The largest temple in Cambodia. Ankor wat, cambodia - the largest temple in the world. The cost of renting a car in Angkor

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History paragraph

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

Temples of Angkor

Phnom Bakheng

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

angkor thom

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

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

ancient angkor

bayon temple

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

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

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

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

Ta Prohm - temples swallowed up by the jungle

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

Why did people leave the largest temple in the world? What is the connection of the Angkor Wat complex with the spiral of the constellation Draco? Why was a dinosaur depicted on the bas-relief of Angkor Wat? The article reflects the point of view of official history and chronology.

The temple complex of Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple not only in Cambodia, but also in the World, the largest religious building of mankind, created according to the traditional version by the Khmer king Suryavarman II about a thousand years ago. (1113-1150 AD)

The construction of the temple of Angkor Wat lasted 30 years, it became the largest temple in the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. The area of ​​Angkor Wat is 2.5 sq. km. (This is almost 3 times larger than the area of ​​the Vatican), and the size of the entire ancient Khmer capital of Angkor with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants exceeded 200 square kilometers. For comparison, for example, the second largest known city of the same ancient era was the city of Tikal - the largest city of the Maya civilization, located on the territory of modern Guatemala. Its size was about 100 sq. km., that is, 10 times smaller, and the population was only from 100 to 200 thousand people.

Tourist map of the location of the main temples of Angkor

Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the ancient capital, but far from the only one. The city of Angkor - being the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries, included many Hindu and Buddhist temples, many of which are quite well preserved to this day. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and characterizes different periods of the heyday of the power of the Khmer Empire. Later historians will call this period of Khmer history - Angkorian.

Main entrance to Angkor Wat from the western side

The construction of Angkor lasted about 400 years. It was started by the founder of the Angkorian dynasty, the Hindu prince Jayavarman II in 802, who declared himself the "universal ruler" and "Sun King" in Cambodia. The last temple complexes were erected in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. After his death in 1218, construction ceased. The reason for this, according to one version, was that the Khmer Empire simply ran out of sandstone deposits, according to another, the empire found itself in a brutal war and it was impossible to continue construction. The Angkorian period of Khmer history ended in 1431, when the Thai invaders finally captured and sacked the Khmer capital and forced the population to move south to the Phnom Penh region, which became the new Khmer capital. However, historians are still looking for evidence of the true reasons for the fall of the Khmer Empire.

190 meters wide moat around Angkor Wat

In Angkor, the largest temple complexes stand out - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (which includes several temples at once, the largest of which is the Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Preah Kan. The most remarkable temple was and remains Angkor Wat, which is still the largest religious building in the world. Its height is 65 meters. The temple is surrounded by a giant moat 190 meters wide, measuring 1300 meters by 1500 meters. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150) in 30 years, Angkor Wat became the largest sacred building in the world. After the death of King Suryavarman II, the temple accepted him into its walls and became a tomb-mausoleum.

Angkor Wat - The story of the discovery of the lost city of Angkor

Anchor Wat gained wide popularity in the modern world after the publication in 1861 of the diaries and reports of the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muo about his expeditions in Indochina. The following lines can be found in his diary:

“The monuments of building art that I have seen are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are an example of the highest level in comparison with any monuments that have survived from ancient times. I have never felt so happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never trade this life for the pleasures and comforts of the civilized world.”

View of Angkor Wat from the northwest side (reflection in the water)

Henri Mouhot (fr. Henri Mouhot) was born in 1826 in France, and from the age of 18 he taught French and Greek at the Russian military academy in St. Petersburg. After returning to his homeland, he married the daughter of a famous English explorer and moved to Scotland. And already in 1857, Henri Muo decided to travel to Southeast Asia (Indochina) to collect zoological specimens. During his time in Asia, he traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Perhaps he had a presentiment, a few months after the last visit to Angkor Wat, in 1861 he died of malaria, on his fourth expedition to Laos. He was buried in the same place, near the capital Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang), the location of his tomb is known even now. The diaries of Henri Muo are stored in London, in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society (Royal Geographical Society, London).

Tomb of the French explorer Henri Muo (1826-1861) in Laos

The greatness of the Angkor Wat temple he saw for the first time shocked Henri Muo, in his notes he wrote the following about Angkor Wat:

“The temple is incomprehensible to the mind and beyond all imagination. You look in embarrassment and confusion, admire and, seized with reverence, freeze in reverent silence ... How sublime must have been the genius of this Michelangelo of the East, the genius of the creator of such a wondrous creation! He managed to connect the various parts into a single whole with such art that one can only be surprised at this. He followed the fulfillment of his dreams and achieved, both in general and in particular, such completeness of details worthy of the whole, which only the most gifted can do.

