Cambodia abandoned city of Angkor. Angkor, Cambodia: description, photos and reviews. The cost of tickets to nearby temples of Angkor

Thousands of people from all over the world travel to the Kingdom of Cambodia to see the unique temple complex Angkor Wat. We were no exception and visited Angkor with pleasure. The scale of the structures, as well as the fact that it was built as a Lego constructor, is impressive. Today we will briefly tell you what we saw, what we felt and show our photos of Angkor Wat. To explore the temple complex of Angkor, you can take a car, tuk-tuk or bicycle. We chose the second option, hired a tuker for the whole day for $20, on the condition that he would show both the large and small circles.

How much is the entrance to Angkor Wat - $ 20 per person. You can buy a subscription for 3 days ($40) and for a week ($60).

We arrived at the box office around 9 am. There are not many people. They paid twenty. They took a picture of us with a webcam and issued tickets. Tuk-tuk driver and his chariot drive free

To the temple from the ticket office to go no more than 5 minutes along the lake

Historic temple Angkor Wat

First stop on our journey main temple Angkor - Angkor Thom.

Angkor Wat Cambodia

Angkor Temple in Cambodia looks like this

Historic temple Angkor Wat

Before entering, you can look back at the alley and imagine how many centuries ago proud Khmers walked along it in national clothes and monks.

We go into the main building.

Angkor Wat Cambodia photo inside the temple

We overheard one of the guides and learned that these are the pools in which the royals bathed at the entrance to the temple.

Angkor temple complex

Having passed a string of corridors and passages, we finally find ourselves in the heart of this wonderful temple.

This is what Angkor Wat looks like

The spectacle is amazing! By the way, this corner is a good photo point. We need to imprint together. We caught some tourist with a large lens around his neck, believing that he understands photography and will take a good picture. I don't think we were wrong. Tip: If possible, ask someone to take a picture of you with a large camera. More chances to get a good shot than to ask an aunt with a soap dish, photographing everything around her.

It's good that we came to Angkor Wat on our own without a tour. We do not need to rush anywhere, you can sit anywhere for as long as you want. While admiring the temple, it was very funny to watch a Russian couple who came with a guide. He told them something from the story for a couple of minutes, and then uttered the signature excursion phrase: « so, now we quickly take pictures and p-o-b-e-g-a-l-i.

From this point you have a great view.

Too bad you can't climb the stairs. The passage to the third floor is open only on certain days of the lunar calendar.

There are many tourists. International. As usual, Asian faces dominate, but Russians are also not uncommon.

And this comrade was the star of Angkor. He was photographed by tourists of all nationalities

Photo: Angkor Cambodia

Photographers with professional cameras were not seen this time, so they asked to take a picture of a guy passing by, who turned out to be Russian. It turned out well too.

Monkeys run along the road in this place. You can grab something from breakfast at the hotel to feed them.

By the way, I was pleasantly surprised that in such a place there are no merchants who offer to buy food for monkeys from them.

Then we went towards the exit, where our tuk-tuker was waiting for us to take us to other temples. In general, a walk through the territory of the main temple took us about 2 hours.

On the way back we admired the ancient bas-reliefs. Some of them are well preserved.

Finding our tuker was not easy. We agreed that he would be waiting for us at the tuk-tuk stand opposite the exit. We walked around it three times and looked at all the neighboring cafes. Our driver is nowhere to be found. Other tuks drove up to us several times and offered their services. We refused. Thoughts have already crept into my heads, what if this is such a scam on an excursion to the Angkor temple, the meaning of which is that you do not find your driver and go with another, and then the first one comes to your hotel in the evening and asks for money, like, I was standing where agreed, you didn't find me... At some point we met a French couple who also couldn't find the driver. We laughed together and went to look further. Bad thoughts were driven away. And after 20 minutes the driver found us. He said he went to eat. Okay, let's move on!

Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a temple complex, not a separate temple. The city of Angkor occupies a vast territory, all the temples are several kilometers apart from each other. That is why, in addition to tickets, you need to take transport. The excursion will be conducted by any taxi driver (tuk-tuker) in Siem Reap. On foot in one day you can only go through the main temple.

After passing the bridge with the heads of the Buddha and the northern gate, we drove up to another big temple. It is located a couple of kilometers from the Angkor Thom Temple.

The best part is that you can climb everywhere and touch everything. No one shushes you like in a museum.

The faces of the Buddha are depicted on the towers

It would probably be very scary to get lost at night in the maze of corridors and passages.

