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What's the history
here?
For several centuries, Angkor controlled the greater part
of Southeast Asia, inhabiting over one million people in its
prime. Even though Cambodia is mostly Buddhist today, the
ideas of the Hindu religion served as the
foundation for the building of Angkor. The evidence of this
religious influence can be seen today in both the stone god
carvings and the layout of the temples themselves mimicking
that of the Hindu universe. Over 100 temples of Angkor were
commissioned over the years by successive kings and are the
only buildings that remain of the lost city today.
Angkor was built by the Angkorian god kings who ruled the
region for more than 500 years, from 802AD to the mid-1300s.
Spanning 81 hectares, the vast complex incorporated more than
60 temples and had five main towers, which are now depicted
on the Cambodian flag. The towers are thought to have represented
the five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of
the Hindu gods and the temples were encircled by moats, which
represented the ocean surrounding the mountain.
King Suryavarman II, who reigned from 1113 to 1152, was responsible
for the Temple of Angkor Wat, a huge pyramid
shaped structure which was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu.
The Temple contained some of the most beautiful examples of
Khmer and Hindu art, though sadly it has been repeatedly ransacked
throughout history and artifacts are still circulating on
the illegal international art market.
By the mid-15th century, Angkor had been abandoned. Phnom
Penh became the new capital and the site crumbled
into obscurity until its 'discovery' in 1860. The cause of
Angkor Wat was taken up by the French, who invested 40 years
of technical expertise in preventing further deterioration
of the site, however, their grand plans were halted first
by the Khmer Rouge guerrillas, who occupied the site and used
it as a munitions dump for the duration of the civil war,
and later by the Vietnamese.
Restoration work was resumed in 1986, and these days thousands
of pilgrims and tourists flock to the religious centre every
year. Siamese Buddhist monks still occupy part of Angkor,
and their presence has been a major factor in the preservation
of the site. In 1992 Angkor Wat was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage site.
What's there to see
and do?
The city of Angkor Thom covers an area of
7 square miles and is encircled by a moat. The most important
monuments, the Bayon, the Baphuon,
the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas and the
Terrace of the elephants, are located at the centre
of the city.
You could spend all day at this temple alone but it is worth
venturing out to see the other equally impressive temples
such as Ta Prohm and The Bayon.
Ta Prohm ranks alongside Angkor Wat as one of the most popular
attractions at Angkor. It has been deliberately (and controversially)
neglected by preservationalists and looks rather like the
entire complex must have appeared to the French explorers
of the 19th century: overgrown, devoured by the jungle foliage
and steeped in mystery.
The magnificent Angkor Wat temple is undisputedly
the highlight of any visit to Angkor. Facing west in the direction
of death, its primary function was once thought to have been
as a tomb. It's a fantastic place from which to view the sunset,
and the famous bas reliefs and decorative embellishments continue
to elicit wonder, even on repeat visits.
Travellers tips
- In order not to be completely wiped out by the end of the
day, hire a bike and ride throughout the luscious landscape,
stopping at places that seem interesting and generally taking
in the stunning views.
- A day pass to Angkor will set you back $20 US and the best
way to avoid the throngs of tourist buses is to arrive early
and find your way to the side entrance.
- Take a torch with you if you plan to go for sunrise or sunset.
Climbing or descending the steep, uneven temple steps in the
dark can prove to be quite tricky! |
