ANGKOR WAT   See Map of the Temples

Angkor Wat 

Angkor Wat is located about six kilometers (four miles) north of Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom.  Entry and exit to Angkor Wat can only be access from its west gate. 

Angkor Wat is the largest temple at the Angkor complex.  Constructed during the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is the supreme masterpiece of Khmer art.  It was built by Suryavaram II (1112-1152) to honor the Hindu god Vishnu, with whom the king was identified, and for eventual use as the king's burial site.  Entire books have been written about the temple, but even these valiant attempts at description fall far short of communicating the great size, the perfect proportions, and the astoundingly beautiful sculpture that everywhere presents itself to the viewer.  Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief's and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world.  This temple is an expression of Khmer art at its highest point of development.  Some believe Angkor Wat was designed by Divakarapandita, the chief adviser and minister of the king, who was a Brahmin with divine honors.  The Khmers attribute the building of Angkor Wat to the divine architect Visvakarman.  Construction probably began early in the reign of Suryavarman II and because his name appears posthumously in the bas relief's and inscriptions it is believed that Angkor Wat was completed after his death.  The estimated time for construction of the temple is about 30 years. Angkor Wat certainly ranks amongst the ten greatest structures of human civilization.  To approach via the long causeway, to amble about the sprawling courtyards, to ascend the towering central shrine, is to step for a short while into a realm of such grandeur, such unrestrained power that one's mind and soul are intoxicated with inspiration and infinite possibility.  Additional information concerning Angkor Wat.

FROM ANGKOR WAT TO ANGKOR THOM    See Map of the Temples

Ta Prohm-Kel

Phnom Bakheng 

Soon after Yasovarman I became king in 889 AD, he decided to move the capital north-west from Roluos, where his predecessor reigned, to the area today known as Angkor.  He named his new capital Yasodharapura, and build Bakheng as his state temple.  Yasovarman I built his state temple on a natural hill, Phnom Bakheng, 1300 meters north of the western entrance of Angkor Wat.  The temple of Phnom Bakheng is a mountain temple consisting of five square terraces of diminishing seize and a sixth terrace of even smaller seize which supports five shrines.  The terraces have staircases in the centre of each side.  At each level a pair of lions guard the staircase.  Miniature shrines are at the corners of the five lower terraces and in between the corners and the staircases.  The shrines on top of the temple are decorated with male and female guardians and ornamental posts The temple was cut from the rock that formed the natural hill and faced with sandstone.  Enjoy the sunset with a great view over the surrounding landscape. 

Baksei Chamkrong 

Baksei Chamkrong is another mountain temple, built by Harsavarman I in the early tenth century.  The decoration is thought to date from the reign of Rajendravarman.  The central shrine is built on three high plain terraces and one molded terrace functioning as base of the shrine.  Staircases on all four sides lead to the highest terrace.  The entrance of the shrine is in the east.  The other sides have false doors.

Thma Bay Kaek 

Prasat Bei 

ANGKOR THOM 

About one kilometer north of Angkor Wat is Angkor Thom, the royal town constructed during the reign of Jayavarman VII towards the end of the 12th century (about 400 years after the founding of the Angkor kingdom).  The quadrangular palace area, enclosed by a wall and a moat running three kilometers on each side, roughly compares to the forbidden city of Beijing. Angkor Thom was not built on open terrain.  Numerous buildings within the area, which after the construction of the wall and the moat became Angkor Thom, had already existed earlier, parts for centuries.  However, many older buildings had been partially or fully destroyed by a Cham armies when they occupied Angkor for some time. 

ANGKOR THOM - the external enclosure 

ANGKOR THOM - the prasat chrung 

ANGKOR THOM - the gates of Angkor Thom 

The stone causeway across the board moat surrounding the city of Angkor Thom with their unique gopuras, are one of the great sights at Angkor.  The Southern Gate is flanked by a row of 54 stone figures on each side - gods to the left and demons to the right - to make a total of 108 mythical beings guarding the gate to the city. 