For $1, you can light an aroma stick and tie a red string around your wrist.

We wandered around the temple and went out into the street.

The bas-reliefs of this temple are predominantly women.

Descending through the side exit

We need to walk to the next temple. He is 5 minutes away. Looking back to admire this temple again

And here is the next one. People walk across the bridge towards it.

Here you can go up to the second and third floors.

If you are afraid of heights, then I do not advise climbing. The stairs are very steep and the height is impressive. Going down will be very scary.

Then we went to the tuk-tuk parking lot. Our driver was found immediately. We bought water right at the parking lot - 2 bottles of 0.5 for $ 1. The price is very affordable

Now we're heading for another jungle temple

Judging by the fact that there are much fewer tourists here, we realized that these are temples of the large circle of Angkor Wat.

In these parts, trees grow right on the walls. An unforgettable sight

And again endless transitions

Further along the way, we saw several more small temples, as well as one of medium size, which we remember because trees also grow in it right on the buildings and gradually destroy them with their huge roots.

From so many mystical ancient ruins, the head was already spinning. Therefore, we looked at the last temples quickly. Still, it is very difficult to master the temples of a large circle in one day.

We returned to the hotel happy, but tired, dirty, dusty and hungry.

Our vehicle looked something like this:

Our expenses for 1 day at Angkor Wat

We spent only $61 on the tour. Inspected the temples of Angkor: from 8.30 am to 17 pm.

Entrance tickets: $20 x 2 = $40
Tuk-tuk for the whole day in a large circle: $ 20
2 bottles of water: $1

Positive points

I was very pleasantly surprised that in such a world-famous attraction there are no bred, molested, Bedouins, merchants and beggars. Those who have been to will understand me. At most, at the entrance they may ask if you need a guide.
There is not a single point of sale in the temples of Angkor Wat. The exception was the most distant temples, in which one could see 1-2 merchants with magnets or paintings. But they did not grab anyone by the hand and did not shout to the whole street. You can buy souvenirs, water or something to eat only outside near the tuk-tuk parking lot.
Prices for water and food are quite low for such a touristic place.
The walls of the temples are not painted with inscriptions and drawings. Although no one is watching the visitors, the guards are only at the entrance to check tickets.
It seemed to me that Angkor Wat is one of those places that has not yet been spoiled by tourists. Or maybe the contingent of vacationers in Cambodia is a little different than we are used to.

How to get to Angkor Wat

Angkor is a 5 minute drive from the city. To visit Angkor, you need to hire a taxi driver. In the city, taxis and tuk-tuks to Angkor are offered at every step, on the streets you can find various travel agencies with signs in the windows “excursion to Angkor Wat”. It is most reliable to order a tuk-tuk at the reception of your hotel.

Hotels in Siem Reap

Tropical Breeze Guesthouse
Where is the temple of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In the city itself, to visit Angkor, you need to hire a taxi driver or take a tour. Since the temple complex is located outside the city. You can also take a bike, but in the heat, riding long distances will not be much fun. You can come to Siem Reap both by land, for example, by bus from Bangkok or Phnom Penh, or by plane. Siem Reap has an airport.

Angkor Wat on the map

Angkor is a temple city of the Khmer Empire, located on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake. Although Angkor was never included in the list of the New Seven Wonders, visit ancient capital Khmer is the cherished dream of many travelers. But what do we know about Angkor? In our review, the past and present of the Khmer sacred city, as well as a story about the main temples of Cambodia.

HOW DID ANGKORE APPEAR?

Some things in this world never change. Ruins are known to ancient city Angkor is located in the center of modern Cambodia. It is curious here that in ancient times Angkor was not only the political and religious, but also the geographical center of the Khmer empire, so it turns out, whatever one may say, holy city regardless of historical upheavals, it was and remains the center of the country.

The name Angkor is translated as "city", and the Khmers built their sacred city in a special place. It is located between Mount Phnom Kulen and the Great Lake, and the Siem Reap River flows through it. The Khmers saw magical symbolism in the arrangement of rivers, lakes and mountains. Phnom Kulen was considered a kind of personification of Mount Mahendrapura, where, according to legend, Shiva lived, and the Siem Reap River was associated with the sacred river Ganges, and, by the way, according to legend, it was in this area of Cambodia that the goddess Ganga descended from heaven, entangled in Shiva's hair.

Angkor was built from the seventh century AD to the twelfth approximately according to the following scheme. The first temple complex was erected here by Emperor Indravarman the First in 881 AD. The example turned out to be contagious, after Inravarman, each successive Khmer ruler decided to build a temple in Angkor.

