor Wat and some important infrastructure.
