|
| |
Nearly all visitors to Cambodia
come to see the ancient temples of Angkor, situated in Siem
Reap.
Built between the 9th and 14th centuries, they reflect a
period of great creativity, and now fully deserve their
position in the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Khmer empire at the time stretched far and wide, from
southern Vietnam to southern China and west over to the Bay
of Bengal. Angkor was the administrative center, built by
the population, with the stone buildings which now remain
the abodes only of the gods. The real instigator of the
complex was Jayavarman II, who set himself up as the
god-king; this concept was continued through the reigns of
the other kings, with various kings producing one or other
of the wonders that are available for your eyes today.
|
Getting
to the Angkor from Siem Reap town! |
|
The temples of Angkor are not far
from Siem Reap and there are a
number of transport options.
Motorbike taxis cost around US$8 per
day, or a covered trailer (two
people) is US$10-12.
A
car will cost you around US$20-25
per day or you can hire bicycles
cheaply for US$2-3 per day.
Negotiate prices before you leave:
you can find most transport through
your hotel or guesthouse. Don’t
forget to take sun block and a hat –
the sun can be fierce – and wear
sensible shoes as some of the
temples have steep climbs and loose
rocks. |
|
Angkor Wat is the highest achievement of Khmer temple
architecture, and is today the "flagship" of the temples at
Angkor. The temple is a huge pyramid structure. The compound
at Angkor Wat covers an area of 1,500 by 1,300 m (4,920 by
4,265 ft) and is surrounded by a vast moat 180 m (590 ft)
wide. Along the causeway leading to the enormous entrance
gate are balustrades shaped as giant serpents, which are
believed to represent emblems of cosmic fertility.
The temple consists of a towering complex of terraces and
small buildings that are arranged in a series of three
diminishing stories and surmounted by five towers. The
roofed and unroofed structures are covered with bands of
finely carved stone sculptures. The walls are covered with
carved reliefs that illustrate Hindu mythology, principally
scenes relating to the god Vishnu, to whom the temple was
dedicated. The "mass of bas-relief carving is of the highest
quality and the most beautifully executed in Angkor." All
the temple mountains of Angkor were filled with
three-dimensional images and every inch of the walls are
covered by sculptures.
|
|
 |
|
Photo - Staff
Photographer. |
Miraculously, very little damage has been
made on the Angkor region as a result of the
bloody civil that has terrorized the Cambodia
for over 30 years. The Khmer Rouge, an
extreme-left organization has actively organized
guerrilla activities against Prince Sihanouk's
government. In 1975, many Buddhist monks who
lived in the Angkor temples were massacred along
with the majority of the Buddhist population as
a result of a "social reorganization". However,
Angkor Wat suffered very little structural
damage in that attack. Today, archeologists from
all over the world are actively involved in the
restoration process of the temples.
Angkor began to decline around 1220 after the
death of Jayavarman VII, and then was sacked
twice by the Thais, in 1351 and 1431. The Khmer
court moved to Phnom Penh, and Angkor was left
to the jungle, not rediscovered until the
mid-19th century. The Angkor temples
miraculously suffered very little structural
damage in the bloody civil wars in recent years,
and today archeologists from all over the world
are actively involved in the restoration
process. However, in 1975, many Buddhist monks
who lived in the Angkor temples were massacred
by the Khmer Rouge, along with the majority of
the Buddhist population, as a result of ‘social
reorganization’. As society has recovered, the
temples have become active places of worship
once again: please remember this and dress
appropriately on your trip.
 The temples of Angkor are not far from Siem Reap
and there are a number of transport options.
Motorbike taxis cost around US$8 per day, or a
covered trailer (two people) is US$10-12. A car
will cost you around US$20-25 per day or you can
hire bicycles cheaply for US$2-3 per day.
Negotiate prices before you leave: you can find
most transport through your hotel or guesthouse.
Don’t forget to take sun block and a hat – the
sun can be fierce – and wear sensible shoes as
some of the temples have steep climbs and loose
rocks.
Click here to see a
brief introduction to the temples and some
suggestions for itineraries. You can also buy a
variety of guidebooks cheaply, which can give
more detailed information and can fill you in on
the history of the temples that you are
visiting.
Click here to go to top. |
|
|