Ashrams, swimming pools, clinics and houses of ordinary people have always appeared near the temples. By the way, the size of Khmer houses strictly obeyed the hierarchy that existed in society - the lower the social status, the smaller the dwelling should be.

Most of the houses of ordinary citizens were wooden with a thatched roof, which is why none of these structures have survived to this day.

Due to the fact that each new emperor erected another temple complex in Angkor, the center of the city was constantly shifting depending on which temple was considered the main one here at one time or another. In the end, the territory of Angkor grew up to 200 kilometers.

Thus, from about the tenth century AD to the end of the fifteenth century, Ankor was a million-plus city, while it was not only religious, but also political capital Khmer Empire, which dominated at that time in South-East Asia.

Unfortunately, in the fifteenth century the city was captured by the Siamese. After the looting and the epidemic that happened here a little later, Angkor was empty. Soon the city was completely swallowed up by the jungle, and many Khmer temples were rediscovered by archaeologists only in the nineteenth century.

THE FLOWERING OF THE HINDU ANGKOR

Angkor flourished in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Of course, many of the local temples are much older, but the most beautiful of the surviving ones (including the legendary Angkor Wat) were built during this period.

In the photo: the pool at the entrance to Angkor Wat

Travelers who visited Angkor at that time called the Khmer capital a city-kingdom, because on its territory, in addition to famous temples there were hospitals, swimming pools, inns and many ashrams.

The foreigners were also struck by the water supply system that existed in Angkor: canals, dams and pools, called barays. Well, of course Royal Palace, rebuilt in Angkor, was a real embodiment of luxury and a symbol of the power of the empire.

ANGKOR WAT

The famous Angkor Wat- a temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu, the largest religious building in the world - was built by Emperor Suryavarman in the second quarter of the 12th century.

It must be said that all the temples of Angkor have common features, and it's not just about the bas-reliefs, which traditionally depict iconic scenes from Hindu mythology, for example, the great churning - the process by which gods and demons received amrita - a drink that grants immortality.

In the photo: the courtyard of Angkor Wat

In their structure, Khmer temples most of all resemble pyramids made of large stones (Angkor Wat, for example, consists of three pyramids). Such structures are called temple-mountain.

Another interesting point. In the Khmer tradition, the temple is not a place for prayers, but the place of residence of the gods, therefore, the entrance to the inside was ordered for mere mortals, only clergy and representatives of the aristocracy could freely enter the temple.

In the photo: the courtyard and barai of Angkor Wat

angkor wat- the embodiment of classical Khmer architecture. Rectangular structure surrounded by a moat; temple-mountain, which is crowned by three pyramids.

However, from all the other temples of the city of Angkor Wat, two important moments. Firstly, this is the first temple dedicated to Vishnu, all previous temples of the city were dedicated only to Shiva. Secondly, Angkor Wat "looks west", although all the other temples of Angkor are oriented to the east, that is, towards rising sun. Although today the temple is open to everyone, visitors to Angkor Wat must follow the dress code, you will not be allowed inside in shorts.

However, it is much more interesting to consider not the interior of the temple, but the bas-reliefs that adorn its walls, they are excellent illustrations of scenes from Indian mythology.

In the photo: the bas-relief "great churning" in Angkor Wat

Although Angkor Wat was founded as a Hindu temple, already in the sixteenth century it "converted to Buddhism" and continues to be a Buddhist sanctuary to this day.

Photo: Buddha statue at Angkor Wat

Another curious nuance: Angkor Wat was never completely abandoned. In spite of everything, services were always held here, which is why the temple complex has survived to this day in a much better condition than even later Khmer buildings.

BUDDHIST ANGKOR

During its history, Angkor managed to be both a Hindu and a Buddhist temple city.

The fact is that initially the Khmers professed Judaism, but by the end of the twelfth century Buddhism supplanted it. The largest number Buddhist temples at Angkor built by Jayavarman VII, ruling the country Khmer at the end of the twelfth century. By the way, according to some historians, the emperor not only built temples, but also was a model for sculptors who sculpted the faces of Buddha in these temples.

ANGKOR THOM

Jayavarman VII's Masterpiece angkor thom temple complex. As planned by the emperor, Angkor Thom (translated as "Big City") was to become a separate city within Angkor, the capital within the capital of the Khmer Empire.

