All about the temple complex in Cambodia. Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could Khmers see dinosaurs? Do I need a guide to the temples of Angkor and where to look for it

I will tell you once again what everyone who is interested in antiquities and beautiful places in Southeast Asia already knows. Majestic temple complex angkor wat located in the northwestern part Cambodia and this marvel of architecture is one of the oldest religious monuments in the world and the finest surviving legacy of the ancient Khmer Empire. Over 250 square kilometers of a listed archaeological park world heritage UNESCO is visited by millions of tourists every year.

At one time, only careful preparation for the journey to angkor wat allowed us not to get lost in the crowds of tourists and minimize the unpleasant moments that could arise during the trip. I am sure that without preparation, most of your time and money will be wasted.

IN this article collected the most complete information on Angkor temple complex, tried not to delve into small insignificant details and not to overload report photographs. Also, an article about the city will be published in a separate post. Siem Reap in Cambodia- that's where it starts getting to know angkor which is located a few kilometers from the city.

angkor one of the three coolest temples in Southeast Asia, along with Borobudur in Java which we also visited Bagan temple complex in Burma (Myanmar), the journey to which we have ahead.

angkor- not a city, but a temple complex, which includes several tens (hundreds) of large and small temples of different ages and significance, the most significant and largest of them is the temple complex angkor wat. The prefix "Wat" in Khmer means temple.

History of the Angkor Wat temple complex

main temple angkor wat was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II and they say that he was somehow connected with his future funeral ceremony. The facade, intricate Hindu texts, carved bas-reliefs, the central tower - a symbol of the sacred Mount Meru, the walls and moat surrounding the temple, symbolizing the mountains and oceans at the edge of the world. The five towers of the temple are dedicated to the deity Vishnu, and the temple itself is designed to personify a copy of the universe.

How to get to the Angkor temple complex

The nearest airport is in city ​​of Siem Reap, a few kilometers from the temple complex. The airport is small but international. IN Siem Reap such fly major airlines - Delta (delta.com), VirginAustralia (virginaustralia.com), SingaporeAirlines (singaporeair.com), and KoreanAir (koreanair.com). In addition to them, there are many flights from the cities of Thailand, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City).

Obviously, it is most convenient for citizens of Ukraine, Russia and the CIS countries to fly through Bangkok (Thailand). From Bangkok V Siem Reap airlines fly Air Asia, Bangkok Air.

Visa to Cambodia can be obtained upon arrival, it costs 25 US dollars. IN Siem Reap can be reached by auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk) or taxi for a few dollars, tuk-tuks and taxis stand at the exit of the airport. It is enough to name the hotel or area Siem Reap city, for example, Old Market ( popular place in the city).

When to go to Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

As soon as possible, the number of tourists wishing to see angkor wat V Cambodia, is growing every year. Temples of course will not go anywhere, but the atmosphere can be lost. In addition, some buildings ancient city periodically closed for restoration.

If speak about weather in cambodia, then the off-season in this part of Cambodia is June to October, smaller crowds, lower prices. autumn at the end of the rainy season, everything is green and the least hot according to reviews. The best time is November-December, at the same time tourism peak. hottest month – April. May to October is the rainy season. Popular time to visit temples of angkor our tourists have winter. We were in February, at this time high humidity and a little cloudiness. Not the best time for photography, but there is no burning sun.

Best time to visit angkor wat at any time of the year - early in the morning, when the temple is open for visitors until lunch, during tomorrow - around 9 a.m. and during lunch - around noon there are fewer visitors, especially organized tourist groups.

angkor wat where to live

All those who come to angkor wat live in city ​​of Siem Reap. Large selection of hotels, guest houses and apartments. It is not necessary to choose a hotel closer to Angkor temple complex, you will still go by tuk-tuk or a rented car with a driver. Much more important is maximum comfort and very preferably a pool, after a hot and humid tourist day this is the first place you want to climb into, and a couple of minutes later a beer or a cold cocktail is obligatory.

The location of the hotel. It is better to look for accommodation in Siem Reap close to Old Market (Old Market), in the area the main traffic, shopping, bar street.

We had a very comfortable Central Boutique Angkor Hotel for $ 40 per night (double) with a terrace and access to the pool and bar. We had breakfast in a restaurant in tropical garden, dined in the city, dined, as a rule, on the terrace by the pool. Relative deficiency- the hotel was far from the city center Siem Reap evening life but that wasn't a problem. We love to walk, and besides, there are plenty of taxis in the city that will take you anywhere in the city for a couple of dollars. Details about hotels and guesthouses Siem Reap (Cambodia)you can read on mynew sitededicated to the choice of accommodation when traveling -Siem Reap, Cambodia - Hotel recommendation

There are several popular ways to get from the hotel to angkor temple complex.

The laziest way, he is the most comfortable - to hire an air-conditioned car with a driver. There are options here. You can rent a car separately for trips around Small circle of Angkor, By Great circle of Angkor and to distant temples. In this case, you kind of buy a car rental service at retail and pay for each route. In many cases this is justified. Depending on the route, each section will cost from 25 to 50 dollars, except for trips to the most distant temples, for example, to Ko Ker. We rented a car for three days at once and it cost us $80 per day. We were two families and the girls did not want to swallow the dust of centuries riding a tuk-tuk. The guide was paid an extra $20 for half a day of his work.

Even me, accustomed to humid heat, 6-8 hours active hikes in such a climate would be exhausting. An air-conditioned car gives you the opportunity to relax in between visiting the temples, leave some things there and not stomp on foot (on a bicycle). You can rent a car either through specialized sites - there are many Russian-speaking ones, or at the hotel desk. The price will be the same and depends on your ability and desire to bargain, if the difference is 5-10 dollars.

Second option- an indispensable tuk-tuk (tuk-tuk) in Asia (autorickshaw), the pricing principle is the same as with a car, wholesale is cheaper, on separate routes it will generally turn out more expensive. The price for a tuk-tuk is 10-30 dollars per day. It makes no sense to detail the cost of a tuk-tuk, since it changes every year and not downwards of course. You can rent a tuk-tuk right on the street or at the hotel counter. Again, do not forget to bargain, sometimes you can reduce the price by 30%, at least 20% almost always. A tuk-tuk can accommodate up to 4 people.

The most budget way- bike. You can rent it at the counter of any hotel. If you wish there are no health problems, it is easy to master the small circle of Angkor and see the main temples. I know several comrades who saved money and got acquainted with ancient civilization in this manner. In addition to the obvious drawbacks, this method has another one - you have to see the temples without a guide.

If you are planning to travel to distant temples of Angkor (Beng Melia, Banteay Srei, Phnom Kulen, Kbal Spin, Ko Ker, Pre Vihea, Pre Kan)- this is a separate price and in this case it is better to rent a car for the whole day and go with a company of 4 people. It will be more comfortable and much cheaper.

Heard from travelers that many drivers in cambodia not punctual. Not everything is critical and depends on you. It seemed to me that the Khmers themselves determine to whom you can be late, and to whom it is better not to, as you will be left without an order and without money - there is a lot of competition among them. We were never late, Cambodia, nor in Indonesia. In the rest Asian countries the transport was ours. The main thing is to clearly discuss your trip plan with the driver and it’s even better to draw it up on paper, with the names of temples and breakpoints By route.

angkor- this is a huge territory, even near one temple you can lose each other, all the more difficult to distinguish your tuk-tuk or car from a dozen similar strangers. Here the rule is the same for everyone - the driver will find you and recognize you in the crowd. Usually he waits not where he dropped off (at the entrance), but opposite the exit. In general, trust him - he will not be left without money, the main thing is not to lose each other.

