Buzz
These sites are almost entirely covered by dense forest, still awaiting restoration to their former glory.
When mentioning the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, you immediately recall the famous structures of the Angkor complex like Angkor Wat, the Angkor Thom temple with its Bayon faces, Ta Prohm temple, Preah Khan, Pre Rup, or Ta Nei... However, a recent study by the American National Science Institute has revealed that the archaeological sites of the Khmer Empire extend even further to locations rarely visited by tourists.
Angkor once served as the capital of the Khmer Empire, constructed in 802 AD on Kulen Mountain. Lesser-known sites like Beng Mealea, 52 km from Siem Reap, or Koh Ker, located 120 km away, have recently been confirmed as part of the extensive Angkor city complex.
These new findings have altered the perspectives of historians and archaeologists regarding Angkor city. In accordance with these recent studies, Angkor is poised to become the largest ancient city in the world.
Beng Mealea is an ancient temple complex almost entirely shrouded by large tree roots and dense forests. Meanwhile, Koh Ker, even more remote and secluded, is still awaiting archaeologists to explore and restore its former grandeur.
Until now, the remote and challenging locations of these new heritage sites remain a hurdle for research and even for adventurous travelers. Only independent tourists, renting motorcycles for self-transportation, can find their way to these areas as hardly any tour focuses on these overlooked historical relics.
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Source: Travel Guide Mytour – By: Xzone
MytourJuly 3, 2013