No sooner said than done. Angkor Thom was not just a complex of structures, this place was a reduced model of the universe, as the Khmer saw it. The "big city" is a square protected by a fortress wall and a moat filled with water. This is how the Khmers imagined the world - a piece of land surrounded by water.

Canals were laid around the city, and barai pools were created inside, in which, paradoxically, even women were allowed to bathe.

At least, the Chinese Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor in the thirteenth century, tells about the collective bathing of the fair sex. On the towers of Angkor Thom and the walls surrounding Big city, you can see the faces of the Buddha. A road leads inside the city, which is “guarded” by sculptures of demons and gods.

There are several interesting objects inside the city at once. First - - state temple Jayavarman VII, it is considered to be the second temple of Angkor after Angkor Wat.

From afar, the temple seems like a simple heap of stones, but when you get closer to it, you realize that these are real pyramids, decorated with Buddha images. Bayon is crowned with 54 towers - it was from such a number of provinces that ancient empire Khmer. In the eastern part of Angkor Thom is the Terrace of the Elephants, which is easily recognizable by the sculptures of elephants and bas-reliefs depicting hunting scenes. According to the generally accepted version, it was here that the emperor sat during solemn ceremonies.

Now, near Bayon, one can constantly observe personalities depicting Shiva, garuda or apsaras. The price for a photo with them is the traditional $5.

TA PROHM

The second temple ensemble, erected by Jayavarman VII, was seen by all those who watched the film "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider", because the picture was shot just on the territory of this complex. The temple is dedicated to the emperor's mother.

During the time of Jayavarman VII, more than 12 thousand people lived in Ta Prohm, inside the temple was decorated with gold and precious stones, and on the territory of the complex there were hospitals, each of which served not only doctors, but also priests with astrologers.

In the photo: trees entwining the temple of Ta Prohm

Today, the giant temple complex is a ruin, and the roofs and walls of the buildings are entwined with tree roots. The sight is beautiful and creepy at the same time. .

In the photo: ruins and trees in Angkor

PREAH KHAN

The name Preah Knah is translated as "sword of glory" or "victory", because that was the name of the sword of the same Jayavarman VII. The temple is dedicated to the emperor's victory over the Chams, as a result of which the Cham country became a province of Cambodia.

Like all the occult buildings of Angkor, Preah Knah is huge, the temple complex, coupled with a hospital and an inn for pilgrims, occupied an area of approximately 56 hectares.

The peculiarity of Preah Khan is that the temple complex was surrounded on all sides by moats, through which water flowed into reservoirs and a reservoir, in the center of which a pyramid was erected.

In addition to the temple-pyramid, local statues (they are preserved in surprisingly good condition) and bas-reliefs deserve attention: sculptures depicting garudas and bas-reliefs with dancing apsaras are found here at every turn.

By the way, according to scientists, it was Preah Khan in ancient times that was the scene of a curious ritual. Celebrations were held here in honor of the Buddha: the Buddha statue was dressed up in luxurious clothes, cooks prepared food specially for the statue, and musicians and dancers entertained the statue with performances. Of course, now no such rituals are performed in Preah Khan, but the temple is not completely abandoned, incense and candles are still lit here.

Did you like the material? Join us on facebook

Julia Malkova- Julia Malkova - founder of the website project. Former editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about traveling for my own pleasure and the pleasure of readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]

There are its temples, of which there are a great many on the territory of the country. Today we will tell you about the most interesting and majestic ones that amaze the imagination with unthinkable bas-reliefs and original masonry.

The complex of temples in Cambodia occupies vast territories, and it should be noted that many of them are still under research.

Country Features

Cambodia attracts tourists with its originality - this is not Thailand, a little embellished and convenient for tourists. Travelers are usually impressed by the wild lands, free smiling people and extraordinary temples of Cambodia. These are amazing ensembles that even Hollywood has not left without attention, which has repeatedly chosen them as decorations for its films.

Experienced tourists note features that are directly related to sightseeing in this country, which you need to know about for those who are just planning a trip:

All temples are magnificent different time days: some at dawn, others during the day, others at dusk.
Inspection of the ancient complexes takes a lot of time, so the event should be given at least three days to see the most interesting places. At this time, you can rent a room in one of the hotels located nearby the town of Siem Reap.
To view the Angkor complex, it makes sense to think about renting a car, since many of the buildings are at a decent distance from each other.

Angkor: the ancient temples of Cambodia

This is a region of the country that has become the cradle for the largest empire in South Asia - the Khmer. Its greatness and prosperity dates back to the 9th-15th centuries. At that time, Angkor was one of the largest cities world, and its temples were already known far beyond the borders of the empire.