Do I need a guide to the temples of Angkor and where to look for it

I not a supporter of guides and I never use them, because what I read about this or that place is almost always enough. angkor – exception from this rule, especially if you came specifically to see it. We took a guide, Russian-speaking and very good, although a little lazy. I constantly reminded him that we should go see such and such a temple, in the end we drove with him around Small circle of Angkor and We stopped at a couple of slightly remote temples. He told interesting, but NOT Wow!

Guide can be ordered at the hotel reception, you should first discuss the route with him. Arrival at the hotel, dawn, return for breakfast, trips to distant temples if they are planned, lunch break. As detailed as possible. Otherwise, he can drive you around for half a day. angkor wat plus a couple more temples and say that they say this is the most interesting, the rest is not worth a visit. It is customary to pay money to both the guide and the driver after work, that is, when you are returned back to the hotel. IN Siem Reap there are enough Russian-speaking guides, of those who studied in the Union, they speak very tolerably and understandably.

The cost of visiting Angkor and the opening hours of the temple complex

We already know how to get to angkor, we have transport and, if desired, a guide. It remains to buy a ticket to visit the temples. This can be done at the ticket office at the entrance to Angkor temple complex.

Tickets are sold for a period - 1 day, 3 days, 7 days. For tickets for a period of 3 and 7 days, you need a photo that is taken on the spot when buying. For one-day tickets - a separate box office. There are signs everywhere, everything is intuitive. If you have a guide with you, he can buy tickets.

Ticket price:

• 1 day - $20 (valid all day)
• 3 days - $40 (valid for any three days of the week)
• 7 days - 60 USD (valid for any 7 days of the month)

There are always queues, especially in the morning, you should not be afraid - they move very quickly.

Working hours Angkor temple complex 07:30 - 17:30, Angkor Wat - open from 05:30 in the morning for shooting sunrise, you can get inside at 07:40 in the morning.

Ticket offices open at 05:00

Sunrise and sunset at Angkore

Opening hours of the main temple - angkor wat- 05:30, it's dawn time. Unfortunately, beautiful sunrises are rare, we were not lucky. At 05:30, people gather near Angkor Wat and take pictures of the dawn, you can go upstairs from 07:40 to 17:00. Sunset in angkor from about 18:00, but after 17:30 you will be asked to leave the temple, although you can stretch until 18:00 if you do not catch the eye of employees.

You can shoot the sunset either from the upper tiers angkor wat, if you manage to stretch at least until 18:00, or from the top of the temple Tha Keo- it is in the form of a pyramid with high steep steps. Popular point - Phnom Bakheng.

Routes around Angkor. nearby temples. Large and small circles of Angkor

With the ticket that we bought at the box office, regardless of its type (for 1 day, 3 days or a week), we will be able to see only nearby temples. These are the temples that are located on the territory angkor temple complex. I think they are the most interesting ordinary tourist who is not a fan of ruins and antiquities.

For the convenience of tourists, two main routes have been invented - Large and Small circles of Angkor. Each of these routes requires at least a whole day, and each temple on the route is unique in its own way and is not repeated even in in general terms. Naturally, there are signs in the temple complex, in addition, you can take a map of the location of the temples if you decide not to use the services of a guide.

There are two more temples that are located at a small distance from these routes - Banteay Srei And Banteay Samre. It was them that I asked to show our guide, otherwise we would not have seen them.

Both routes start from the main temple – angkor wat, The small circle is, as it were, nested in the Big one, part of the route is repeated.

Small Temples of Angkor

• Angkor Wat
• Phnom Bakheng
• Baksei Chamkrong
• angkor thom

angkor thom- the second most important and famous temple complex after angkor wat and the conditional center of everything temple complex. It is dedicated to Buddhism and is translated from Khmer as "big city". IN angkor thom includes more than a dozen large temples and several small ones. This complex became a "star" thanks to Bayon Temple– it is easy to recognize him by the stern faces carved in stone, which look at you with an unblinking and creepy look. The main temples of this complex:

Bayon

Baphuon

Pimeanakas (Phimeanakas)

Royal Palace

Terrace of the Elephants

Terrace of Leper King

Tep Pranam

Preah Palilay

Preah Pithu

Prasats Suor Prat

North and South Kleang (North Kleang and South Kleang)

• Chau Say Tevoda (Chau Say Tevoda)
• Thommanon
• Ta Keo (Ta Keo) Temple of Ta Keo - now it is undergoing a large-scale restoration, cranes and workers spoil the whole atmosphere a little;
• Ta Prohm - a temple overgrown with jungle, several Hollywood films were filmed here
• Banteay Kdei
• Prasat Kravan

small circle, although it is called small, but in terms of walking time it is much longer big circle. Of the pluses - the coolest temples are located precisely on the Small Circle of Angkor. On this route, we walked more than we drove. In the Great Circle, the opposite is true.

Small circle length– about 17 km.

Great Circle Temples of Angkor

As I already said, Great Circle of Angkor also starts at angkor wat, coincides with the Small Circle to the Bayon Temple. Then the path continues to the northern gate of the temple complex. angkor thom and to the following temples:

• Preah Khan
• Neak Pean
• Ta Som
• East Mebon
• Pre Rup (Pre Rup)

After these temples Great Circle of Angkor merges again with small circle. We also finish at the main temple - angkor wat.

big circle- it's more moving and less temples, besides they are not so big and popular. On the plus side, you can rest along the way.

Great circle length– approximately 26 km.

The distant temples of Angkor

This is the name of the temples, which are located at a considerable distance from the city of Siem Reap. This is from several tens to hundreds of kilometers and it will take at least a whole day to inspect them and about a hundred dollars for transport and entrances. If you are alone, look for a couple and team up with another couple. Those who wish are, as a rule, quickly. Usually these are hotel neighbors or just casual acquaintances. In extreme cases, you can go to distant temples on an organized tour (price 45-50 dollars per person) - this is budgetary, but unsportsmanlike.

The list of distant temples of Angkor and the approximate distance to them from the city of Siem Reap

• Beng Melia - 70 km. , about 2 hours on the way
• Koh Ker - 124 km., on the way you can stop by Beng Melia
• Banteay Srei - 40 km., 1 hour on the way;
• Roluos (Bakong Temple) - 17 km. on the way to Phnom Penh, 25 minutes drive;
• Pre Vihea - 240 km., Practically on the border with Thailand - there are practically no tourists because of its remoteness;
• Pre Can - 160 km. and almost 4 hours on the road - there are practically no tourists because of its remoteness;
• Phnom Kulen National Park - 55 km., On the way we stop at Banteay Srei - 20 km from it.

How long does it take to see Angkor

Depends on the goals, but you need at least two days, with two overnight stays, given the road. Optimally - two full days to explore all the nearby temples of Angkor, another full day to explore distant temples and a full day to relax and walk around Siem Reap. When planning, keep in mind that after a whole day on your feet, you will not want to look at distant temples. In total, it turns out from 3 to 5 days, after which you can go to the beaches of Thailand.

Our further route lay on Chang island, traveled by rented car, including the ferry. The choice of car was justified by the fact that there were four of us. As a result, the expenses turned out to be not so big, and it is difficult to overestimate the comfort, including stops in interesting places - villages, markets, lonely standing temples. Such a transfer is offered by many private agencies in Cambodia. You can find out about offers at the airport, hotel or on the relevant sites on the Internet. Not knowing English is not a problem - many agencies speak Russian.

