To visit the archaeological complex of Angkor, I flew to Cambodia, to Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat and other ancient temples are located. From the capital of Malaysia, where I spent three days after 4 months independent travel in India, got on a morning flight, and despite a sleepless night spent at the airport, set foot on the land of Cambodia in a great mood. Well, finally, I will see the ancient temple sights in this completely unfamiliar country. The weather was wonderful.

Arrival in Siem Reap

The city of Siem Reap, also known as Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Simrep and there are still options, depending on the translation and pronunciation, is a small, but one of the most visited by tourists city in Asia. The airport in Siem Reap is small and quiet. You get a visa upon arrival, it is advisable to have a small photo with you, but this was in 2012, maybe something has changed since then. I changed 30 dollars so that I had something to pay for transport to the city, and that was enough for the first expenses. It turned out that there were no scheduled buses from the airport, and the cheapest one left was only a motorbike taxi, i.e. motorcycle with driver.

Advice- it was better not to change dollars, especially at the airport, where the exchange rate is much lower. In Cambodia, everyone is happy to accept dollars, it is even more profitable to pay with American currency.
While I was digging through my backpack, there were no more people left. Then an employee of the transport desk asks me: “What are you going to take, a taxi?” - He arranged a taxi for a nearby Chinese and probably thought that I would want to go there too.
- “No, I'm on something cheaper. I’ll ride a motorcycle, ”I answered, raising my head, while continuing to squat and rummage through my backpack. He was surprised, because all the motorcyclists, as well as the passengers who could hire them, had already left. Then this Chinese man offered me to go with him.

- "Do I need to divide the price by two?"
"No, don't worry," he replied with a smile. “Oh, great, then I’ll go,” I was delighted.

We got into a very decent car and drove into the city. We met along the way. I had a hard time understanding his accent. He asked me which hotel to take me to. Haha - I already forgot that I once stayed in hotels, and now I travel on my own and cheaply, so I don’t book anything, but just find food and find it on the spot. She said to stop at a tourist place near an inexpensive guesthouse, no more than $ 10 per room.
The Chinese was a little stunned, because he booked for $ 60, but I explained that I was traveling myself and had already visited India and drove it myself from north to south. He was surprised 🙂
We arrived in the city. He said that he would just check into the hotel and go to see the temples. Literally 5 minutes later he returned to the car, the driver turned the corner and showed me the guesthouse. They said they would wait for me in the car. I bargained for a room for $8, took a quick shower, changed into my yellow skirt, and ran back out.

We immediately went to see Top attractions in Cambodia.

Angkor temple complex

located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The archaeological complex of Angkor, a UNESCO heritage site, includes several temples with ruins preserved from the time of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The complex of structures that displays the sky on earth and includes many temples, the main ones are the temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm (1186), Banteay Kidei (which is considered the earliest of the temples), Neak Pean, Ta -Som, Sra Srang, Pra Khan (1191), Bayon Temple, completed 1219

A ticket to visit the complex of ancient temples cost $20 for one day or $40 for 2-3 days. A ticket for 7 days costs $60. They take a photo so that no one else passes on this ticket and clearly monitor this.

Opening hours: The visit is open from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00 AM, Banteay Srei closes at 5:00 PM, Kbalspean at 3:00 PM. Always carry your ticket with you, it is checked at every entrance. To visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, you need to buy a separate ticket for $ 20, $ 10 and $ 5, respectively, this one is not needed there.

Angkor Map

This map shows that the temple of Angkor Wat, which is on everyone's lips, is just part of a large complex of Angkor attractions, where everyone ancient temple interesting in its own way.

Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that having a car, you can see the main three temples in one day, so I was incredibly lucky to meet this kind Chinese. In general, there are a lot of temples and they are scattered over a vast territory, some are located 30 km from the city and even further.

angkor wat temple

It is located about 5 km from the city of Siem Reap. angkor wat- This is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, is the most important and visited in Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150). After the capital of the state moved to in 1432, Buddhist monks supported the care of the temple. Abandoned in the 15th century, it was rediscovered for Europeans in 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muo, who discovered it on January 22, although the Frenchman was not the only one who visited there, but managed to convey his impressions to society.