In 1431, the Siamese troops destroyed the city, and its inhabitants were forced to leave it. Since that time, Angkor, along with more than a hundred temples and palaces, have remained, in fact, abandoned among the dense rainforest. And only at the end of the 19th century, the naturalist Ann Muo from France published several works that were devoted to Angkor.

Even Rudyard Kipling wrote his famous work about Mowgli - The Jungle Book - after visiting Angkor. Since 1992, the temple complex has been under the protection of UNESCO. This ancient Cambodian province is home to priceless architectural monuments Khmer Empire.

Angkor - ancient city

The temples of Angkor bear witness to the existence of the largest pre-industrial urban center on our planet, which in size exceeded the current New York. Today, this is a huge museum under open sky an area of 200 km². Here one gets the impression that stone temples with decorated walls seem to grow out of the impenetrable jungle.

Scientists today are trying to unravel the mysteries of their construction, but Angkor carefully keeps its secrets. As in the heyday of the empire, Angkor today attracts travelers and explorers from all over the world like a magnet. And if in the old days merchants came here, today's guests of this land are tourists.

Without exaggeration, we can say that the temples of Cambodia, and Angkor in particular, are the most impressive place in Southeast Asia. The kings of the Khmer Empire spared no expense to build a temple richer and more imposing than its predecessors.

angkor wat

The magnificent temple is the undisputed gem of Angkor. Its spiers have become a symbol and calling card Cambodia. The temple consists of five towers of shrines, three galleries that increase in height towards the center and are surrounded by a moat filled with water, 190 meters wide. The structure's profile imitates an unopened lotus bud.

The first gallery is the outer wall above the moat. It has square columns on the outside. The ceiling between them from the outer facade is decorated with rosettes in the form of a lotus, and figures of dancers are depicted on the inside. The bas-reliefs on the walls of all three galleries depict scenes from various myths and many historical events.

A long alley connects the first gallery with the second. You can climb to it by the stairs, which are decorated with sculptures of lions on the sides. In this gallery, the inner walls are decorated with images of apsaras, celestial maidens.

The third gallery consists of five towers, which crown the highest terrace. There are very steep stairs here, which symbolize the difficulty of climbing into the realm of the gods. Numerous snakes can be seen on the walls of the gallery. Their bodies end in the mouths of lions.

The stones of Angkor Wat, smooth as polished marble, are laid without any adhesive mortar. The main building material for this structure was sandstone, which was delivered to the construction site from Mount Kulen, which is 40 km away.

Almost all surfaces, including the columns and lintels of the roof, are carved from stone. Between 1986 and 1992, the Indian Archaeological Society carried out restoration work in Angkor. We put the temple on the list world heritage UNESCO.

bayon

This temple was built in honor of Jayavarman VII. It has three levels. The main part of the decor of the temple is paintings depicting everyday life Khmer. The Bayon Temple in Cambodia also has one blank wall, 4.5 meters high. On it you can see scenes of a battle in which Jayavarman VII won a victory over the Chams.

In 1925 Bayon was recognized as a Buddhist sanctuary. In 1933, in the temple, more precisely, in the well of its foundation, they found in which the outward resemblance to Jayavarman VII was clearly visible. During the Brahmin restoration, which was carried out immediately after the death of the ruler, it was defiled. Later it was restored and installed on the terrace.

Bapuon

The temples of Cambodia are completely different and they also amaze the guests of the country. After enjoying the extraordinary atmosphere of Bayon, go to the neighboring temple of Bapuon. For a long time, this territory was only a construction site, where restorers worked for several decades. They jokingly called their work putting together the most difficult puzzle in the world. Only two years ago, tourists got the opportunity to visit this ancient It is dedicated to Shiva.

It should be noted that all the ancient temples of Cambodia are very majestic. Historians say that in ancient times Bapuon was one of the most beautiful in Angkor. But in the early fifties of the last century, it was almost on the verge of destruction. French archaeologists, together with a team of restorers, decided that there was only one way to save it - to completely disassemble, strengthen the foundation, and only then reassemble the building.

In the early 60s, Bapuon was dismantled. During the dismantling, the blocks of the temple were transferred to the jungle, and each block had its own number. In the mid-70s, the Khmer Rouge came to power in the country, and restoration work was stopped. Later it turned out that the documents for the dismantling of the temple were destroyed, and there was no information left on how to collect 300 thousand stone blocks. The architects had to use photographs and memories of local residents.