Other things to do in Angkor and around Siem Reap

Fly in a hot air balloon - there are many offers, the price is $ 20 per person, a taxi to the starting point and back to the hotel is about $ 10.

Excursion to Tonle Sap lake. There is an interesting floating village. We didn’t go, because we heard that this was mainly a production for tourists, and there wasn’t enough time.

First tip- start your day in angkor early in the morning. Rise at 4 am to be at the ticket office by 5. Take a snack with you - you can always have breakfast in the park. I was helped by coconuts, which I drank two or three a day, in addition to coconuts in the park they always sell some kind of food and drinks. Lunch at the hotel will also have to be sacrificed in order to return by about 16:00 and relax there.

Start your tour not from the main temple angkor wat- it is located at the entrance to the park, and immediately after meeting the dawn, if such is planned, head along the Small Circle to other temples while there are few people there.

If you are planning two days angkor, then devote the first day Small circle of Angkor, second day - big circle. Many do the opposite, leaving the most delicious temples for the second day and starting from the Great Circle. I advise you to start with a small circle, because it is quite possible that this will be enough - the coolest temples are on the route Small circle - Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo.

Cloth. IN Cambodia very humid - keep that in mind. No mini-skirts and jeans - it will be uncomfortable. IN angkor wat allowed only in a long skirt and with a covered head (if I'm not mistaken), take it with you. You can wander around the rest of the temples in shorts and a T-shirt. Sunscreen- Necessarily. You will sunbathe on the sea. On feet - non-slippery shoes with rubber or rubber soles.

Dawn time - approximately 6:00, sunset time - 18:00, you need to shoot the dawn near the main temple - angkor wat, the whole crowd is there. Sunset can be filmed from any high temple. I like - Ta Keo.

Safety. Many temples can be climbed, many temples have very steep steps, sometimes extremely steep, such as in Ta Keo. It was in this temple that a well-known traveler in her circles fell down the steps and died. Be careful, there are warning labels, but not everywhere. Railings are also not everywhere. If there are no railings, on such temples as Ta Keo you should not climb at all - I still remember its almost sheer steepness.

take hygiene products with you at least wet wipes wipe sweat and hands after climbing stairs.

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Only some one and a half centuries ago, the great discovery of Angkor, lost in the jungles of Cambodia, took place. Today it is one of the most interesting places on our planet.

Temple history

The first mention of huge stone structures dates back to 1601. Then Marcelo Ribandeiro from Spain accidentally stumbled upon the strange temple of Angkor Wat in the jungles of Cambodia. The Khmers living on this land could not build stone structures, the mystery of the origin of the temple arose, for which the missionary had to turn to local residents. But even they could not satisfy the interest of Ribandeiro that had arisen. This once again reinforced the idea that there was a completely different civilization here long before the Khmers, the legacy of which was Angkor. In this temple city, no one lived except for animals, the locals believed that according to one of the legends, foreigners had to restore the city.

This huge discovery was quickly forgotten. For Europe, the temple of Angkor Wat was of no interest. New wave This monument was mentioned in 1868 after the publication of a book by a traveler from France, Henri Muo.

For a long time, Muo wandered through the jungle, suffered from hunger and disease, until one day he managed to come across a clearing. Three towers loomed against the background of the sky, at first it even seemed to him that these were the beginning of hallucinations. But as he approached the buildings, he realized that he had made a great discovery.

This happened on January 22, 1861. The discovery turned out to be very important. Thus, a stage appeared in Cambodian history - the era of the Angkor civilization. And the towers of Angkor are fixed on the flag and coat of arms of Cambodia.

legendary palace

In ancient times, the Cambodian state of Chenla was ruled by Jayavarman II. This man is credited with the creation of the Angkor Empire. And his successor Suryavarman II (1113-1150) just built the temple of Angkor Wat.

The temple was built for the god Vishnu. But in fact it was the sanctuary and tomb of King Suryavarman II. In the empire of Angkor, there was the worship of the king, who was considered the incarnation of a great deity. And the temple of Angkor itself was considered his heavenly home on earth.

There is a whole legend about the construction of the temple. So one of the rulers had a son, Preah Ket Mealea. God Indra liked this young man, and he invited him to his heaven. Preah Ket Meala fell in love with this place, but he especially liked the magnificent palace with five towers. But all good things come to an end sooner or later, the tevoda (divine dancers) became worried about the appearance of a divine spirit in heaven, violating its harmony. They told Indra about this and he had to bring the prince back to earth. And the deity decided to build the beloved palace on earth. The place for construction was indicated by the bull Nandin, and Preah Pushnuk was chosen as the head of the construction. The best craftsmen from all over the world were gathered, so Angkor Wat was built.

Description of the temple

The temple is located in the center of a vast complex that unites about 200 other temples. The temple is surrounded by a moat that fills up during the rainy season. In the reflection of the water, the temple looks like the sacred Mount Meru, surrounded by the world's oceans. And so it was conceived by the great builders.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a wall and the visitor enters through the main portal. Three towering terraces appear before his eyes. The first is at a height of 3.5 meters, the second - 7, the third - 13. In terms of the terrace, they are decreasing squares. There are five towers on the upper terrace - four in the corners and one in the center, rising to 65 meters. Due to the orientation of the temple, when approaching from either side, only three towers are visible.

Calculations show that the number of stones in Angkor Wat corresponds to the number of stones involved in the construction of the Egyptian pyramid of Khafre. But since the stones in Angkor have a deep artistic processing, one should only be surprised at the labor expended by the ancient inhabitants of this land.

Hello dear readers! Today the goal of our virtual travel will be the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Angkor region was the center of Cambujadesh, ancient state Khmer. In addition to Cambodia itself, it included the territories of today's Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

As is known from, this feudal kingdom existed from the 9th to the 13th centuries. It reached its peak in the 12th century when Angkor Wat was built. History is silent as the temple was called in those days.

Suryavarman II, one of the rulers of the Khmer Empire, erected it in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. Therefore, there are speculations that historical name could sound like "Varah Vishnuloka", that is, "the place where the holy Vishnu lives."

What does the modern name mean?

"Angkor" (from the Sanskrit "nagara") means "city". Interestingly, in Cambujadesh they spoke two languages: the rulers in Sanskrit, and the common people in Khmer. The word "Wat" in languages Asian countries may refer to a temple, pagoda, or monastery.

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

The Khmer language is no exception here, but it also has a second meaning of the word "Wat": it is "admiration" or "veneration".

Cambodians are incredibly proud of their main shrine. The image of Angkor Wat is present on state symbols countries: coat of arms and flag.

Thus, the name of the sanctuary can be translated as:

• temple city;
• city ​​temple;
• capital temple.

But in fact, the word Angkor has long become a proper name and therefore cannot be translated in any way. Therefore, Angkor Wat is the temple of Angkor.

Location

The ruins of Angkor are located very close to Siem Reap. It is the capital of the Cambodian province of the same name. Angkor Archaeological Park covers approximately four hundred square meters. km along with its wooded territory.

Temple complex Angkor Wat on the map

Here are the majestic relics of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, which existed in different time from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries. They include the temple of Angkor Wat, which will be discussed in our story. Angkor Archaeological Park has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1992.

