What is angkor. World heritage under the supervision of unesco. Arrival in Siem Reap

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 ah can denote 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 occupies 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 sacred place visited by the first Europeans. 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:

Preacher Charles-Emile Buyevo, who published a two-volume book of his impressions from visiting this place.
Naturalist and traveler Henri Muo, who popularized the great Khmer temple among Westerners.
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:

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.
Forgery of a ticket is punishable by law, as well as looting and damage to the property of Angkor.
At 5 o'clock in the morning it is customary to meet the dawn here, and the complex closes at 17:30.
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.
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 through which you can go down to the territory former city. There are two library buildings located symmetrically on both sides of the road, with ponds in front of them. These reservoirs, like the terrace in the form of a cross, into which the main road, 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 the 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.

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 other 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 more 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 a classic route of inspection. temple complex Angkor, 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 Angkor, which is 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

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 loved this place, but he especially liked 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 sacred mountain Meru surrounded by the 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.

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 at different times of the day: 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 V South-East 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-Prom was built during the reign of Jayavarman as a Buddhist temple, occupying a vast 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 a large amount of jewelry was stored in its treasuries. 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.

Angkor Wat is a giant temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu in Cambodia. Is the largest ever created places of worship and one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150).

Angkor Wat is located 5.5 km north of modern city Siem Reap, the capital of the Cambodian province of the same name, and is part of the temple complex built in the area ancient capital Khmer states, the city of Angkor. Angkor covers an area of 200 km²; recent research suggests that it may have covered an area of about 3,000 km² and a population of up to half a million inhabitants, making it one of the largest human settlements of the pre-industrial era.

It was discovered only in the 19th century by the French traveler Henri Muo. Many bizarre buildings with sprouted trees and shrubs appeared to his astonished gaze. Currently, this complex attracts many tourists from all over the world.

13th century Khmer Buddhist temple at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Trees sprouted through the buildings.

Angkor Wat from a bird's eye view. The surrounding moat is clearly visible.

Pre Rup, one of the many ruined temples of Angkor Wat. It was built in 961 by order of the Khmer king Rajendravarman, who was also buried here.

Statue in Bayon temple.

The terrace of Angkor Thom is made up of elephant statues.

Bizarre combinations of trees and buildings, corridors and labyrinths of Bayon.

Apsaras, detail of the lower pediment. Bayon style, end 12 - early. 13th century, sandstone.

Terrace of the Leper King at Angkor Thom.

Banteay Srei (left): This is a 10th century Khmer architecture temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Samre (Right): Located about 500m east of East Baray, is one of the temples of Angkor.

Banteay Srey Temple is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century: Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom.

Through the roots and trunks of trees, the image of the Buddha appears.

Buddhist monks in front of the pool, which is located in front of the central temple of Angkor Wat.

Two small temples, Thommanon and Chao, are located to the east of Angkor Thom.

Bas-relief on the wall in the Terrace of the Leper King, part Royal Square Angkor Thom - Angkor Wat.

Ta Prohm Temple, Angkor, Cambodia.

Bas-reliefs and corridors Buddhist temple Angkor Ta Prom. It dates back to the 12th century and was built by King Jayavarman VII, who is considered one of the greatest rulers of the ancient Khmer empire.

Tight interlacing of tree roots and stones of Ta Prohm temple.

The heads of mythical characters are located above the moat leading to south gate Angkor Thom.

This artificial island With Buddhist temple Preah Khan Baray.

Phimeanakas was "built in the late 10th century, during the reign of Rajendravarman (941-968), and then rebuilt by Suryavarman II as a three-tiered pyramid, like a Hindu temple.

Phnom Bakheng is located between Angkor Wat and Bayon.

Prasat Preah Palilay.

Prasat Sister Prat is a series of 12 towers in Angkor Thom.

View of the ruins of the Temple of Preah Khan at Angkor in Cambodia. Preah Khan was built by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, dedicated to his father, Dharanindravarman II.