Ta-Prom

Cambodia will probably never cease to amaze tourists. Jungle temples can be seen almost all over the country. But one of them - Ta Prohm - just fits Kipling's description perfectly. This is a huge temple-monastery, completely absorbed by the jungle.

Experts believe that it is the most poetic in Angkor, it has an amazing atmosphere created by huge trees that wrap around the walls. They have grown through the stones and hang over the towers. Over the centuries, the roots have become so fused with the walls that the trees cannot be removed without damaging the buildings.

Ta Prohm was built during the reign of Jayavarman as Buddhist temple covering a huge area. However, in architecture it is not like other temples in Cambodia. It is a chain of one-story buildings, which are interconnected by through galleries and passages. Many of them are inaccessible today, because they are littered with stones.

The uniqueness of this temple lies in the fact that many ancient inscriptions are carved on the stone walls. On a stone stele, which can be seen today in National Museum Angkor, it is carved that in its heyday 3140 villages belonged to the temple, 79 365 people worked here, 18 high priests, 2800 clerks served. More than 12,000 people lived permanently inside the temple.

On the site of the forest that today surrounds the temple, in ancient times there was a lively big city, and its treasuries kept a large number of jewelry. Now it is difficult to believe in this, since many buildings have turned into ruins. There are two types of trees here: the largest is a banyan tree with thick, light brown roots, and the second is a strangler fig tree. It is distinguished by many thin, perfectly smooth gray roots.

The seeds of the tree fall into a gap in the masonry of the structure and the roots grow down, stretching towards the ground. We have already said that the temples of Cambodia are able to surprise even modern scientists with their mysteries. One of them is a picture of a dinosaur carved on the wall of the Ta Prohm temple, to which guides like to lead excursion groups. However, until now no one can explain where the ancient Khmers could see the dinosaur.

Temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, is the largest temple complex on our planet dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located on the territory historical complex Angkor, which is included in the heritage of UNESCO. Such a legacy left us from distant ancestors: the Khmer tribes, because this building was rebuilt around 1113-1250 AD during the reign of King Suryavarman II. The construction of the temple lasted for almost 30 years, and the entire complex was rebuilt for almost 400 years.

Tourists from all over the world rush to this building, unique in its beauty and grandeur, every day not only to learn the basics of Hinduism, to bow to the gods, but also to see the history of Cambodia and the Khmer peoples with their own eyes.

How to get there?

Before you get to Angkor Wat, you will have to fly to Cambodia. There are no direct flights from Russian cities to Cambodia, so you can only get here with transfers.

In the city of Siem Reap, in the immediate vicinity of which the ruined city of Angkor is located, there is an airport international importance, which receives flights from China, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and some others Asian countries. The most popular flight is Siem Reap - Bangkok, but this flight will cost a fairly large amount, so it is much cheaper to get with two or three transfers through Vietnam or China, or fly to the capital of Cambodia, and then move on public bus or a taxi.

If you are planning to fly to Siem reap city, and then stay in a city hotel for a few days, then book a room in advance. Thus, you will ensure yourself a free transfer from the airport to the hotel and back.

From the capital - the city of Phnom Penh - can be reached by water. Such a trip is also a good excursion that allows you to get acquainted with the local way of life and way of life. Tickets to water transport are purchased at hotels at the reception or in travel agencies. Estimated travel time is about 6 hours.

The city of Siem Reap can be reached by bus. Moreover, communication is well organized here both within the country and with neighboring states(Thailand, Vietnam). The cheapest tickets for Cambodian flights.

If you do not want to think about how to get to the sights of Cambodia, then many travel agencies in our country have exotic excursions, both in the main historical sites Cambodia, and separately in old City Angkor. You can take a two-three day tour and not worry about anything else, enjoying a trip to a distant and mysterious Asian country.

temple complex

Angkor temple complex- the main attraction of Cambodia - is not limited to Angkor Wat temple alone. On the gigantic area that it occupies, 208 hectares, there are still a large number of interesting historical buildings, because the ancient city of Angkor was quite large locality with a population of over 100,000 people. True, residential buildings have not survived to this day, because they were built of wood. The ruined city is located about 5 kilometers from the main temple of Angkor Wat. Smaller temples, which were built from tuff and sandstone, have also been preserved there: Ta Phrom, Angkor Thom, Ta Prum, Bayon, the terrace of elephants and Preah Kan.