Rediscovering the world

The once great Kambujadesh was bled dry by endless wars with neighbors and exorbitant construction costs. It ceased to exist in the 14th century. Angkor Wat gradually fell into disrepair, but was not completely abandoned, as monks always lived here.

Two centuries later, the first Europeans visit the sacred place. They were the Portuguese. First, the merchant Diogo do Couto published his travel notes. And after 36 years, the monk António da Madalena, having visited the ruins of the temple, described it in excellent colors.

But truly Europeans became interested in the shrine in 1860. This time the French did their bit in drawing attention to the shrine:

1. Preacher Charles-Emile Buyevo, who published a two-volume book of his impressions from visiting this place.
2. Naturalist and traveler Henri Muo, who popularized the great Khmer temple among Westerners.
3. Henri Ernest Jean Parmentier, archaeologist and later director French Institute Far East, who studied, described in documents and participated in the restoration of the monuments of Angkor.

The Paris Colonial Exhibition, which was held in 1931, exhibited a model of the sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Model of Angkor Wat at the Royal Palace, Cambodia

There were also barbaric antics. In the 70s, part of the buildings and sculptural images were damaged by the Pol Potites. Well, now, protected by the world community, the temple is the number one attraction in the Cambodian kingdom, and any travel agency will tell you how to get here.

Those who have already been here share their experience with tourists:

1. The entrance ticket can be bought for a day, three days or a week. It must be kept, as controllers periodically check tickets. With a ticket, you can leave the complex any number of times during the paid time and enter again. It is personalized: your photo will be taken at the checkout, and it will be on the ticket.
2. Forgery of a ticket is punishable by law, as well as looting and damage to the property of Angkor.
3. At 5 o'clock in the morning it is customary to meet the dawn here, and the complex closes at 17:30.
4. Dress appropriately, covering your shoulders and knees. A headdress will save you from sunstroke. And shoes, despite the heat, are recommended to choose comfortable ones, such as sneakers, since the stairs with stone steps are very steep.
5. Well, and absolutely obvious truths: you should not litter, smoke, touch images with your hands. It is necessary to respect and follow the instructions of signs and signs on the territory.

Before visiting the temple, of course, it’s nice to be savvy in theoretical terms. Therefore, we turn to the description of its architecture.

architectural features

The Angkorian style in which this shrine is built combines features of both Khmer and Hindu architecture. This is a temple-mountain, personifying, in combination with many galleries. The building consists of three rectangular terraces that make up the pyramid.

The inner rectangular courtyard occupies two hundred hectares. It is surrounded by a wall four and a half meters high. From the outer side of the wall, a moat filled with water stretches for more than three and a half kilometers.

At its edges, the land is cleared of the jungle to a width of thirty meters. The width of the moat is one hundred and ninety meters, and it is believed that it was he who saved the temple from destruction and from the invasion of wild animals from the jungle during the years of oblivion.

Towers of Angkor Wat

The unique beauty of the monastery is given by five towers. Each of them is shaped like a lotus flower. The tower in the center rises sixty-five meters into the sky. It is higher than the other four by forty-two meters.

Khmer believers did not go to temples: their gods lived here. Only representatives of the clergy and rulers could go inside. Agkor Wat also served as the tomb of Suryavarman II.

The entrance to the temple is through the western gopura (the tower above the gate), which is considered the main one. It consists of three dilapidated turrets, behind which at first the giant main building is not visible, and is its likeness in form. Leaving the gopura, the traveler passes to the temple along the road, on both sides of which there is a parapet with statues of snakes with seven heads.

The road is laid on a dam made of sandstone. Probably the dam was previously replaced wooden bridge. An earth embankment leads to the shrine from the east side. There are gopuras from all four cardinal directions, but the other three are smaller than the western one.

Vishnu's statue south tower, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

There is a statue of Vishnu in the south tower. It is assumed that he appeared in it later, and initially his place was in the central hall. Four gopuras on each of the three tiers are connected by galleries, decorated with square columns along the outer wall.

The galleries are so spacious that, if desired, an elephant could pass through them. Because of this, another name for gopura is “elephant gate”. The ceiling of the galleries is decorated with stone lotus flowers. And the walls have the richest decoration, more than a thousand square meters. What is this:

• bas-reliefs with scenes from the history of the Khmers, the ancient Indian epic and Hindu myths;
• figurines of two thousand charming demigoddesses - apsaras with intricate and sophisticated hairstyles;

Bas-reliefs on the walls of the temple - Apsaras

• griffins;
• sculptures of dancing people;
• dragons with wings harnessed to chariots;
• figures of men dancing on the backs of running animals;
• unicorns;

• warriors with leaders riding on elephants;
• devatas.

On the map of the complex, there were originally both urban buildings and Royal Palace. But all of them collapsed over time, as they were not built of stone. Only the outlines of some streets have survived to this day.

From the main road to the temple, perpendicular to it, there are six pairs of side stairs, along which you can go down to the territory of the former city. There are two library buildings located symmetrically on both sides of the road, with ponds in front of them. These reservoirs, as well as the cross-shaped terrace into which the main road passes, appeared later than other elements of the complex.

The subtleties of the building

The stones used for the construction are so smooth that they seem to be polished. No solution was used for their coupling. They fit so tightly to neighboring stones that the seams are not visible at all.

Sometimes there are no connections in the blocks at all, they are held by gravity. In most of the blocks, the researchers noticed multiple holes about three centimeters in length and slightly smaller in cross section. Opinions about their purpose differ: some scientists believe that they are intended for metal rods-connections, others - that they are for connecting parts, with the help of which it was easier to move stones during installation.

There is evidence that elephants were used to actuate the block mechanism. The ropes were made from coir, the middle layer of the coconut wall. So the stones were lifted into place.

There are holes in the walls too. This suggests that once there were panels of bronze. It was the height of chic in antiquity, but also attracted marauders.

The figure indicating the amount of sandstone that went into the construction of this ancient monument is impressive: over five million tons. This building material was delivered from the Kulen Plateau along the Siem Reap River.

According to modern ideas, a structure of such complexity should have been erected for several hundred years. Nevertheless, the construction of Angkor Wat was completed in about forty years - the lifetime of its founder. This indicates that the builders had some special knowledge and skills.

And finally, quite sensational information: scientists have established with the help of computer programs that the location of the temples of the Angkor complex exactly corresponds to the location of the stars in the constellation Draco, as it was at the time of sunrise ten and a half thousand years BC, on the day of the vernal equinox. So thismiracleSveta, which is only about a thousand years old, continues to keep its secrets.

Conclusion

Having visited the temple of Angkor Wat, even inveterate skeptics admit that famous place has amazing energy and sinks into the soul for a long time. Many come back here again, and more than once. The tourists who have been here are unanimous in one thing: this miracle must be seen with your own eyes at least once in your life.

Angkor Wat has been added to the List of Wonders of the World

Angkor Wat is unparalleled in beauty and state of preservation. Its grandeur and magnificence surpass those of the Pharaohs, its impression is stronger than that of the Pyramids, and its artistic expressiveness can only be compared with the Taj Mahal. Angkor Wat is located 6 km (4 miles) north of Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat can only be entered and exited through the western gate.

"You can find many photos and videos about Angkor Wat, but perhaps the best of all virtual is the panorama of Angkor Wat, made by airpano.ru"

angkor wat was built in the first half of the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. The construction of the temple lasted about 30 years.

History of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest and best preserved object of the Angkor group. The perfection of its structure, balance, proportions, relief and sculpture make it one of the greatest architectural monuments in the world.