The temple occupies approximately 2 sq. km., includes a moat 190 meters wide, a courtyard surrounded by stone walls, where, as if on a platform, there are three concentric structures - terraces, each has a gallery around the perimeter, through the entrances through which you can get inside the temple. The main entrance to the territory is located on the western side. The temple has five towers, all five of which can be seen from certain angles. And usually only three towers appear before the eyes. The highest one is the central one, it has a height of 213 meters from the ground. In order not to bore you with long stories and architectural details, which, in case of close interest, you can read on the official website in English, let's already see a photo of Angkor Wat, and how it is there. Everything was hazy in the morning.

We drove up to the place from where we still had to go and go to the temple. I really liked the snake-like sculptures that seemed mysterious and unusual. And the temple itself is surrounded by a moat 190m wide, filled with water.

The structure and appearance of the temple was supposed to symbolize the mythical sacred mountain Meru, repeating its outlines, respectively, the towers of the temple are its top, the walls are rocks, and the moat is the ocean surrounding the center of the universe!

First we went through the inner galleries, where on the walls there are many beautiful drawings engraved on stone - epics from the Ramayana and images that look like lace

Having reached the center, we saw a queue to go upstairs. I had to stand, the people had already gathered, although it was still about 10 am. True, the queue moved quickly - they launched in batches.

For 2 people, the passage was closed in front of us after the launch of the next group. Here the worker informs me that I have a blouse that is not suitable for the temple, that I need it with sleeves, at least with short ones. I looked back at the tourists standing behind, they were already offering scarves and scarves from the queue, but the worker said that all this was no good, that a sweater or jacket was needed. I started to worry a little, to put it mildly, because I’m already going in soon. Here a guy of about 15 years old, also a Chinese, who was standing with his mother, after us took off, as they say, his last shirt, or rather, some kind of jacket and gave it to me. He just said he'd wait outside. I was amazed by the tourist solidarity of part of the queue and, all the more so, by the friendly gesture of another Chinese. Therefore, in the photo I am in this jacket, which does not fit into the style of my clothes, but helped me out a lot at the right time. There is something to remember again.
The climb takes about 700 steps and offers a good view from there. Even balloons were visible in the distance.

We saw this inside, apparently a trace of the care of Buddhist monks about the temple during periods of its oblivion.

And now there's a steep descent

It happens that at the most inopportune moment my camera is completely discharged, but fortunately, my companion helped me out and let me take pictures of his brand new, just released Samsung Note. So the rest of the photos of the temple of Angkor and others I have thanks to my friend and his then new phone.

bayon temple

Another very interesting temple is Bayon, which is also part of the Angkor complex. This temple is no longer Hindu, like the previous one, but Buddhist. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, who made Buddhism the state religion in Cambodia. The three-level temple is surrounded by three rows of walls and has many huge stone images. The temple was built without the use of cement mortar, connecting the stones. Liked it very much.

The temple also served as a tomb for emperors and noble people.

Ta Prohm Temple

Toward evening we went to the most unusual and fabulous Ta Prohm temple, which is also part of the Angkor archaeological complex. I really liked it. In this temple, the trees and the stone walls of the temple are so intertwined that it is no longer clear who is supporting whom. Remove the tree - the walls will collapse, remove the stones - the tree will die. Here is such a symbiosis.

I was most impressed by these giant tree roots, so I even forgot to take enough photos. They say that a movie starring Angelina Jolie was filmed here, it seems to be called Lara Croft.

So we managed to see three temples in one day, having a car - a taxi.

Traditional national dish of Cambodia

Between visits, I was invited to a good restaurant for lunch, where they served national soup in coconut Amok amok- a soup is prepared based on coconut milk, with the addition of curry, meat or seafood and some vegetables - very tasty. I trembled with pleasure. I think Amok soup is the most popular dish among tourists. I recommend to try. I ate seafood. There are white tablecloths and cutlery on the tables, as expected and of course good service. The restaurant is located near the temples.

That's lucky for me!

This was not the end of a series of unexpected surprises prepared for me, probably by God, who sent me this Chinese. After lunch, we drove around the city - my new friend decided to change plane tickets, considered that he managed to see the main sights in one day, and I was taken to jewelry shop along the way, so that it would not be boring ... on the way back they picked it up.

In the evening we met again to walk around the city and try the local cuisine - it turned out to be very tasty, at least after 4 months of Indian terrible and spicy food, I liked it. And they went home. He gave me two coupons for breakfast at his hotel, which was next to my guesthouse.
So the next morning I had breakfast at the Hotel. Like a real white man. I did not get tired of thanking God for this gift, sitting at a table covered with a white tablecloth and drinking coffee from normal dishes. There was a small pool outside the window, water murmured and birds sang - it was some kind of Paradise after 4 months of traveling through dirty India. (you have already read my adventures in India - you understand me)

Returning after breakfast, I met a Chinese friend of mine in the lobby. He was with things and was about to leave. I thanked him for giving me breakfast. He asked me to wait until he checked out of the hotel. I moved to the other end of the foyer so as not to interfere.

