Buzz
The Angkor Wat temple complex is one of the world wonders and a renowned tourist destination in Cambodia. Every year, it attracts thousands of international visitors to explore and discover. If you travel to Cambodia without visiting Angkor Wat, you're missing out on 50% of the meaningful experience of your trip. So, what makes this place so fascinating? Let's dive into the Angkor Wat complex and unravel its unique aspects with Vntrip.vn.
Image of Angkor Wat temple
Introduction to the Angkor Wat Temple Complex
Angkor Wat Temple Complex is the most famous tourist destination in Cambodia. It's also one of the seven wonders of the world recognized by UNESCO. It can be said that this is the greatest legacy that the Khmer people have left for posterity.
Located about 6 km north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat Temple was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. The entire complex covers over 248 square miles (400 km2), surrounded by a deep and wide moat. Originally designed for Hindu worship, Angkor Wat later transitioned to Buddhism due to the strong influence and development of Buddhism.
In the past, when the Khmer kings were defeated and retreated to Phnom Penh, the temple gradually became covered by dense forest and forgotten. It wasn't until 1860 that a French explorer named Henri Mouhot rediscovered and unveiled this magnificent Angkor Wat temple.
The entire architectural complex boasts remarkable ancient carvings. The towers, courtyards, bas-reliefs, and extensive corridors are all made of sandstone, stacked naturally on top of each other, even on the vaults. The stone decorations depicting Buddha statues, apsaras, warriors, and lotus flowers illustrating the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are vivid and graceful.
The architecture of the temple mimics the majestic Mount Meru of India, with the central tower reaching up to 65 meters symbolizing the legendary Mount Meru, surrounded by five towers corresponding to the five peaks. This entire structure is built of sandstone and laterite. All these large stone blocks are stacked on top of each other without any binding material or reinforced concrete.
The Angkor archaeological site is a source of pride for the Cambodian people. The two main temple complexes are Angkor Wat (meaning 'Temple City') and Angkor Thom (meaning 'Great City'). These are two of the five most famous temples in the complex that you should visit first if you're short on time.
5 Mysterious Temples within the Complex
The Angkor archaeological site, a highlight of Cambodian tourism, is divided into five main areas with unique architecture creating magnificent scenery that attracts tourists: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, Little Circuit, Big Circuit, Roluos group, and outer temples.
Exploring Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Angkor Wat stands as the most magnificent temple in the entire complex, with its main entrance facing west directly toward the setting sun. Angkor Wat comprises 398 rooms connected by a 1,500-meter-long corridor. Above, five interconnected towers rise in three-tiered architecture, with the tallest tower reaching 65 meters in height and the four subsidiary towers standing at 40 meters. The pathway leading to the main gate of Angkor Wat is also made of sandstone, extending 230 meters in length, nearly 10 meters in width, and elevated 5 meters above the water level of the surrounding moat.
The entire temple complex retains ancient traces with numerous stone carvings, including massive bas-reliefs, columns, doors, ceilings, walls, corridors, balustrades, and roofs, all exuding extraordinary power and the skilled craftsmanship of ancient Khmer artisans.
Angkor Thom served as the mighty capital territory of ancient Khmer. Angkor Thom boasts prominent temples and structures such as the Bayon Temple, the Baphuon Temple, the Phnom Bakheng Temple atop the hill, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King, and its five grand gates leading into Angkor Thom.
Among them, Bayon Temple leaves the most impressive impression on travelers, completely captivating them with its pristine and vibrant beauty. The temple is comprised of 50 stone towers, forming a complex architectural ensemble built in a terraced style with 16 intermediate-ranking towers and numerous smaller towers interconnected.
Little Circuit
Big Circuit
Big Circuit - this area also features a structure known as Preah Khan Temple, similar to Ta Prohm Temple: stone walls intertwined with ancient tree roots. Additionally, within the Big Circuit lies an ideal sunset viewing spot, Pre Rup Temple, offering a memorable experience for visitors to Angkor Wat.
Roluos Group
The Roluos Group comprises remarkable ruins belonging to the ancient city of Hariharalaya, dating back even further than Angkor. Among them, Bakong Temple stands out with its pyramid-like architecture.
Outlying Temples
Outlying Temples - this area lies quite far from the central area of the Angkor Wat complex but features some of the most unique and distinctive structures. Banteay Srei Temple is primarily constructed from red sandstone, a material that adds color to the intricate carvings on its walls, still visible today.
Banteay Srei Temple (photo by the author)
Kbal Spean Ruins, also known as the 'River of a Thousand Lingas' (lingas are symbols of worship in the ancient civilization of the Indus Valley), feature stone carvings submerged beneath the waters of a stream within a well-defined area amidst the forest.