"Wat" means "temple" in Khmer. Probably this word was added to the word "Angkor" when it was occupied by Theravada followers in the 16th century. After 1432, when the city of Phnom Penh became the capital of the kingdom, Buddhist monks became responsible for Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat was built for the burial of King Suryavarman II in it. Drawing a parallel between the setting sun and death, the temple faces west. Also in favor of this theory are the bas-reliefs, arranged from left to right in accordance with the Hindu funeral ritual.

Architectural plan of Angor Wat

When walking along Angkor Wat itself, it is very difficult to determine its architectural plan due to the huge size of the temple complex. Such complexity and beauty both attract and distract attention. From afar, Angkor Wat looks like a colossal stone massif. accessed by a long paved road.

The height of Angkor Wat from the ground to the top of the central tower is more than it might seem: 65 meters. The temple consists of three triangular or square levels (1-3). Each subsequent one is smaller and higher than the previous one.

The first and second levels are bordered by covered galleries with columns. The third level is supported by five towers - four in the corners and one in the middle. These towers are the most expressive architectural element of Angkor Wat. Sometimes this form of arrangement is called quinkans. The levels rising one above the other give the towers a conical shape.

Symbolism

Angkor Wat is a miniature stone replica of the universe. and is a terrestrial model of a space device. The central tower rises in the center of the temple, symbolizing the mythical Mount Meru, located in the center of the universe. The five towers correspond to the peaks of Mount Meru. The outer wall symbolizes the mountains at the end of the world, and the moat surrounding the temple complex symbolizes the oceans.

Location of Angor Wat

Although Anggor Wat is the most photographed Khmer architectural monument photos cannot convey all its greatness. Frank Vincent wrote about this 100 years ago: “The sight of this miracle makes an indelible impression: beauty, romance, grandeur - all this must be understood and appreciated. It is impossible to look at this temple without awe, without the feeling that you soared into heaven. Probably the most impressive building in the world."

Angkor Wat covers a rectangular area of ​​208 hectares (500 acres). The territory of the temple complex is fenced with a laterite wall. The complex is surrounded by a moat, which can be crossed by a long paved sandstone road (250 m (820 ft) long, 12 m (39 ft) wide). The road serves as the main entrance to the complex. The ditch is 200 m (656 ft) wide, with a 5.5 km (3.4 mi) perimeter.

The western entrance begins with a staircase leading to a cross-shaped sandstone terrace at the base of a long paved road. On both sides of the terrace, huge stone lions sit guarding the temple. Ahead you can see the end of the paved road and the gate with three towers of various heights. These towers at the entrance partially block the view of the five towers in the central area of ​​the temple. A long passage with square columns and a curved roof extends along the moat from left to right from the tower located at the entrance. This is the magnificent façade of Angkor Wat and an example of classical Khmer architecture.

Almost 70 years ago, after visiting the terrace of Angkor Wat, Helen Churchill Kandy wrote: " Any architect would have been delighted with the harmony of the façade - a continuous row of columns leading from the far corners to the central entrance, where three towers with ruined tops are located.". Initially, the facade was another row of columns with a roof. Round holes in the columns testify to this.

"Before walking down the paved road, turn right, go down a couple of terrace steps and walk a couple of meters along the path. This way you can enjoy the view of all five towers of Angkor Wat. Return to the center of the terrace and walk along the main paved road towards the main part of the temple. The left side of the paved road is made of older sandstone than the right side, which was restored by the French."

In the 20s of the XX century, when Casey walked along this paved road, he noticed one feature of its structure. The slabs it consisted of were irregularly shaped, which meant they had to be chiseled to fit together. In the midday light, the road looks like a long strip of moiré. On the left side of the road, almost reaching its middle, there are two sandstone feet. They belong to one of the statues at the entrance to Angkor Thom and were brought to Angkor Wat in this century when the paved road was being repaired.

The tops of three sections of this tower - one in the center and two on the sides - have collapsed. The approaches at either end of the gallery may have served as a passageway for elephants, horses and wagons, since they are located on the lowest level.

When Helen Churchill Candy saw these passages in 1920, she noted that the idea of ​​building a passageway for elephants was very unusual. The statue of standing Vishnu (with eight arms) is to the right of the tower at the entrance. On the left, traces of the original color are visible on the ceiling of the tower. Continue west along the second path (350 m (1148 ft) long, 9 m (30 ft) wide).

On both sides there is a low balustrade resembling the body of a snake. The balustrade is supported by small columns. If you look to the west, you can see the famous panorama of Angkor Wat depicted on the Cambodian flag. Standing at this point, I want to take a picture of five wonderful domes - friends of the sky, sisters of the clouds? And understand whether you are in the real world or in a fictional fantasy. Six pairs of solemn staircases with platforms on both sides of the road lead to the courtyard.

The staircase is flanked by a continuing snake-shaped balustrade. Such a structure is sometimes referred to as a landing platform. At the end of the balustrade, a snake rushes to the sky at right angles and gracefully spreads its nine heads in the shape of a fan. In the courtyard, just beyond the middle of the paved road, are two buildings that house the library. These "precious caskets of Khmer art" are perfectly shaped.

The large central area, columns and steps are arranged in the shape of a cross. For strength, some columns were replaced with cement ones. The original column is located in front of the left building of the library. There are two reservoirs in front of the library buildings (length - 65 m (213 ft), width - 50 m (164 ft)). The pond on the left is filled with water, while the second is usually empty.

"After passing the library, but before reaching the pools, turn left and follow the road for about 40 m (131 ft) to a large tree. From this point you have an excellent view of the five towers of Angkor Wat, especially at sunset. The path leads to a cruciform terrace, known as the "Terrace of Terror. This terrace is located directly in front of the main tower at the entrance to Angkor Wat."

The terrace is characterized by supporting columns and carved designs at its base. On three sides of the terrace there are stairs, on both sides of which sit lions. Ritual dances were held here. It is possible that it was from this point that the king watched the processions and received foreign guests. In the 1920s, Casey noted: “It is impossible not to feel that just a few hours ago this place was pulsing with life. Torches burned over the altars. Priests whispered ritual prayers. Dancing girls fluttered up the stairs ... It was only an hour or two ago, no more …".

From the terrace there is a beautiful view of the first level gallery called "Bas-relief Gallery" (215 x 187m (705x614 ft)). The outer side, which is closer to the visitors, is a row of 60 columns. The inner side is a continuous wall decorated with bas-reliefs.

"At this point, you can either continue straight ahead towards the central towers, or turn right to view the Gallery of Bas-reliefs. The cruciform galleries are the link between the first and second levels. This unique architectural design consists of two covered galleries with square columns in the form of a cross "The courtyard is divided into four equal parts and decorated with ponds and stairs. Several decorative elements in these galleries are windows with balustrades, rosettes on the vaults, an apsara border under the cornices and ascetics at the base of the columns."

"Some of the columns in the galleries of this courtyard have inscriptions in Khmer and Sanskrit. On both sides of the courtyard there are two libraries that are inferior in size to the libraries near the entrance to the complex. The right library - the 1000 Buddha Gallery - once contained many images relating to to the period of decline of Angkor Wat. Only a few such images have survived to this day. The left library - the Hall of Echo - got its name due to its unusual acoustics. "

"To hear the echo, you need to go to the end of the gallery, stand in the left corner with your back to the wall, hit yourself on the chest and listen carefully. If you want to visit the library, go through the door at the end of the gallery. This library offers a good view of the upper level of Angkor Wat."