- "Do you have your passport with you?" he shouted, turning around. -"Certainly!" I answered in surprise. - “Come on,” he asked and ... Rewrote the number to me, because he had paid for 2 days, and he changed the ticket and flew away earlier. Here is a gift of fate! I could not contain my joy and was all glowing with happiness and an unexpected surprise. We said goodbye and I ran for things. So I spent another night and two days in this kind and surprising city in relation to me. Enjoying the delights of hotel life and, oh happiness! Swimming pool - it was a real salvation in the terrible heat.

Happy and satisfied, I went for a walk around the city. It is better to do this in the morning, otherwise the terrible heat begins.

I liked this little park with beautiful gates, sculptures and a tower inside.

I really like this sculpture of a snake with several heads, which is pulled by many sitting people - also sculptures. The head of such a snake monument is beautifully decorated, like a crown. Such sculptures can often be found in Siem Reap at the temples. At Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, I took photos of such snakes, but they turned out badly.

In general, I walked around the city all day, went to the supermarket - then everything was produced in neighboring countries.

Bought a ticket for night bus for $ 19 to go to the capital of Cambodia, and from there to Vietnam, which you can read about in the next article about.

Angkor Wat is one of the interesting sights of Cambodia - this is a huge complex of temples available for tourist excursions.

How to get to Angkor

The ancient capital of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, can be reached in several ways, for example, by car or minibus. There are several excursions designed for several days. The temple complex is located in Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. You can get to this city by any transport, bus, plane and even a steamboat. If you decide to spend your vacation in Pattaya or, you can become a member of the excursion, they are regularly held in Angkor Wat.

Let us draw your attention to the fact that all the temples located on a huge site are called the Angkor complex, in addition, there is also Angkor Wat, it was erected by the ruler Suryavarman II. This temple is considered the main one and is called the pearl of Angkor.

From Bangkok to Angkor

Traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap or Siem Reap (the name is pronounced in two ways) involves several steps:

• you need to get to the border (to the town of Aranyaprathet);
• you won’t be able to cross the border without a Cambodian visa, so you should worry about having it in advance;
• get from the border (Poipet town) to Siem Reap.

Tours from Bangkok to Angkor Wat exist both individual and group.

Where to stay in Angkor

So, we have already found out where Angkor is located. The closest location to the complex is the city - Siem Reap. There you can stay at any hotel you like, because you still have to get to it by transport. There are a large number of hotels in the city, any vacationer, if necessary, can choose the right hotel for himself. It is possible to rent a bike (but, again, it will be difficult to get to the right place) or go by bus.

A bit of history

Angkor Wat, whose history is quite interesting, was founded around the 10th-12th centuries. At that time, Angkor was one of the most major cities planets. Temples from that time became known even far from the Khmer empire.

In 1431, the troops of Siam almost completely defeated and plundered the city, after which all the inhabitants had to leave their homes and go in search of new ones. Since that time, Angkor and more than 100 palaces and temples that have remained intact have been hiding under the arches of tropical forests. Until, at the end of the 19th century, the French naturalist Ann Muo presented a sufficient number of works that were created and written in honor of Angkor.

It became known that even Rudyard Kipling released his "The Jungle Book" about Mowgli only after he had the good fortune to become a visitor to the beautiful Angkor. In 1992 temple complex taken under the supervision of trustees from UNESCO.

Temples of Angkor

The temples that are part of the usual Angkor ticket are referred to by the guides as nearby temples, and those located a little further from Siem Reap are called distant ones. The nearby temples are part of several itineraries designed as a guided tour through the town square: the small circle and the big circle of Angkor. The temples of Batni Sri and Batni Samri are also included in the complex, but are located at a short distance from the excursion path.

Visits to the small and large circles of Angkor are designed for several separate days, as they occupy a very large area. One small circle is about 17 km. The mileage of the big circle is 26 km.

There is a certain scheme where you can find the right temple. The red line indicates that you are traveling in a small circle, the green line indicates a large circle . Excursions to Angkor Wat you can choose according to the route you are interested in.