The Bayon 

Angkor Thom is the inner royal city, built by the end of the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, shortly after Angkor had been conquered and burnt down by the Chams.  This inner royal city was built as a quadrangle and bordered by a 100-metres-wide moat and an 8-metres-high wall.  Angkor Thom is geometrically oriented: it covers an area which is an exact quadrangle; the sides of this quadrangle run exactly in North-South and East-West direction.  It can be entered via five roads leading to five gateways: two in the eastern city wall, and one in the northern, western and southern city walls.  The balustrades on either side of the road are shaped as the world snake, that plays a role in the mythical production of the water of life.  Demons carry the snake on the right side and gods on the left side.  Long avenues lead to the Bayon, the centre of the city. A gate opens exactly in the middle of each wall, connecting, through a bridge over the moat, the royal city with the outside.  Exactly in the center of Angkor Thom are the temple grounds of the Bayon. The temple grounds have puzzled archaeologists because they do not fit the Hindu religion as does Angkor Wat.  Therefore it is assumed that King Jayavarman VII introduced elements of the Buddhist faith into the religious system of Angkor, though it is assumed they were lost after his death. The palace area of Angkor Thom is located directly to the North of the Bayon.  Its basic features were laid out during the reign of King Suryavarman I, 150 years before the construction of Angkor Thom.  From the center of the palace complex rose the Heavenly Palace, Phimeanakas.  The king of the Khmer always used to spend the first part of each night in the uppermost part of this Heavenly Palace, where according to legend he had sexual intercourse with the sun queen. 

Monument 486 

THE ROYAL SQUARE - the terrace of the elephants & the terrace of the leper king 

These terraces probably supported wooden pavilions from where the king and his court sat and viewed the activities and the people assembled below. 

THE ROYAL SQUARE - tep pranam 

THE ROYAL SQUARE - prah palilay 

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - Phimeanakas 

The temple, located inside the Royal Palace compound, was the temple where King Rajendravarman II worshipped.  It must originally have been crowned with a golden pinnacle, as the Chinese traveler, Zhou Daguan, described it as the "Tower of Gold".  This temple is associated with a legend that tells of a gold tower inside the Royal Palace of Angkor the Great, where a serpent-spirit with nine heads lived.  The spirit appeared to the king disguised as a woman and the king had to sleep with her every night in the tower before he joined his wives and concubines in another part of the palace.  If the king missed even one night it was believed he would die. 

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - Baphuon 

Baphuon was built by Udayadityavarman II around 1060.  It had the structure of a mountain temple, but is now in a ruinous state.  Reconstructions have been undertaken and are again being undertaken.  A 200 meter long raised avenue leads to a gateway.  Baphuon is famous for its lively and delicate narrative reliefs.  A series of reliefs on the west side for instance shows a combat in front of a palace, Arjuna receiving a weapon from Siva, and another combat on a chariot.  Another relief shows the fight between Arjuna and Siva over a boar which both claim to have killed.

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - Prasats Suor Prat 

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - the Kleang - (South Kleang and  North Kleang) 

It is mainly believed that the two buildings have been storehouses.  But other sources are saying that these buildings have been reception halls for receiving foreign dignitaries. 

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - the monument to the east of the North Kleang 

THE ROYAL PALACE ENCLOSURE - Prah Pithu 

MONUMENTS ON THE SMALL CIRCUIT   See Map of the Temples

Monument 487 (Mangalartha) 

Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda 

Spean Thma 

The Hospital Chapel 

Ta Keo 

Ta Keo is one of the great temple-mountains at Angkor.  It was never completed and the reason is unknown, although the death of the king may well have had something to do with it.  One theory also suggests that work was halted because the temple was struck by lightning.  Had it been finished, Ta Keo, undoubtedly, would have been one of the finest temples at Angkor.  A gallery was situated on a second base and had a roof of brick (now destroyed) , also for the first time.  Enormous blocks of greenish - gray sandstone were cut to a regular size and placed in position.  The absence of decoration at Ta Keo gives it a simplicity of design that separates it from the other monuments. 