"Go back to the center of the cruciform galleries and continue towards the central towers. You have to climb stairs. The outer wall of the second level gallery - the one closest to the visitors (100 x 115 m, 328 x 377 ft) - is solid and undecorated. Perhaps this was done in order to create a suitable environment for the meditations of the priests and the king."

The severity of the outer wall of the gallery of the second level is compensated by its interior decoration. The walls of the gallery are decorated with over 1500 apsaras (celestial dancers). These beautiful graceful creatures delight visitors.

When you first enter the courtyard, such a multitude of dancing female figures may seem monotonous. But if you come closer and look closely, you can see that they are all different and differ in hairstyles, attire and jewelry. These ethereal inhabitants of heaven are depicted in Angkor Wat in twos or threes.

In the 17th century, the Cambodian poet Pang wrote of the Apsaras: " Millions of graceful creatures fill you with such emotions that your eyes do not get tired, your soul is renewed, and your heart is saturated! They were not carved by human hands! They were created by the gods - living, beautiful women!"On the third level of Angkor Wat, only high priests and the king were allowed. On the third level there are no covered galleries, like on the other two, but this level is the basis for five central towers, one of which is the most sacred image of the temple.

The height of the square base (length - 60 m) of the upper level is 13 m and rises 40 m above the second level. In the center of each side there are twelve stairs with 40 steps each. At the corners there are two more stairs with an angle of inclination of 70°, providing access to this level.

The third level is a space in the shape of a cross and is characterized by covered galleries and four paved courtyards. At the top of each staircase are a tower and columns. The tower at the entrance is connected to the central structure by corridors supported on both sides by double rows of columns. There are four towers in the corners of the upper level. Steps simultaneously connect and separate different parts of the structure. The upper level is surrounded by a narrow covered gallery with a double row of columns, and on the outside there are windows and balustrades. The central sanctuary rises 42 m above the upper level. The height of the largest of the five towers is equal to the height of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The central sanctuary houses the sacred image of the temple. Initially, there were four passages facing the four cardinal directions, however, they were closed some time after the sacking of Ankhgor Wat in the middle of the 15th century. Almost 500 years later, French archaeologists discovered a vertical depression in the center of the upper level at a depth of 27 m, which contained many gold items. From the top of the temple you can finally see the entire architectural plan of Angkor Wat. A view of stunning beauty opens up, confirming the ingenious ability of Khmer architecture to create harmonious proportions.

"Walk around the perimeter of the upper level outer gallery to enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside, the paved road to the west and the central group of towers. The gallery is not high enough to provide a full view of the surrounding area. But you can still see enough to realize what It took courage for the architects to erect this temple complex.You will be able to see the northwestern part of the moat up to the towering lotus-shaped peak that belongs to the central shrine.From this point, Angkor Wat seems so vast that it is difficult to realize that such a grandiose structure was erected by people ."

Gallery of bas-reliefs

"They attract attention with their beauty and keep it with their unusualness.", Helen Churchill wrote Kandy in bas-reliefs in 1920. The gallery of bas-reliefs encircling the first level of Angkor Wat is 1200 m 2 of images carved from sandstone. The bas-reliefs cover most inner wall on all four sides of the galleries. Their height is 2 m.

The details, the quality of composition and execution give them the right to be among the greatest examples of world art. The columns located along the outer wall of the gallery create an interesting play of light and shadow on the relief. The result is a textured wallpaper effect that looks more like the work of painters than sculptors. The bas-reliefs are incredibly richly decorated - a creation of power, calmness, imagination and fantasy, and giving the impression of "the highest dignity", as one visitor wrote 50 years ago.

The bas-reliefs are divided into 8 parts - two on each wall of the square gallery. Each part reflects a specific theme. Moreover, in the corners of the Eastern Gallery there are two pavilions, which also depict various themes.

Panels with bas-reliefs are arranged horizontally and usually consist of two or three parts. In some places, the edges of the panels are also decorated. The themes for the bas-reliefs were taken from two main sources - the Indian epic and sacred books and military items of the Angkor period. Some scholars suggest that the location of the bas-relief depended on the theme reflected in it. For example, the bas-reliefs on the east and west walls depict themes associated with sunrise and sunset. The word "ba" means "low" or "shallow" and means the degree of relief projection. The method of creating reliefs at Angkor Wat was that the craftsmen cut out the background, thus leaving the image itself in the relief. The surface of some reliefs seems to be polished.

This can be explained by two theories. The presence and location of polished areas in important parts of the relief suggests that this was the work of visitors who constantly touched the surface. Traces of gilding and paint, in particular black and red, are also visible on some reliefs. This may be the remains of a primer or a fixing agent. Some of the bas-reliefs depict the most common objects and phenomena. The river is depicted as two parallel vertical lines, between which a fish swims. As in Egyptian art, the rank of a person is determined by the size of his image: the higher the rank, the larger size. In the battle scenes, a broken handle on the leader's umbrella signifies defeat. The temporal remoteness of the scene is determined by the number of planks placed one above the other: the higher such a "wall", the more ancient the depicted event. Figures with legs apart and bent knees means being in flight.

Visit to the Bas-relief Gallery

Those who want to stay longer in this wonderful Bas-Relief Gallery are sure to discover something new, because Angkor Wat offers visitors many pleasant surprises.

"Remember that the Angkor Wat bas-reliefs should be viewed from left to right. Enter with western entrance, turn right and enter the gallery, and then continue counterclockwise. If you start your tour from another point in the gallery, then make sure that the temple remains on your left side. If your time in Angkor Wat is limited, we advise you to see the following bas-reliefs."

This scene is the main theme described in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. The scene depicts the last battle in Kurukshetra - one of the Indian provinces - between cousins ​​​​who were at enmity with each other. The Kaurava and Pandava armies approach each other, heading towards the center of the panel. The belonging of warriors to a particular clan can be determined by their headdresses. The scene begins with the infantry entering the battle, while the musicians play a rhythmic melody. This bas-relief depicts hand-to-hand combat, in which many warriors died.

Senior officers and generals, depicted on a large scale, watch the battle from chariots or mounted on elephants and horses. The tension of the scene gradually increases and culminates in hand-to-hand combat. Bisma (pictured at the beginning of the panel), one of the heroes of the Mahabharata and the leader of the Kauravas, was hit by an arrow and is now dying, surrounded by his loyal warriors. Arjuna (a man with a shield depicting the face of the demon Rahu) shoots an arrow at his half-brother Karna and kills him. After death, Krishna (with four arms) becomes the driver on Arjuna's chariot.

"Currently preparing to publish photos of the galleries."

Corner Pavilion (Southwest)

East

South

North

South (historical) gallery - King Suryavarman II's army

This gallery depicts a magnificent triumphal procession of warriors returning from a battle between the Khmer and their enemies. The relief depicts the combat methods used, mostly hand-to-hand combat, since in those days people still knew nothing about technology and firearms.

In the background, trees and animals are incredibly believable and naturalistic. The central figure of this gallery is Emperor Suryavarman II, on whose orders the temple complex of Angkor Wat was built. Suryavarman II is depicted twice in the gallery. He is signed with his posthumous name, which suggests that the inscription was made after his death. The triangular holes randomly carved into the gallery may have contained valuable items stored at Angkor Wat. On the upper tier, the emperor, on whose body gilding is visible, holds a meeting on the top of a mountain surrounded by forest.