The majestic central tower of Angkor Wat

The etymology of the name of the temple of Angkor Wat

"Angkor Wat" is not the original name of the temple, as neither the foundation stelae of the temple nor any inscriptions regarding the name of the time have been found. What the ancient temple city was then called is unknown, and it is likely that it was called "Vrah Vishnulok" (literally "Place of Saint Vishnu"), in honor of the god to whom it was dedicated.

View of Angkor Wat from the northeast side of the building

Most likely, the name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara", meaning "city". In Khmer, it is read as “noko” (“kingdom, country, city”), however, in common speech, it is much more convenient for Khmers to pronounce “ongko”. The latter is very consonant with the concept of harvest close to the peasants, and can be literally translated as "harvested rice grains."

The young descendants of the almighty demigod king Suryavarman II

Over the centuries, the reduced common people "ongko" acquired the meaning of a proper name, which was fixed in the name of the ancient metropolitan area of ​​Angkor (or Ongkor), the former capital of the Angkor Empire, angkor thom and the temple of Angkor Wat.

Everything in this world is subject to nature - even the walls of the great Angkor

The word “Wat” comes from the Pali expression “vatthu-arama” (“the place where the temple is built”), which denoted the sacred land of the monastery monastery, but in many countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) it has long had a broader meaning , referring to any Buddhist monastery, temple or pagoda. In Khmer, "woat" can mean both "temple" and "reverence, admiration." Indeed, Angkor Wat - the largest temple of the city of the gods of Angkor, is a symbol of national pride of the Khmers.

Sculptures of seven-headed snakes on the way to the temple

In Khmer, the name of Angkor Wat is pronounced "Ongkowoat". In the vast majority of sources, it is interpreted as a "temple city". Since the name "Angkor" has been used in the meaning of a proper name since the 15th-16th centuries, a more accurate translation can be assumed - "the temple of Angkor".

In the backyard of Angkor Wat

Why did people leave the largest temple in the world?

The reason why the Khmers left the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat, at the mercy of the jungle about 500 years ago and left Angkor to explore the new capital of their kingdom, Phnom Penh, is still the subject of discussion among historians and archaeologists. For more than 100 years, hundreds of archaeologists from all over the world have been trying to lift the veil of secrecy over the ancient Khmer capital - the city of the gods Angkor. The fact is that the past has left us a negligible amount of written evidence related to the history of the construction of temples in Angkor. The painstaking work of many years of researchers is gradually revealing to us the secrets of the sacred temple of Angkor Wat, making new adjustments to various historical theories related to its origin and purpose.

A rare shot of the temple wall when there are no tourists and a contrasting sky

Khmer temples were never intended for gatherings of believers, they were built as a dwelling place for the gods. Access to the central buildings of the complexes was open only to priests and monarchs. The largest temple in the city of the gods, Angkor Wat had an additional function: it was originally planned as a burial place for kings.

Top view of Angkor Wat (Height 200 meters)

It is noteworthy that the successors of Jayavarman II followed his building principles. Each new ruler completed the city in such a way that its core was constantly moving: the center of the old city was on the outskirts of the new one. So this giant city gradually grew. In the center, each time a five-tower temple was erected, symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the world. As a result, Angkor turned into a whole city of temples. The splendor of the Khmer Empire was somewhat dimmed during the hard and long wars with the Tyams and Tays. In 1431, Thai (Siamese) troops completely captured Angkor: the city was depopulated, as if a ruthless epidemic had swept through it. Over time, the humid climate and lush vegetation turned the capital into ruins and the jungle completely swallowed it up.

The entire territory of Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, only the area around the temples was cleared

Hard times (external and internal wars) in the history of Cambodia (Kampuchea) did not allow foreigners to visit the brilliant masterpiece of Asian architecture. For a long time, the temples of Angkor were difficult to access for a wide range of researchers, archaeologists and historians. The situation changed in December 1992, when the temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, which deservedly added to the list of one of the largest temples in the world, were included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage sites, and a year later the International Coordinating committee, which set as its goal to revive the former splendor of Angkor. Sources of financing for the project were found and active restoration work began. Huge trees are cut down that destroy walls, entrances, ceilings, walls, paths are restored. Scientists from different countries take an active part in restoring the history of Angkor. There will be enough work for everyone for many decades.