Meaning of the word

Angkor, the meaning of the word comes from the Sanskrit "nagar", which means " holy city". The beginning of the first Angkor period is considered to be the beginning of 802 AD. e., while the Khmer Emperor Jayavarman II declared himself "Universal Monarch" and "God-King". This period ended at the end of the 14th century.

Having decided on a tour of Angkor, you need to pay attention to how this city of Angkor is located, the map of which will help in this. Most of the time of the year, the country pleases visitors with the sun.

When choosing clothes that you will be wearing during the excursion, give preference to breathable clothes that cover most of the body, because you can get sunburn being in the sun all day long.

Covering your face and head will also make your trip more enjoyable. The too bright sun of Angkor can cause headaches and sore eyes, so you should wear a hat and, if possible, sunglasses.

If you like ruins, then it is better to put on well-laced sneakers in order to climb them, because summer slates can be easily lost. You don't have to worry about going hungry while visiting the tour. Near the temples you can buy food and drinks. There are no hard drinks for sale, only beer. If you wish, you can take something stronger with you, but be careful, in the heat this can lead to unpredictable consequences.

Video

Angkor (Cambodia) is 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 rightfully considered the most popular attraction in the country. How to get to Angkor, the schedule and the cost of visiting the temples - all the information you need for a successful trip is in this article.

angkor wat

Do not confuse! Angkor is an ancient city, on whose territory there are over 20 temples, among which the largest is Angkor Wat.

Excursion into history

The construction of the Angkor complex was started by the founder of the local dynasty - the prince who declared the independence of Cambujadesh (today's Cambodia), Jayavarman II. Since then, almost every king erected one or more sacred buildings during his reign, often marking a certain event. The construction of the complex was completed in 1218, after the death of Jayavarman VII, by whose order the temples of Preah-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 over 30 years. It occupies the same territory as the state of the Vatican.

The majestic Khmer empire fell in the middle of the 15th century as a result of a centuries-old struggle with the Tyams 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, was swallowed up by the jungle.

Angkor was rediscovered in 1861 by the French scientist Henri Muo, but due to the difficult times in the history of Cambodia, 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 that brings together specialists who are still engaged in the restoration of this majestic landmark of Cambodia.

Amazing details! All the temples of Angkor are built without the use of cement and other binding materials.

Where is Angkor

You can get to the temple complex by tuk-tuk (about $ 2), bicycle ($ 0.5 / hour) or taxi (from $ 5), after hitting the city of Siem Reap, located in western Cambodia. For this you can use:

Siem Reap Airport

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Angkor opening hours and cost of visiting

The cash desks of the temple complex open at 5 am and work until 5:30 pm, at the same time tourists are allowed in here. According to official rules, all travelers must leave the territory of Angkor 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 in the setting sun.

The price of entry to Angkor varies depending on the number of days. There are three options in total:

• One day visit for $20;
• Three-day cultural education for $40;
• Seven-day walk through the temples for $60.

You can use a 3-day pass within a week of purchase, while a 7-day pass will be valid for a month. On the front side of such a ticket there should be your photo, it is made at the box office directly upon purchase.

Note! You can buy a day-to-day ticket only until 17:00, the remaining half an hour tickets are sold for the next day.

Structure of Angkor (Cambodia)

In the territory ancient city there are over 30 temples covering an area of ​​500,000 square meters. It is absolutely unrealistic to visit them all in one day, most often travel agencies and travelers who have visited this attraction of Cambodia are advised to spend three to five days walking around the temple complex.

Most popular route on Angkor it is designed for three days and is divided into visits to the temples of the small circle, the large 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 with a group, rent bikes or bikes. 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 digress to take a photo of Angkor Wat and other places.

small circle

These include those temples that every traveler must see - the most majestic, beautiful and valuable. The distance of the route is 20 km, designed 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 vast 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 is a temple-mountain, built in such a way that its five identical turrets 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.

No less interesting are the galleries of Angkor Wat, which can be viewed from above, climbing the stone stairs in the backyard. In total, 8 galleries with bas-reliefs were built on the territory of the temple, densely covering the walls. The most famous among them is the Hell and Heaven Gallery.

Advice! If you want to take a deserted photo of Angkor Wat, wait for the full sunrise and look into the backyard of the temple. At this time, all the tourists who met the dawn go to rest, and the newly arrived travelers disperse to the main parts of the complex.

angkor thom

This is another attraction on the must-see list in Cambodia, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and a majestic 13th-14th century city of over a million people. Its name explains its popularity in the modern world - "Great Angkor" really impresses with its scale, unusual architecture, harmony and magnificence.