The whole army comes together for inspection, and the commanders, mounted on elephants, unite their troops, who begin to march towards the enemy. The rank of the commander can be determined by the inscription next to his image. Emperor Suryavarman II sits astride an elephant (a conical headdress, a sword over his shoulder). He is surrounded by servants holding 15 umbrellas. Vishnu is seated on Garuda, who sits on a flagpole near the king's elephant. Standard-bearers, musicians and jesters take part in the lively and noisy procession of the Sacred Fire. Brahmins sing to the accompaniment of cymbals. Royal offerings are carried in palanquins.

Toward the end of the panel: Troops of Thai warriors (in frilled floral skirts, braided hair, feathered headdresses, short mustaches) join the procession, led by an elephant-mounted commander. It is likely that the Thai troops were mercenaries from Louwo Province (now Lopburi Province) who bolstered the Khmer army. Khmer warriors wear helmets decorated with horns of various animals (deer, horses). Some of the shields depict monsters.

Pit court. Heaven and hell.

On three tiers, the judgment of humanity carried out by Yama is depicted, and on the other two tiers, heaven and hell. Judging by the inscriptions, 37 heavens are depicted here, where you can wander through beautiful palaces, and 32 hells with scenes of punishment and suffering. Heaven and hell are separated from each other by curtains and apsaras. At the bottom of the lower tier, a row of Garudas is depicted. The roof of the gallery was destroyed by lightning in 1947, but then the ceiling was restored by the efforts of the French. The riders depicted at the beginning of the panel show traces of gilding. The bottom of the panel was severely damaged and the cracks were sealed with cement.

Lower tier: Chief Judge Yama (many-armed, wields a staff, and rides a buffalo) points out to his assistants the upper road representing Heaven, and lower road representing Hell. The spirits of dead people await his verdict. Yama's assistants push the villains into the door leading to Hell, where they bear various punishments. For example, those people who were constantly handed over during their lifetime are sawn in half, and the bones of criminals are broken. Some of the punished are wearing iron shackles, while others have nails stuck in their heads. Upper tier: Garudas and apsaras support the heavenly palace floating in the air.

Eastern Gallery - Whipping the Milky Sea

This is the most famous bas-relief of Angkor Wat, based on the ancient Indian epic "Bhagavata Purana". In this scene, angels and demons are churning the Sea of ​​Milk to obtain amrita, the elixir of life. They want to return the lost treasures - the source of immortality, the goddess of wealth Lakshmi, the milk of the white elephant Indra and the nymph of beauty. These objects symbolize well-being and prosperity. This event takes place during the second advent of Vishnu, when he returned in the form of a turtle.

The stage occupies three tiers. In the lower tier, various sea animals are presented - both real and mythical. The lower tier is bordered by a snake. On one side of the middle tier there is a row of 92 demons (round bulging eyes, helmets with crests), and on the other side a row of 88 gods (almond-shaped eyes, conical headdresses). Demons and gods churn the sea with the body of the serpent Vasuki. They are assisted by Hanuman, the monkey god. Vishnu in the guise of a tortoise holds the Mandara mountain on his shell, around which the whipping takes place. Vishnu is at the bottom of the Sea. The demons hold the snake by the head, and the gods by the tail. Rhythmically rotating the long body of the serpent, they churn the sea with it.

Gods and demons obey the three gods (their images are larger). Indra stands over Vishnu, and on the right, the ally of the gods Hanuman tickles the snake Vasuki. Upper tier: Various female spirits appear during the churning of the sea. In this scene, Vishnu is again depicted, but already in the form of a man. He controls the churning of the sea, which, according to legend, lasted over a thousand years.

Other creatures are also depicted here - for example, the three-headed elephant of Indra, apsaras and the goddess of beauty Lakshmi. On the waves of the sea, a deadly poison is visible, which was vomited by the serpent Vasuki. Fearing that the poison could destroy the gods and demons, Brahma asks Shiva to drink the poison, which will leave an unhealed mark in his throat. Shiva obeys and as a result produces amrita. The demons rush in to intercept the elixir. Vishnu rushes to the rescue, taking the form of the charming beauty Maya. Vishnu manages to save the precious liquid.

Inscription

In the middle of the East Gallery there is an interesting inscription dating back to the beginning of the 18th century - the time when Angkor Wat was a Buddhist monastery. The inscription tells of a governor of one of the provinces who built a small tomb to store the bones of his wife and children. The tomb is in poor condition, but it is clearly visible. It is located right in front of the inscription in the gallery.

Victory of Vishnu over Demons.

The bas-reliefs in the East Gallery and in the southern part of the North Gallery must have been completed later, in the 15th or 16th century. This is evidenced by a certain stiffness, ceremony in the depiction of figures and a low level of skill. The demon army is heading towards the center of the panel. In the center is a four-armed Vishnu seated on Garuda.

Then comes the battle scene. Vishnu strikes his enemies advancing from all sides, throwing their bodies away from him. Demon leaders (mounted on animals or riding in chariots pulled by monsters) are surrounded by warriors. They are joined by another group of warriors (with bows and arrows) led by their leaders, who ride chariots or sit astride huge peacocks.

Krishna's victory over the demon king Bana

At the beginning of the panel, Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, sits on Garuda. Agni, the many-armed god of fire, sits astride a rhinoceros behind Vishnu. This scene has been depicted several times. Surrounding the city the wall is on fire, preventing Krishna and his army of gods from entering the city. This scene with Krishnu is also repeated several times on the panel. Garuda extinguishes the fire with water from the sacred river Ganges. The many-armed demon Bana (riding a rhinoceros) is approaching the army of the gods from the other side. Right panel area: Krishna (1000 heads, arms crossed over chest) kneels before Shiva, who is seated on a throne on Mount Kailash with his wife Parvati and son Ganesa (with the head of an elephant). They ask Shiva to have mercy on Banu.

Battle between gods and demons

The 21 gods of the Brahman pantheon walk in procession, carrying their classical attributes and sitting on their traditional animals. Scenes of opposition of one god to one demon are depicted. In the background is a battle between the armies on the side of the gods and on the side of the demons. The god of wealth Kubera (with a bow and arrows) appears astride a yak, the god of war Skanda (many-headed and many-armed) - on a peacock, Indra? on an elephant, four-armed Vishnu on Garuda. The god of death and justice (with a sword and shield) Yama stands in a chariot drawn by horses. Varian, the water god, harnessed and saddled a five-headed serpent.

Corner Pavilion (Northwest)

North

West

South

East

Western Gallery - Lanka Battle

This scene from the Ramayana is a long and fierce battle between Rama and the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms) depicted in the center of the gallery. This is one of the most impressive bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat. The battle taking place in Lanka (the island of Sri Lanka) ends with the defeat of Ravana, who kidnapped the beautiful wife of Rama Sita. The central figures are warrior monkeys fighting on the side of Rama.

The cruelty of war is compared with the grace and agility of monkeys. Near center: Rama stands on Sugriva's shoulders under a hail of arrows; near Rama are his brother Lakshmana and an old demon. Nearby, the demon king Ravana (10 heads and 20 arms) rides in a chariot drawn by mythical lions.

Between them is depicted Nala leaning on the heads of two lions. Nala is the monkey who built the Rama bridge to Lanka. Nala tosses the body of the warrior he has defeated over her shoulder. The Monkey Prince pulls an elephant tusk from his three-pronged headdress and hurls the tusk and the demon to the ground.