Internal passages in different temples of Angkor are very similar

The mysterious connection of Angkor with the spiral of the constellation Draco

In 1996, the British archaeologist and historian John Grigsby, exploring Angkor, came to the conclusion that the Angkor temple complex is an earthly projection of a certain section of the Milky Way, and the main structures of Angkor model the wavy spiral of the northern constellation Draco. To begin research in the direction of searching for correlations between heaven and earth in relation to Angkor, he was prompted by a mysterious inscription from the time of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer king during whose time Angkor Thom and Bayon were built in the 12th century. On a stele excavated on the territory of the Bayon temple, it was inscribed - "the country of Kambu is similar to the sky."

Constellation Draco and Ursa Minor in our time

A certain connection with the stars was also indicated by the inscription made by the builders of the large pyramidal temple of Phnom Bakeng, built during the time of King Yasovarman I (889-900 AD). The inscription says that the purpose of the temple is to symbolize "with its stones the celestial movements of the stars." The question arose whether there existed in Cambodia a correlation of heaven and earth similar to the Egyptian (connection of the pyramids of Giza with the constellation Orion)?

The exact layout of the main temples of Angkor

The fact is that the projection of the constellation of the dragon by the main temples of Angkor on Earth turned out to be not entirely accurate. The distances between the temples are proportional to the distances between the stars, but the mutual arrangement of the temples, that is, the angles between the segments connecting the temples, does not exactly repeat the picture in the sky. In addition, it should be noted that Angkor is not a projection of the Draco constellation on the earth's surface, but a projection of an entire section of the sky around the Dragon, including several stars from the Northern Crown, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, Deneb from Cygnus. All sacred places on Earth reproduce this or that part of the sky along the Milky Way.

The constellation of the dragon 10500 BC

In the same 1996, another British amateur researcher, John Grigsby, joined the scientific and historical work on Angkor. Having set out to establish the exact date when the sky pattern corresponded to a given location of temples in Angkor, they did a lot of research work using computer technology. The results of their research stirred up the world archaeological community. Computer research has shown that the main temples of Angkor are indeed terrestrial reflections of the stars of the constellation Draco and that it was in this position that the stars were on the day of the spring equinox in 10500 BC. e.

Comparison of the layout of the temples of Angkor and the stars of the constellation Draco

Now few people doubt the fact that Angkor was really built between the 9th and 13th centuries. AD, however, how could the subjects of the Cambodian kings know the picture of the sky more than 10,000 years ago, because by their time the precession had already hidden part of the projected picture beyond the horizon. It was hypothesized that all the main temples of Angkor were built on more ancient structures, as evidenced by the huge slabs of facing artificial channels made of megaliths, the presence of polygonal masonry, high skill in stone processing, stone castles, but it is not known when those were built. However, if they were already projecting the constellation Draco...

Covered with kilometers of fine carving, the huge masonry stones of the temples fit perfectly to each other, are not fastened by anything and are held only by their own weight. There are temples where it is impossible to stick a blade between the stones, moreover, they are irregularly shaped and curved, like puzzles, where none of the modern technologies is able to recreate the experienced beauty of these temples.

Magnificent bas-reliefs on the outer walls of Angkor Wat Apsara - Sky Dancers

Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could Khmers see dinosaurs?

The hypothesis of the creation of Angkor in the XI century BC. does not contradict the fact that the temples, as we see them today, were built between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. e. famous Khmer monarchs, but not everything is so simple. For example, the temple of Ta-Prom is full of intricately carved statues and stone columns with bas-reliefs carved on them. Along with images of gods and goddesses of ancient Hindu mythological scenes, hundreds of bas-reliefs depict real animals (elephants, snakes, fish, monkeys). Nearly every inch of gray sandstone is covered with decorative carvings. What was the amazement of scientists who discovered in Ta-Prom on one of the columns an image Stegosaurus- a herbivorous dinosaur that existed 155-145 million years ago.

Researchers have proven that this bas-relief is not a fake. One can only guess where the Khmers saw the stegosaurus? How to explain it?

Bas-relief depicting a Stegosaurus on one of the columns of Angkor Wat

Sacred numerology of Angkor - coincidence or prophecy?

What is this mysterious date - the day of the vernal equinox 10500 BC? It was on this day that the stars of the constellation of the dragon were in the projection that the Angkor temple complex reproduces on earth, if you look at it from above. This date is associated with the process of precession of celestial bodies. The Earth is like a giant top, under the influence of the gravity of the Sun and the Moon, it makes a slow circular rotation. The Moon and the Sun, by their attraction, tend to rotate the axis of the Earth, as a result, the phenomenon of precession occurs.

