Siem Reap, Cambodia, February 11th 2024
Today we visited to the magnificent temple complexes of Angkor Wat and the ruins of Angkor Thom, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, around five kilometers from Siem Reap. Given the vastness of the temple area, it was great to have a car with a guide accompanying us throughout the day.
The ruins and temples are beautifully situated in an area surrounded by jungle and a moat, creating a peaceful and elevated atmosphere – truly like stepping into a different world.
Our journey started at the 12 km-long city wall by the beautiful south gate and moat of Angkor Thom, where the greenery remains vibrant even in the dry season. Angkor Thom, meaning «the great city,» was the largest city of the Khmer Empire, and its wall was built in the late 12th century.
The bridge over the moat was guarded by demons, where some of the had been restored.
Our next stop was one of the main temples, Bayon. Our visit coincided with Chinese New Year, so there were a number of worshippers as well in the complex when we were there. How great to see that the temple complex is still religiously important to many people.
We then proceeded to the 350-meter-long Elephant Terrace, where we could imagine how the king would oversee his troops and enjoy various ceremonies. The terrace is adorned with many carvings of elephants in sandstone.
Finally, we explored the famous Ta Prohm temple, known for the stunning sight of large, beautiful trees growing amidst the temple structures, appearing seamlessly integrated. This is the so-called «Tomb Raider» temple, named after the scenes shot there for the blockbuster film featuring Aangelina Jolie.
To avoid the hottest part of the day, we were driven to a local restaurant for a lunch break. After a well-deserved rest, we embarked on the exploration of one of the world’s largest religious monuments and Cambodia’s best-preserved temple – Angkor Wat.
Most are left speechless at the sight of this spectacular temple, rising in three levels with five towers resembling lotus flower buds at its crown. Inside the temple’s inner areas and arched corridors, endless reliefs and marvelous carvings awaited our admiration.
From the temple’s upper level, a breathtaking view of the surroundings unfolded.
As the sun started to descent on the temple we reflected on the day’s incredible impressions that will remain etched in our memories – truly a unique and remarkable site!
This blog post is part of the Indochina trip 2024 – see other blogs from the same trip
Pellereiser 