Ta Nei 

Ta Prohm 

Ta Prohm was the first monument built by Jayavarman VII in Angkor.  It was a monastery called Rajavihara (monastery of the king).  The principal image, an image of the Buddhist goddess of wisdom Prajnaparamita, was consecrated in 1186.  This temple was left untouched by archaeologists, except for the clearing of a path for visitors.  As a result the buildings are overgrown by trees and creepers.  Because of its natural state, it is possible to experience some of the wonder of the early explorers, when they came upon this monuments in the middle of the 19th century.  The monastic complex of Ta Prohm is one of the largest sites at Angkor.  A Sanskrit inscription on stone, tells us that it took 79,365 people to maintain the temple, including 18 high priest, 2,740 officials, 2,202 assistance and 615 dancers. 

Kutisvara 

Banteay Kdei 

Banteay Kdei is another temple founded by Jayavarman VII.  Gateways characteristic for the reign of Jayavarman VII give entrance to this temples complex, which is aligned on an east-west axis. "The citadel of the cells".  The temple was build as a Buddhist monastic temple but it is unknown to whom was this temple was dedicated as the inscription stone has never been found.  During the Pol Pot area the temple was used as a hospital. 

Srah Srang 

Srah Srang is a lake excavated in the mid-tenth century.  Later Jayavarman VII had a terrace built at the western end of the lake.  Lions and balustrades ending in many-headed nagas (mythical snakes) decorate the terrace. 

Prasat Kravan 

Temple of the Koh Ker time, 921-944.  Although this temple looks small and somewhat undistinguished from the outside, it contains some remarkable brick sculptures on its interior walls which stand alone as unique examples in Khmer art.  The interiors of two of the five towers have sculptures depicting Vishnu and his consort, Lakshmi; the scene in the central tower is the most impressive one, but both are exceptional in stature and quality of workmanship.  This temple was reconstructed by the French and given a new foundation, interior walls and drains.  Much of the external brickwork was replaced with carefully made reproductions which are marked with the letters CA (Conservation D'Angkor). 

MONUMENTS ON THE GRAND CIRCUIT -  See Map of the Temples

Pre Rup 

Pre Rup was called the "City of the East" by Philippe Stern, the Assistant Curator of the Musee Guimet in Paris.  The boldness of the architectural design is superb and gives the temple fine balance, scale and proportion.  The temple is close in style to the East Mebon, although it was build several years later.  It is a temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru. Pre Rup was Rajendravarman's state temple, built in 961.  It consists of two enclosures with gateways at all four sides, a pyramidal structure, and five shrines on top.  The two lower terraces are of laterite, the third upper terrace is of sandstone.  The shrines are of brick.  The entrances in the east and the false doors in the other sides are of sandstone.  The false doors are delicately sculptured.  Molded pillars are on either side.

Prasat Leak Neang 

Eastern Mebon 

The East Mebon and its neighbor Pre Rup were build by the same king, King Rajendravarman II, just nine years apart, and are similar in plan, construction and decoration.  A major difference, however, is that the East Mebon once stood on a small island in the middle of the Eastern Baray, which was a large body of water (2 by 7 km) fed by the Siem Reap river.  The only access was by boat to one of the four landing platforms, situated at the mid-points on each of the four sides of the temple.  Today, the baray, once a source of water irrigation, is a plain of rice fields and the visitor is left to imagine the original majesty of this temple in the middle of a large lake. 

Ta Som 

Krol Ko 

Neak Pean 

"The Entwined Naga".  Build by Jajavarma VII as an island, 350 meter square, at the center of the baray of Preah Khan, at the center which a large square basin has its center a circular basin at each side are connected by gargoyles which disgorge into small sanctuaries in a form which replicates the sacred lake of Anavatapta in Himalaya, venerated for his power of healing. 