Are you very hard to surprise? You have visited all corners of the planet and think that you have seen everything? Then I propose to dispel your skepticism with the next tour, which includes a visit to one of the most striking monuments of the ancient Khmer religion. Today we are going to distant Southeast Asia, in the jungle of which no less secrets and artifacts are hidden than in South America with its famous Maya and Inca settlements. The ultimate goal of our tourist travel- the majestic temple of Angkor Wat, whose history goes back about 900 years.

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If you believe official sources, the construction of the temple was started in the 12th century. It is believed that Angkor Wat was part of the once huge Khmer Empire, around which even today there is a lot of controversy.

Angkor is the name of the city, which was considered the center of the empire. Its size is amazing. Initially, it was believed that the city occupied an area of ​​200 square kilometers, and now this figure has grown tenfold. Scientists say that at the very dawn of the empire, at least 500 thousand Khmers lived here. The temple complex itself was dedicated to the god Vishnu and was considered the most prominent representative of the Hindu religion. It is the architecture of the buildings that reminds of the religion that has been preached in this area for many centuries.

The construction was completed during the reign of King Suryavarman II. It was during this period that Ankor experienced the peak of its development, was a metropolis and had a population of several hundred inhabitants. In total, huge areas with villages and other settlements, in which at least 80 thousand peasants lived, were assigned to the temple. A little later, Ankor Wat became not only the center for the worship of Vishnu, but also the Buddha.

Already in those distant years, the temple struck the imagination with its majesty. Huge ditches (about 200 m) filled with water were dug around its entire perimeter. The height of the main tower of the temple is a record 42 meters for that time, and the most high point located 65 meters above the ground.

All the most interesting information and an overview of the most stunning sights of Cambodia in our guide.

Location of the religious center

A unique building of its kind, which impresses with its ingenious architecture, size and rich decoration, is located just 5 km north of the city of Siem Reap. It is interesting that almost no one remembered such a structure for several centuries in a row, starting from the 15th century. This led to the fact that the temple fell into some decline. The jungle reliably hid the grandiose structure from prying eyes, and the huge roots of tropical trees caused irreparable damage to the religious complex, which for many years successfully combined the center of two religions - Hinduism and Buddhism.

It is worth paying tribute to the local activists and authorities, who caught themselves in time and began to improve the territory majestic temple. And today we all have a unique opportunity to enjoy the monumental building to the fullest, take rare pictures and mark with a red pencil one more place on the map, which is worth visiting more than once.

A program of large-scale restoration of the huge complex has been launched, the search for funds for which the world organization UNESCO is engaged in. The scale of the temple and the volume of necessary work require serious investments in the restoration of the temple. Since 1992, the temple complex has been included in the list of cultural heritage and is under protection. Despite this, the years cause irreparable damage to the structure, which was based on brittle sandstone. Therefore, if you want to see the grandiose building of the 12th century with your own eyes, you should not put off the issue of ordering a ticket on the back burner. Hurry up to see the temple with your own eyes and touch the ancient history with your hands!

There is a version that the famous writer Rudyard Kipling came up with the idea of ​​​​writing the work "The Jungle Book" precisely after visiting this grandiose complex of buildings. Who knows, maybe a muse or inspiration will visit you to create some kind of masterpiece ...

What is unique?

As mentioned earlier, the temple has an impressive size and rich architecture, even individual elements of which cannot be called excess. In addition, the uniqueness of the building is due to the rare combination of two religions at once, which coexisted peacefully within the walls of the temple. You won't find this anywhere else.

But there is one more feature. Despite its size and importance for the Khmer Empire, the temple was not open to everyone. Only the elite - representatives of the nobility and kings - could get outside its walls to perform prayers. Here they found the last refuge of the souls of the deceased rulers, and their bodies forever occupied the designated places in the tomb. This is due to one feature of the local religion of that time. The Khmers believed that the gods lived in the temple, so only selected representatives of the spiritual and secular nobility could communicate with them and see them. Here, every detail has its own meaning and plays a certain role. Three huge towers are shaped like lotus buds, and their design is complemented by special sculptures and a unique bas-relief.

The total area of ​​the temple complex, which has the shape of a rectangle, is nearly 200 hectares! And without exception, all buildings were erected in an original way - from top to bottom. Archaeologists and scientists have not seen such technology anywhere on the planet.

It is believed that appearance and the structure of the complex eventually had to match the legendary sacred mountain least. The buildings seem to repeat all its outlines: the towers are its peak, the outer walls are rocky ledges, and the moat at the foot is the ocean that surrounds the Universe.

The Khmers spared neither effort nor jewels to create a unique temple complex. Initially, Angkor Wat was the most impressive in its rich content. religious center Khmer. But as a result of the civil war, the invasion of atheists, better known as the "Khmer Rouge" and Pol Pot's soldiers in the 1970s, most of the decorations and artifacts were looted, and irreparable damage was caused to the complex itself. It was possible to protect the temple from the invasion of vandals only in 1992, when UNESCO controlled it.

Tour of the ancient temple

Today, tourist tours of the temple complex are available to almost everyone. The main requirement is to comply simple rules stay in the temple and respect this cultural and architectural monument.

Angkor Wat will give one of the most vivid impressions to anyone who finds himself in Cambodia. Exotic adventures, history soaked Eastern culture and amazing religion - this is only a small fraction of what you have to get acquainted with outside its walls.

You also need to know that the complex of buildings includes several dozen temples and individual buildings, and the entire irrigation system, which is 900 years old, still works properly and performs its functions today. special attention deserve the temple mountain, which has the name Bayon, the images of the main god Buddha, carved from stone, the Elephant Terrace and the statue of the Leper King. Of course, to describe in words grandiose creation human hands is impossible. Each building is made in a special style and has its own characteristics. Let's take a closer look at some of the sights.

One of the earliest buildings of Angkora is Phnom Bakheng. It is believed that it was built in the ninth century and eventually received the appearance of a structure with five tiers and several towers. The central area of ​​the complex is called Angkor Thom, which literally means "big city". Along the entire perimeter, it is surrounded by a water channel and walls (100 m and 8 m, respectively). The citadel includes five gates that surround tall towers, the walls of which are decorated with images of deities.

Behind the walls of the citadel is the Bayon pyramid, which has already been mentioned above. It is surrounded by 54 towers. There are also such attractions as the Bafuon temple (more precisely, its ruins that have survived to this day), the palace, the sanctuaries of Baphuop and Pimeanakas (which is better known as the “Palace of Heaven”), the Elephant Terrace (from which the rulers watched the progress of all ceremonies). Here you can also enjoy the original features of the Gates of Victory and stone bridges, which are decorated with the faces of the gods.

If the buildings mentioned above, for the most part, were subjected to partial or complete restoration, then some churches retained their original appearance. For example, Ta-Prom.

How to get there and where to stay

You can get to the temple complex from Phnom Penh (240 km) or from Siem Reap (6 km). It is Siem Reap that is most popular among tourists, since recently it has been actively developing travel business. For the convenience of visiting Angkor Wat, which hundreds of thousands of tourists go to see every year, an airport was built here. international importance, and the mass of modern hotels will provide convenience for visitors without any problems. Getting to the temple complex from here is quite easy. This is what has made it so popular among tourists.

If you are going on a tourist visit to Cambodia for the first time, it is better to use the services of a guide. Even today, the territory of the country is littered with mines and other life-threatening and health-threatening reminders of the Khmer Rouge invasion. Therefore, it is easiest to get safely to the temple and get the impressions that you came here for as part of a tourist group led by an experienced guide.