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, the Terrace of the Elephants, several prasats, the Gate of Victory and unusual bridge with figures of gods and demons. The recommended time to visit this attraction is 3-4 hours.

Advice! Head to Bayon before sunrise to avoid crowds of tourists 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 movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and today bears the proud name of Angelina Jolie Temple. For seven centuries, this building played the role of a monastery and a university, where local residents received education and conducted scientific research.

Ta Prohm is several times smaller than Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom, there are no separate significant sights on its territory, they are all part of the temple itself. Thus, the galleries of Ta Proma are among the most interesting in the entire complex, as 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 wrap 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 survived to our times.

Millennium Mystery. Among the picturesque bas-reliefs of the temple there is an image of a dinosaur. Both scientists and tourists have been struggling with the question of what this ancient creature is doing on the walls of Ta Proma for more than a year.

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 temple-mountain, the construction of which was not completed because lightning hit the building, which was considered a bad sign) and Phnom Bakeng (temple in the rock , which offers a panoramic view of the whole of Angkor). The total duration of the 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 in the first place:

1. Banteay Kdey. It was built as a Buddhist temple, consists of many galleries, decorated with bas-reliefs.
2. Pre Rup. Temple-mountain, created in honor of the god Shiva.
3. Banteay Samre. It is distinguished by the grace of architecture and unusual carved walls. It was erected in honor of the ancient Indian god Vishnu.
4. Ta Som. A place for spectacular photographs showing the unity of nature and ancient buildings.

distant temples

This category includes several temple complexes located at a decent distance from the center of Angkor. You can only get there by taxi or rented car (do not take a bike or bicycle, otherwise you will get mired in the dust of Cambodian 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 worth visiting. At the entrance you will be met by unusual guards in the form of seven-headed snakes, and once 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 a great opportunity to see it as it was found at the end of the 19th century.

Important! The cost of visiting the temple is $ 5, not included in the general ticket for 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 of the complex due to:

• Your size. Banteay Srey is really miniature, 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 early in the morning;
• Handmade carvings and bas-reliefs that cover the walls of Banteay Srey.

On the territory of the temple there is a library, a central sanctuary, many statues. Recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours. Distance from Siem Reap - 37 km.

This place is sacred to all the inhabitants of Cambodia, because it was here that the country's independence was proclaimed 1200 years ago. Here is the famous statue of the reclining Buddha, the 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 rented car.

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A map of the city of Siem Reap showing landmarks, including Angkor Wat and some important infrastructure.

I saw an excellent aerial panorama of the world-famous Cambodian temple, was impressed, and decided to tell you more. But for starters, be sure to fly over this ancient structure anyway. Soak up the spirit of an ancient civilization. The huge temple with pointed towers is a miracle of symmetry. Symbolizes the sacred mountain from Indian mythology. Around the temple are moats, which symbolize the oceans washing the foot of the divine mountain. Angkor Wat is the largest temple complex in the world. It is interesting for its galleries, towers, pavilions and gates, richly decorated with stone carvings, but all of them are inferior in grandeur to the central temple.