Linga symbols at Kbal Spean Ruins (photo by the author)
Beng Mealea Temple is a ruin closely intertwined with nature, with various plant species thriving on ancient architecture, creating a refreshing yet solemn atmosphere.
Ancient ambiance at Beng Mealea Temple (photo by the author)
Phnom Krom Temple sits atop a hill offering views of the Tonle Sap Lake.
Hilltop setting - Phnom Krom Temple (photo by the author)
How Did the Khmer Build the Temples?
Recent discoveries by scientists have unveiled the unique method ancient Khmer used to construct Angkor Wat temple at a pace far exceeding expectations.
Initially, it was believed that each stone block was transported along a winding route of 55 miles (88km) over land, river, and lake. This arduous journey of stone transportation would take at least 5 days: from the quarry to a river leading to Tonle Sap Lake. They would then be ferried down the Siem Reap River and later hauled up to the construction sites at Angkor Wat.
Using satellite imagery, modern-day scientists have discovered that back then, a 21-mile (approx. 34km) canal was dug to transport 1.6-ton stone blocks from the quarry to Angkor in just 10 hours.
Upon surveying this area, they discovered some remaining channels still holding water, while many others had disappeared over the years due to drying up or being encroached upon by the surrounding forest.
The survey team also uncovered large, square-cut stone blocks at various locations along the canal, likely fallen into the water during transportation by barges or deposited on the banks for some reason. The network of canal channels runs from the stone quarry area at the foot of Kulen Mountain, where ancient archaeologists found that this was the type of stone used in building Angkor Wat temple.
This discovery helps explain how a colossal temple like Angkor Wat, constructed with 5,000,000 tons of stone in just 35 years, despite calculations suggesting it would take hundreds of years using the primitive technologies available at the time.
Interesting Facts About Angkor Wat You Might Not Know
Angkor Wat translates to 'City of Temples' or simply 'Temple City.'
Angkor Wat is the primary reason for over 50% of international tourists visiting Cambodia. The Cambodian people take great pride in their architectural marvel, and it has been depicted on the country's flag since 1850.
Built during the early 12th century (between 1113 and 1150), Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world.
Originally, Angkor was constructed to honor the Hindu god Vishnu, not the current king.
The sandstone, a type of rock used to construct Cambodia's national monuments, weighs at least 5 tons and is transported from a quarry 25 miles away.
Most of the funds for restoring Angkor Wat are sponsored by international funds. Only about 28% of the ticket sales are reinvested in the temple.
One of Angkor's temples, Ta Prohm, famous for its giant overgrown trees collapsing parts of the temple, was used as a filming location for the blockbuster movie Tomb Raider. During the 7 days of filming, the film crew had to pay $10,000 each day. Unfortunately, too many tree roots grew beyond control and risked toppling Ta Prohm, so many tree branches had to be cut to preserve the temple.
Ta Prohm Temple with giant tree roots (image captured)
Khmer bricks are bonded together with a colorless mixture made from plants but not mortar.
Angkor Wat Temple is oriented unusually to the West, a direction considered as the direction of death in Hindu culture. What archaeologists and scholars don't understand is why ancient builders chose to go against the 'norms' of that time.
Travel Tips for Angkor Wat Temple
Tourists need to purchase tickets at the entrance (About 2km from the main temple area) to visit the Angkor Wat temple complex. There are currently 3 types of tickets available: one-day pass, three-day pass, and seven-day pass. If you have limited time, you can choose the one-day pass for about $37. However, with just one day, you definitely can't explore all the highlights of this temple. The three-day pass costs $62 and the seven-day pass costs $72, which are more suitable options for those who have more time to explore and discover the mysteries of this temple.
New ticket prices have increased compared to the old prices (photo collection)
Once you have the ticket, you can freely explore this temple complex during the opening hours from 5:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Angkor Wat Temple has a rather special location, being the only temple in the complex facing due west. You will surely be amazed when admiring this temple at sunrise and sunset.
If you want to buy souvenirs when visiting Angkor Wat temple, the best choice for you is the paintings depicting Buddhism and Angkor, which are sold abundantly along the way. These are unique souvenirs with the distinct characteristics of this region.
Paintings at Angkor Wat (photo collection)
Another important note in the experience of visiting Angkor Wat temple is the attire. This is a sacred place so you need to dress respectfully and neatly. You should wear long clothes, avoid short outfits, tight-fitting or torn clothes,… If your attire does not comply with the regulations, the guards here may ask you to leave the temple.
One last thing is that there are still minefields in Cambodia from the war era. Therefore, you should never stray from the main paths to ensure your safety and preserve the landscape of Angkor Wat temple.
Above are some experiences of visiting Angkor Wat temple - a world wonder, and some unique things you may not know. Wishing you a meaningful and memorable trip.