The territory of the complex is fenced around the perimeter with a laterite wall, on the outside of which a ditch 250 meters wide was dug, which can be crossed along a special sandstone paved path 250 meters long and 12 meters wide.

Excursion program options

Those who build the itinerary for an excursion around Angkor are sure to be interested in the Big and Small excursion circle. Each circle begins with an inspection of the most important temple of Angkor Wat.

The small circle is the most common, popular, considered classic route for visiting the Angkor temple complex, which is chosen by those who have only one day to see the world landmark. If you look at excursion map Angkor Wat, then this route is marked in green.

In the case when you move around the Small Circle, you can see the following temples:

Angkor Thom (a complex of more than a dozen of the largest temples in the central part);

Phnom Bakeng;

Baxey Chamkrong.

The length of the Small Circle is about 17 kilometers.

The big circle is excursion program, 25 kilometers long (the path is marked in red), which is usually completed on the second day. In this case, you will also start moving from Angkor Wat and completely repeat the route of the Small Circle to the Bayon Temple, and then head north to inspect the following buildings:

Pre Rup;

Neak Pean;

Preah Kan;

Eastern Mebon.

After visiting them, according to guidebooks and reviews, you will again move to the Small Circle and return to the main temple of Angkor. Moving in a big circle, you will be moving between attractions more than moving on foot.

On the third day, the most distant temples of Angkor usually remain, which are sometimes quite problematic to get to, especially if you have not rented a transport, because many of them are located at a distance of about 50-70 kilometers from the main complex. If you have three days, then it will be most convenient to move along the routes already established by tourists.

In the event that you have more time, you can independently develop daily excursion routes, change temple visits and generally do everything the way you like.

What to look out for

No matter how much you want, it is impossible not to see the main attraction of the complex - Angkor Wat. This temple-mountain rises above the rest of the buildings in the very center of the complex. You can recognize it by its five knobby towers. It is believed that all five peaks are always visible from any point. This is the most visited temple of Angkor. Tourists always crowd here in search of beautiful and unusual views for photos.

The second most popular building is the local Library. In front of the library there is a small pond where you can relax during the tour.

Ta-Pkhrom is another visited and favorite place for tourists. This is a temple-monastery, which has a rather strange layout. At present, the territory of this building is heavily overgrown, and not just with grass, but with centuries-old trees with powerful branched trunks. Ta-Pkhrom has been trying to clear the vegetation and make it more accessible for tourists for almost a hundred years, but the jungle does not want to leave this place. Everyone who has visited Ta-Phrom leaves rave reviews about this romantic and seemingly abandoned temple.

Bas-relief galleries are considered another popular object that collects laudatory reviews. There are eight of them in the area around Angkor Wat (two on each side) and a separate Hall Thousand Buddhas. Each gallery is distinguished from the others by impressive floor-to-ceiling bas-reliefs that are never repeated. In the Hall of the Thousand Buddhas, as it is already becoming clear, there are bas-reliefs, statues and images of the Buddha in various versions and all kinds of sizes.

The most interesting bas-reliefs, attracting the attention of thousands of tourists and constantly gathering crowds of people around them, refer to the mystical and mysterious themes of hell and paradise on earth: Churning of the Milky Ocean, Gallery of Hell and Paradise, Battle of the Gods, etc.

What is the price?

Since a visit to the complex of temples is most often planned for several days, there are several types of entrance tickets here. Yes, you can buy a ticket for day trip for 20 dollars.

Those wishing to stay longer on the territory of Angkor purchase a ticket for a three-day tour for $40. The ticket is valid for a week, so you can enter the territory of the temple complex not for three days in a row, but to split the visit according to a convenient schedule.

You can also buy a weekly visit to the complex for $70 (ticket is valid for a month).

Schedule

Angkor is open to visitors daily from 05.00 to 18.00. If you want to see the sunrise, you must be inside before 05.30 hours, if the sunset - before 17.30 hours. Tickets stop selling one hour before the official closing time. If you enter the territory of the complex, then no one will kick you out and you can walk here longer. True, too long a stay on the territory of the complex may result in a remark from the police or even a fine for violating the order.

If you have such an opportunity, then visit Angkor Wat twice: once at dawn and the other at sunset. It is in the dawn and sunset rays that you will receive the greatest aesthetic satisfaction from what you see. Of course, you can come here at any time, but this way you cannot say that you have seen everything that Angkor Wat has to offer us.

The temple complex is very large, so when planning an excursion in this direction, set aside at least one day for it.