Prasat Prei 

Banteay Prei 

Prah Khan 

Built by Jajavarma VII in memory of his father.  It is a royal city forming a rectangle of 700 by 800 meters surrounded by a moat and similar to Ta Prohm, but with only four enclosures.  Opening to the east to a baray (at the center of which is Neak Pean) via terrace originally used as a boat landing.  The large stele, discovered in 1939, tells us that the temple was dedicated to kings father.  It also refers to the small stone building within the fourth enclosure to the east as "a house of fire" - perhaps for visiting pilgrims.  The many holes in the central tower could perhaps have been used to fix a bronze paneling. Preah Khan probably functioned as a Buddhist university.  The principal image, an image of the bodhisattva Lokesvara, was inaugurated in 1191. 

Krol Damrei 

MONUMENTS BEYOND THE CIRCUITS   See Map of the Temples

Banteay Srei 

The enchanting temple of Banteay Srei is nearly everyone's favorite site.  The special charm of this temple lies in its remarkable state of preservation, small size and excellence of decoration.  It was build by a Brahmin of royal descent who was a spiritual teacher to Jayavarman V.  A special feature of the exquisite decoration was the use of a hard pink sandstone. 

Banteay Samre 

Built by the great king of Suryavarman II.  There are no indications of the date of construction.  But mainly it is said that it is build in the mid 12th century.  The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers.  The proportions of this temple are splendid. 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Bakong 

A temple mountain enclosed by a laterit wall and two moats, the outer of which measures about 900 by 700 meters.  The third such a temple after Ak Yum and Rong Cheng and the first to make extensive use of sandstone.  The stele tells of the foundation of the linga (a stone phallus, representative of Shiva) in 881 AD.  The brick towers have finely detailed sandstone elements and some remnants of stucco molding.  The central sanctuary in the Angkor Wat style, which was probably built two centuries after the main temple, was resurrected from a pile of rubble between 1936 and 1943.   The Bakong is one of the earliest so-called mountain temples.  It consists of five square terraces of diminishing size and functioned as the state temple of Indravarman I, who established the linga Sri Indresvara on top of the pyramidal structure in 881.  The present central shrine on top of the terraces was built almost two and a half centuries later. 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Prah Ko 

Preah Ko consists of six temples in two rows of three which are standing on a common base.  All temples have the entrance in the east.  Beautifully sculptured lintels are found over the entrances and floral scroll motifs decorate the entrance posts.  The images of the temples were inaugurated by Indravarman I in 879.  They are the deified forms of Jayavarman II, of the maternal grandfather and of the father of Indravarman I and of their principal wives.  The funerary temple of king Jayavarman II and his predecessors, enclosed within a moat of 400 by 500 meters.  The foundation stele (an inscribed monolith) tells of the genealogy of Indravarman I, with reference to the cult of the king, and the foundation date of three statues of Shiva and Devi in 879 AD.  The other face of inscription dates from 893 AD under the reign of Yasovarman I and describes certain dedications.  The temple still has a large area of molded stucco remaining intact. 

THE ROLUOS GROUP- Lolei 

 

Lolei is worth a visit just for its exquisite carvings and inscriptions which some consider to be the finest of the Roluos Group.  To appreciate the setting of this temple you must imagine that the temple was originally located in the centre of a great Baray (water reservoir).  According to an inscription found at the temple, the water in this pond was for use at the capital of Hariharalaya and for irrigating the plains in the area.  Yasovarman I built this sanctuary consisting of four temples in the centre of the lake made by his father.  The sanctuary was consecrated in 893.  The temples were dedicated to his deceased parents and his deceased maternal grandparents.  At present the two temples on the left are in ruins.  The two temples on the right, the one behind the other, are still standing.  The entrances are in the east.  The inside walls of the entrances contain foundation inscriptions.  Guardians occupy niches on either side of the entrance and on either side of the false doors of the northern, southern, and western outside walls.  Those of the front temples are male; those of the rear temples are female. 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Phnom Krom 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Phnom Bok 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Western Baray 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Prasat Ak Yom 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Western Mebon 

THE ROLUOS GROUP - Beng Mealea