Angkor Wat and the lost temples of Cambodia: Discover the impressive Hindu constructions of the Khmer Empire.
You may remember the temples that served as a setting in the films 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' or 'In the Mood For Love'. If you thought they were simply decoration for the occasion, you are wrong! These are the magnificent Hindu constructions of the Khmer Empire located in the city of Siem Reap (in the homonymous province of Cambodia) specifically in the Angkor region, which houses successive capitals of the also called Angkorian Empire.
A piece of history declared a World Heritage Site that has become a tourist destination that welcomes millions of people every year, and without a doubt leaves more than one person completely impressed. If you are thinking of a destination full of history and adventure for your next trip, we recommend that you enjoy the wonders that this “lost” city offers.
But the journey starts right here!
Join us on this amazing adventure and discover a little more about what awaits you in Angkor, Cambodia.
A LITTLE HISTORY ABOUT ANGKOR, CAMBODIA
What adventurer wouldn't love to go out exploring one morning and return home having discovered a lost city?
According to legend, Heri Mahout (a French naturalist) returned home one day having “discovered” Angkor Wat in the 19th century: the main temple of the Angkor settlement in the city of Siem Reap (Cambodia), which had been almost completely covered and buried by the jungle.
It sounds like a story from a movie, and it probably is. The first visit to this temple by a Western explorer is known to have been documented in 1586, when Antonio da Madalena, a Portuguese Capuchin friar, arrived at Angkor. His recollections were later collected by the historian Diogo do Couto, who in turn inspired many other pioneers to visit the ruins and document them.
However, it was Heri Mahout's visit in 1860 that truly inspired popular visits to Angkor with his vivid descriptions and drawings that he left in his personal travel notebook, which would be published in Paris eight years later.
Finally, the largest religious complex in the world as we know it today was largely restored, preserving as many of its original elements as possible, and opened to the public. Today it is one of the most visited historical and tourist destinations annually, and a source of architectural inspiration that every adventurer should visit.
TOUR THE TEMPLES
- You will have to haggle a little over the prices of the so-called Tuk-tuk to get from the city to the temples, which will range between $20 and $30, or you can pay a little more for a taxi, for around $40 per day.
- Ticket prices may vary depending on the season and the number of days you buy (1, 3 or 7 days) to do the tour. They can range from $37 to $72 approximately. Remember that there are more than 1000 temples, so it is advisable to opt for a visit over several days. The tour can be done on your own or with tour groups.
- We must not forget that these are sacred places, so you must be very careful about what you wear. The regulations can be very strict in this regard, both for women and men.Your knees and shoulders must be covered with clothing in order to enter and walk around the site.
- Sunrises and sunsets are an essential part of the tour, so you should consider them and include them in the route within the temples.
- Keep your ticket at all times, as you may be asked for it again during the tour as part of the security protocol.
- It is very humid and sunny, so we recommend you bring water with you, a towel to help with sweating, and sunglasses to protect yourself during the trip.
- Finally, think about this place with so much architectural and archaeological wealth and iconic devouring roots that will leave you breathless. Get ready for an adventure trip that you will never forget and remember to bring a camera with you.
ANGKOR WAT
This complex contains many impressive temples, but the main and most important is undoubtedly the Angkor Wat archaeological site. It is perhaps the largest religious structure ever built, and served as a political and religious centre for the Khmer Empire in the 12th century.
This complex of more than 1,000 temples, tombs and palaces was created during the reign of Jayavarman II, glorifying the ancient kings of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to worship the Hindu gods.
From the moment you set foot in the temples of Angkor Wat, you can feel the historical richness in the atmosphere and every breath takes you back to a mysterious story, to a memory of the past that was once lived there and that you are now exploring with the hope of learning more.
Nature and humanity come together as one and merge into a new monument: sanctuaries and stone faces covered with roots and plants that demonstrate the power of nature to reclaim what is hers, leaving a reflection of what this civilization once was and lived.
Just 5.5 kilometres from the city of Siem Reap you can walk through the enigmatic corridors that make up and connect Angkor, which are a journey through time, all the time watched over by the "singhas" (temple guardians) and other mythological stone figurines that accompany us during the dusty and mysterious journey, such as the so-called "Apsaras" or divine nymphs.
It is true that you will need several days to complete the entire tour, but it is worth experiencing the interior and surroundings of these wonderful ruins, worthy of admiration.
The circuit formats vary within the site. You can opt for the so-called Big Tour or the Small Tour (long circuit and short circuit respectively), although the latter is not very “short”. If your tour guide allows it, you can choose to ask for the tour in the opposite direction to avoid crowds of tourists.
Angkor Wat has five towers, plus a central tower, which, according to Hindu mythology, is the very centre of the cosmic universe. They are also said to be aligned with the constellation Draco, just as the pyramids of Egypt are, in this case, with Orion.
"...a construction so extraordinary that it is not possible to describe it in writing, especially different from any other building in the world.It has towers, decoration and all the refinements that human genius can conceive" - Diogo do Couto
ACCOMMODATION AND FUN IN THE CITY
Siem Reap town is very tourist-friendly and has plenty of accommodation, restaurants and entertainment venues just 20 minutes from the temples.
You can find fairly affordable hotel options in the city that will uphold the name of its culture without breaking the bank.
We recommend you find a place to stay close to Pub Street in the city center, which is full of activities during the day and also has an excellent nightlife. This place is full of bars, food stalls, restaurants and shops to buy all kinds of souvenirs, even massage sessions. Don't worry, it will be very easy to get there by tuk-tuk if you can't find a place to stay close to the site.
Angkor is also known for its people and their friendly personality. Take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about other cultures that can enrich your own.
Both the city and the tour of the temples will make this experience an adventure to remember, and even repeat! Come and experience this extraordinary experience yourself.