In 1150, the gigantic Angkor Wat complex was erected in Cambodia. Most likely, the construction took about 30 years, so we can assume that Angkor Wat began to be built somewhere in 1110. The ruins of Angkor lie about 240 km northwest of the capital of Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) - the city of Phnom Penh, not far from the large lake Tonle Sap. Although, in theory, the temples of Angkor Wat are the place in India, as they are a typical example of Hindu architecture.
Clickable 3000 px Angkor Wat is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and serves as both a sanctuary and a tomb for Suryavarman himself. Angkor Wat for the Khmers, who ruled from the 9th to the 15th century in Cambodia, is something like a heavenly palace in which the spirit of kings can reside. In front of the temple is a moat 200 meters wide. During the rainy season, which in Cambodia can last up to 4 months, the moat is filled with water. In addition, several more lakes have been dug within the city. The only way to get inside is through the main portal in the wall that surrounds Angkor Wat in a 260 square kilometer area.
The temple itself is built from several platforms, following one after another. The first platform (180 by 180 meters) is 3.5 meters high, the second platform (110 by 115 meters) rises by 7 meters, and the third (75 by 75 meters) is 13 meters above the ground. All three terraces are surrounded by galleries with gable roofs. The towers are interconnected by absolutely symmetrical galleries. All buildings are symmetrically located. This is strange, because in ancient times the Khmers were not familiar with the laws of balance. All buildings in Angkor Wat are distinguished by the severity of lines and clarity. Lush jewelry does not match this. Each stone of the temple is covered with carvings or bas-reliefs. What is only the gallery of the first platform 600 meters long. There are 8 panels with a total area of ​​more than 1000 square meters. Most of all, scenes from the life of the gods are depicted. Lots of erotic motives. The most popular figure found here is the dancing goddess Apsara. In the center of the complex on the Bayon temple is depicted the face of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the main characters of Buddhist mythology. In addition to the images of the gods in the temples, there are historical paintings. For example, those that depict local rulers, warriors going to battle.
There are 5 main shrines in the temple. The first is located in a 60-meter tower, which can only be entered through gates, stairs and open courtyards. Around this tower are four more, where the remaining shrines are kept. There are more than 200 small temples in Angkor Wat.
Tourists usually start their journey through Angkor Wat from the western entrance. Climbing up a short flight of stairs to the first cross-shaped terrace guarded by giant stone lions, one enters a long sidewalk leading to the center of your journey. The gaze falls on the gopura (gopura - entrance, entrance in Hindu terminology) with three towers, the upper part of which is dilapidated. The shape of this gopura is so developed and elongated that it almost looks like a separate building. A long closed gallery, through which one has to pass, extends along the moat in both directions. This is the main facade of Angkor Wat. In the middle there is a passage narrow enough for the main entrance, and along the edges of the gallery you can go through huge arches located at ground level. Arches used to serve as passageways for elephants, horses and carts.
From the central entrance, the guides lead tourists to the right and lead them to the end of the gallery, paying attention to the windows with chiseled columns and skillfully carved bas-reliefs on the walls. At the end of the gallery you can see all five towers of Angkor.
In the courtyard, on the left and right, there are two small buildings - these are libraries. They, like all the buildings of Angkor Wat, have the shape of a cross. Behind the libraries there are two swimming pools (65×50 meters). The left one is always filled with rainwater, while the right one is usually dry. Standing in front of the left pool, you can clearly see the 10 towers of Angkor (five of them are reflected in the water).
Between the first and second levels of the complex there are cross-shaped passage galleries with square columns dividing the courtyard into four parts. Some columns are decorated with Khmer and Sanskrit inscriptions. All the rest of the free space is given over to elegant rosettes, cornices and bas-reliefs. In fact, there is no place that the carver's hand would not touch. Further up the stairs you can get to the gallery of the second level (100 × 115 meters). Its main feature is the image of more than 1500 sculptures of beautiful goddesses.
The next third, and last, level was allowed to visit only the king and the monks. Twelve stairs with 40 steps each - one in the center of each side and 2 at the corners - rise at a 70 degree angle to the most important level. The steps are very narrow, so you need to go up sideways, and go down with your back, that is, facing the steps.
Angkor Wat could not reach us. There were too many who wanted to destroy it, even after Angkor Wat was opened. Today, traces of shooting are visible on the walls of the temple. According to the political beliefs of the Khmer Rouge, the country needed to be freed from religious dependence, so numerous figures of the gods were beheaded. Now, after two decades, restoration work begins. Oddly enough, but this powerful complex was learned relatively recently - about 100 years ago. Lost in the Cambodian jungle near Tonle Sap Lake, the French traveler Charles Emile Buivo wandered for a long time among dense thickets, giant trees, frightened by predators and tortured by clouds of mosquitoes, but suddenly stumbled upon an ancient city. Prior to this, the existence of this complex was not even suspected. This is how Angkor Wat (“Capital Pagoda”) was “extracted from oblivion” - the pearl of the craftsmanship of the ancient Khmers, the world's largest religious building, erected in the middle of the 12th century, during the reign of King Suryavarman II.

The history of the Angkor period dates back to 800 BC, when the Khmer king Jayavaman II declared the independence of Kampuchea (Cambodia) from Java and founded the capital of the new state - the city of Hariharalaya, located in the north of Lake Tonle Sap. From that moment on, Jayavaman II was active in seizing the territories of neighboring states, and by 802 BC Kampuchea owns lands that now belong to China and Vietnam. In the same year 802, he declares himself a full-fledged ruler and creates a cult of worship of the god Shiva.