Since the temple complex is currently considered inactive, there are no strict rules regarding the dress code, but inappropriate clothing (short skirts / shorts, bare shoulders / knees) will still not let you into the main temple.

Many monkeys live on the territory of the complex, so you should be extremely careful, because primates steal everything that is bad, especially hats, food, cameras and mobile phones.
When you go on a tour, be sure to take enough drinking water, since the weather in Cambodia is always hot, so everything around is hot and constantly thirsty, especially at noon. Also take something to eat if you don't want to spend time looking for a place to eat, which are not many here.

If time permits, then inspect Angkor out of order, but, starting with smaller temples, only at the very end get to the main temple of the complex - Angkor Wat.

Do not fall for the tricks of beggars at the entrance if you do not want to lose a lot of money. By submitting a dollar to one, you will activate a chain reaction and local children will come running to you from all over. It's better to say "no" right away. If you start serving, and then stop abruptly and someone is left deprived, this will cause aggression.

Try not to visit Angkor during festivals. If you believe the reviews, these days there are too many people here, including local Khmers, who come here absolutely free.

Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia
Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia

Previous photo Next photo

Find flights to Cambodia

History paragraph

Complex places of worship Angkor dates back to the 10th-12th centuries, in those years it was one of the largest cities in the world, its temples were known far beyond the Khmer empire. In 1431, Siamese troops practically destroyed the city, forcing the inhabitants to leave it. Since then, Angkor and more than 100 remaining palaces and temples have lurked under the shadow of a lush rainforest. Until the end of the 19th century, the French naturalist Ann Muo published a number of works on Angkor. It is said that even Rudyard Kipling wrote his Jungle Book about Mowgli after visiting this place. In 1992, the temple complex was taken under the protection of UNESCO.

Temples of Angkor

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng - one of the first temples built in Angkor (9-10 centuries) - a five-tiered structure with a bunch of turrets. Other ancient temples have been preserved in Angkor: Pre-Khan, Preak-Neak-Pean, Ta-Som (12th century), Banteay Kdei (second half of the 12th century).

angkor thom

Angkor Thom ("big city") - the citadel of the city, central part temple complex - surrounded by a moat 100 m wide and a wall about 8 m high. The citadel was built during the time of Udayadityavarman II (11th century), and after the Cham invasion (1181) it was restored by King Jayavarmana VII. There are 5 gates in the wall of Angkor Thom, above which rise towers about 23 m high, decorated with faces of a bodhisattva. Inside the walls - a three-tier pyramid Bayon, surrounded by 54 towers, the ruins of the temple of Bafuon, the Royal Palace, the temples of Baphuop and Pimeanakas ("Heavenly Palace"), the terrace of the Elephants and the terrace of the Leper King, as well as the Gate of Victory and stone bridges, decorated with images of the gods.

The height of the Elephant Terrace is 350m - it was from there that the Khmer kings watched the ceremonies on main square Angkor Thom, lying in front of the palace.

ancient angkor

bayon temple

Another majestic monument- Bayon temple (not to be confused with the Bayon pyramid) with giant stone statues faces of the Buddha. This three-level building with a base of 140 by 160 m is located southeast of the citadel of Angkor Thom. The temple is decorated with 52 square towers located on different levels and having different height. On each side of these towers, the faces of the Buddha are depicted in such a way that no matter where a visitor from the north looks at this structure, he will always meet the gaze of the Enlightened One.

It is the outlines of Angkor Wat that are depicted on national flag Cambodia.

Angkor Wat ("temple city", 1112-1152) - the temple and mausoleum of King Suryavarman II. The complex consists of central tower(height 65 m) and the towers surrounding it, symbolizing the five peaks sacred mountain Meru. The central structure of the temple is a multi-level structure with many stairs and passages.

The temple is surrounded by a moat 190 m wide and over 5.5 km long, it symbolizes the oceans of the world. This is the largest religious building in the world, its area is about 81 hectares.

Ta Prohm - temples swallowed up by the jungle

No less interesting is the monastery of Pre-Kan with the temples of Nik-Pin and Ta-Som (12th century). It is worth paying attention to the temple of Banteay Kde, as well as the unique Ta-Prom temple complex, almost untouched by restorers. Other "must-sees": the complex of cult pools of Pre Neak Pean (end of the 12th century), the East Baray pool (7 km long and 1.8 km wide) with an island in the middle, the temple of Bakong (the first example architectural style temple-mountain in Khmer art), the pink sandstone temple of Bantrei Srei with fantastic bas-reliefs.