In 889, Yasovarman I ascends the throne and decides to start construction new capital- Yasodharmapura, which in Sanskrit means "holy city". Keeping the tradition, he also, like his predecessors, builds a huge reservoir. The construction of reservoirs was associated not only with the life and needs of the city, but also with the observance of the tradition, the roots of which go back to the myth of the sacred Mount Meru, surrounded by a great ocean. Mount Meru in religious construction was symbolized by a temple surrounded by water, and the lingam *, located inside the temple, symbolized the ruler, who was the viceroy of God on earth. Yasovarman I built his temple on the hill of Phnom Bokeng and surrounded it with a moat, which was filled with water from the reservoir he created. During his reign, Yasovarman I built many temples and carried out no less reforms.

Over the next 300 years, the great rulers of the Khmer Empire built many temple complexes, which, after many centuries, brought to us the story of the life of a great civilization. The last temple was erected during the reign of Jayavaman VII. After his death, centuries-old construction stopped.

It is known that already by the year 1000, during the period of its highest prosperity, the city occupied an area of ​​190 sq. km, which meant that he was largest city medieval world. The city of Angkor was the size of present-day Manhattan. On the vast expanse of its streets, squares, terraces and temples, 600,000 people lived, and in the vicinity of the city - at least a million more. The inhabitants of Angkor were the Khmers, who professed Hinduism, brought to Southeast Asia in the 1st century AD. e. The earliest references to Angkor in Cambodian chronicles date only to the 15th century. Unfortunately, there are no documents left from the most ancient people. They used a very fragile material as a record material that did not stand up to time. But the inscriptions carved in stone are of great historical importance, there are more than a thousand of them, most of them are made in Khmer and Sanskrit. It is not known how the complex was built - not a single source has survived, except for a legend that speaks of the divine origin of the city. According to this legend, Prince Preah Ket Mealea was a guest in heaven with the god Indra. He lived there in a beautiful palace. However, the heavenly dancers did not like the prince, and they begged God to return him to earth. In order not to offend Preah Ket Mealea, Indra ordered the heavenly architect Preah Pushnuk to build a palace-temple on earth exactly the same as the one in which the prince was visiting. So, according to legend, Angkor Wat was born.
It is absolutely certain that Angkor Wat was a thriving city. A completely incomprehensible reason - why did it turn into an abandoned city, where did all its inhabitants go? After all, the fertile soil gave three crops of rice a year, the Tonle Sap lake abounded with fish, and the dense forests - with various game. There are currently two main theories. According to the first, in 1171 the city was defeated by the Chams - the neighbors of the Khmers. And in 1431, the Thais finally finished off the already weakened people. But, then it is completely incomprehensible why the invaders did not occupy the reclaimed lands ...
There is a second theory, which is denied by the scientific world, as it is completely fantastic. It relies on a Buddhist legend: the emperor was so offended by the son of one of the priests that he ordered the boy to be drowned in the waters of Lake Tonle Sap. In response, the angry god brought the lake out of its banks and crushed Angkor along with all its inhabitants.
Angkor Wat is perhaps the largest religious building ever erected by man. It is much larger than any Muslim mosque, European cathedral, any pagoda or pyramid. However, despite all the historical and cultural value, the complex is threatened by a serious problem. Unfortunately, they do not want to take seriously the reconstruction of Angkor Wat, as it requires very high costs. But this historical monument of ancient culture is in a very deplorable state. The war that has been waged here for the past two decades, as well as the looting of temples by thieves, had very detrimental consequences for the monuments. But, in addition, the inexorably advancing jungle vegetation destroys the Angkor complexes, its stone buildings are covered with mosses and lichens.

To date, the Angkor temple complex is listed World Heritage UNESCO.

Interesting fact: all the temples of Angkor were built without the use of cement and any other binding materials. During the construction of temples, blocks of sandstone were most often used, which were interlocked according to the principle of a castle, and the fortress walls were laid out from tuff.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a 190 m wide moat. In the old days, crocodiles were bred in it. On the western side of the moat, a stone dam crosses, which is the entrance to the territory of the temple. The territory of Angkor Wat is walled with a length of 1025 m by 800 m. A long and wide road leads from the gate to the temple, laid along an embankment that rises almost one and a half meters above the ground.

Angkor Wat has survived much better than many other buildings of the Angkor complex, which is explained by the fact that after the last settlements left these places, Buddhist monks lived in Angkor Wat. They live here and now.

The complex was discovered on January 22, 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muo. In the 1970s, some of the buildings and sculptures of the complex were vandalized by Pol Pot's soldiers. In 1922, along with other buildings, the city of Angkor was taken under the auspices of UNESCO.

Bike - good idea to visit the temples. Of course, only if you intend to stay in Siem Reap for more than a day.

Most of the local population prefer this type of transport when they visit Angkor, which means you have the opportunity to be closer to the local population, which entails not only joy and pleasure, but more low prices for food and drinks on the territory of the temple complexes.

White Bicycles is a fairly large local bike rental company. They are supported by many hotels and guest houses, because the main percentage of their income goes to charity, in support of educational programs for children from low-income families.

Taxis are a fairly common option for traveling around temples. It is convenient for those who want to "touch" the treasures of Angkor, but prefer such trips in an air-conditioned car cabin. The negative side of such walks can probably be that you find yourself isolated from sounds, smells and many other delights.

The cost of one day taxi rental ranges from $25 to $35. Basically, the price depends on what time you plan to start walking around the temple complexes. If you prefer to meet the sunrise on one of the wonderful terraces of Angkor Wat, then the cost of renting a taxi will be higher.

Renting mopeds by foreigners in Siem Reap is prohibited by law. However, some manage to bring a moped from Phnom Penh. If you have found a way to rent a moped, then we strongly recommend that you leave it in paid parking lots, because. there is a huge possibility of theft or theft.

For those who want to get a bird's eye view of Angkor Wat, Angkor Balloon Company can offer you a trip in a balloon basket. The route is fixed and there is no possibility to change course, the flight altitude is about 200 meters above the ground. The cost of pleasure is $ 11 per person (up to 30 people are placed in the basket). Unfortunately, this type of travel is not always available due to weather conditions.
Elephant travel was at its peak in the early 20th century. It was on elephants that the first routes through the temples of Angkor were laid. Now, of course, everything is more civilized and put on the track of organized tourism. You can ride an elephant from Angkor Thom gate to Bayon temple. The cost of such a trip will cost you about $ 10. But in a place called Angkor Village, you can not only book an elephant ride, but even get a real lesson from professional mahouts. They will teach you how to sit on the elephant confidently and you will learn some commands to control the elephant. The cost of such a course is approximately $50. Popular with group travelers. The cost of renting a minibus with a driver (for 12 people) is approximately $50 per day.
Perhaps the most popular transport for moving around the Angkor complex. Rickshaw cabs are quite comfortable and an important bonus is that they can protect you from the rain. If you are lucky with a driver, he may turn out to be a good guide, and also, knowing the temporary flows of tourists on the main routes in the complexes, he can help you avoid the crowd of photographing and screaming people. The cost of renting a motor rickshaw ranges from $10 to $20 per day.
As we said earlier, walking is not the most convenient way to travel, and for good reason. Firstly, Angkor Thom is located 8 km from Siem Reap. Secondly, many picturesque temples are located at a distance of 15-10 km from Angkor Thom. It is also important to take into account the fact that after 11 am the sun is at its zenith and long walks can be a very serious burden on the body. However, if the facts described above did not scare you away, you decided to walk, then discover the road that lies behind the wall of Angkor Thom. This route will not only reveal little-known temples hidden in thickets of tropical trees, but will also give you the opportunity to enjoy the singing of birds and the music of the jungle.













By the way, literally in August 2014

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 of Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple in the world. 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 (Kambujadesh) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.

The empire reaches its heyday 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 of him. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, the masters were searched all over 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. When laying no solution was used.

In those distant times, 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 disrepair. People have left the city forever. Only the 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 buildings became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.

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At the beginning of the 17th century, the Portuguese and spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon the 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 (the end of the 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 merchants 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 was destroyed over time by the influence of wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned down by vandals during periods of hostilities. Roots and branches of trees 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 graduation civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been under the protection of UNESCO.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

The device and architecture of Angkor Wat

The temple is located in the center ancient city. Angkor Wat is 1.3 km long from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building of rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. In appearance, it is somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent the three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected from all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with the land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front side of the structure 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 using the services of a guide.

The entire territory of the temple has to be walked around, transport is prohibited here.

Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any side, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are interconnected by stairs, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The interior space thus formed is divided into numerous, square-shaped courtyards.

The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. Ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of outlandish animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.

The first tier is the largest, consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “plots” are the battles of the gods, the period of 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 made in the form of 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 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 to the towers of the second tier with the help of passages. Between them are four courtyards, which fill with water during the rainy season and serve as pools. The inner walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns through which courtyards-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between the windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.

At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language. Libraries are located on both sides on the second tier, each of which has four entrances.