The projection of the earth's axis, as it were, outlines a giant circle in the North of the celestial sphere, covering the constellations Draco and Ursa Minor. At the edge of the circle are Vega, Alpha Draconis and Polaris. This movement of the earth's axis along a circular line, a kind of swaying of the axis of rotation, is called precession.

Schematic representation of the precession of the earth's axis

Astrologers believe that the cycle of precession is 25920 years, the so-called Great Year (the period during which the pole of the celestial equator makes a complete circle around the pole of the ecliptic). During this time, the earth's axis passes a full circle in the Zodiac. Moreover, one astrological era is equal to 1/12 of the cycle (25920:12=2160) and is 2160 years. One month of the Great Year, lasting 2160 Earth years, is the astrological epoch. Each space epoch (2160 earth years) represents a whole stage in the development of mankind, associated with the sign of the Zodiac through which the earth's axis passes. This period was somehow mystically known to the famous Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that this (25920 years) is the period of existence of earthly civilization. Therefore, the period of precession is also called the Great Platonic Year (Great Year of Plato). One day of the Great Year is theoretically equal to 72 of our years (25920:360=72 years - the earth's axis passes 1 ecliptic).

Movement along the stellar spiral of time - Everything returns to normal ...

Today, the North Pole of the world is, as you know, the North Star, but this was not always the case, and in the III millennium BC. The North Pole of the world was located where the star α (Alpha) - the Dragon is located. The precession of the earth's axis is known to cause a visible change in the position of the stars with a period of 25,920 years, that is, 1 degree is 72 years. In 10,500 B.C. at the lowest point of the trajectory was the constellation Orion, and at the highest - the constellation Draco. There is a kind of "Orion-Dragon pendulum". Since then, the precessional process has managed to turn the celestial pole half a circle relative to the ecliptic pole, and today Draco is near the lowest point, and Orion is the highest. MIT history professor Giorgio de Santillana and his colleague, Dr. Herta von Dehehend, based on their research, concluded that the entire Angkor is a huge precession model. The following facts speak in its favor:

At Angkor Wat, 108 nagas are shown pulling a huge spinning top in two directions (54 by 54);

On both sides of the 5 bridges leading to the gates to the Temple of Angkor Thom, there are huge sculptures in parallel rows - 54 Devas and 54 Asuras. 108x5 = 540 statues x 48=25920;

The Bayon temple is surrounded by 54 massive stone towers, each of which has four giant faces of Lokeshvara carved, oriented to the north, south, east and west, which in total is 216 faces - (216:3=72), (216:2=108 ). 216 - 10 times less than the duration of one precessional era (2160 years); 108 is 216 divided by two;

The central sanctuary of Phnom Bakheng is surrounded by 108 turrets. The number 108, one of the most sacred in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is equal to the sum of 72 and 36 (that is, 72 plus half of 72);

A regular pentagon has an angle of 108 degrees, and the sum of its 5 angles is 540 degrees;

The distance between the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, where the sages ruled, who walked the astronomical "road of Horus", and the sacred temples of Angkor in Cambodia, with a slight rounding, is an important geodetic value - 72 degrees of longitude. From the ancient Egyptian language "Ankh-Khor" literally translates as "the god Horus lives";

In total, Angkor has 72 main stone and brick temples and monuments.

The length of the sections of the main roads in Angkor Wat reflects the duration of the four yugas (the great world eras of Hindu philosophy and cosmology) - Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Their duration is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. And in Angkor Wat, the length of the main sections of the road is 1728, 1296, 864 and 432 huts.

They look at us from the walls of temples through the millennia and ... smile)))

The cosmic meaning of the number 72 and its power over humanity

Let us dwell on the sacred number - 72 in more detail, because there are too many coincidences associated with it in our life:

The number 72 is considered a sacred number in all religions.

The Khmer alphabet has 72 letters and the same number of sounds.

The ancient Indian language "Sanskrit" (the language of classical Indian literature, sacred texts, mantras and rituals of Hinduism, Jainism, and partly Buddhism) uses the Devanagari alphabet. Devanagari means "writing of the Gods" or "Urban language" and there are 36 phoneme letters in Devanagari of classical Sanskrit (72:2=36). Devanagari uses 72 basic ligatures (combinations of consonants represented by an independent character).

The oldest runic system, the so-called "Elder Futhark" consists of 24 runes, each rune can represent a letter, syllable, word or image. Moreover, the image is of paramount importance. But in one rune, up to three images can be hidden, depending on the context (24x3=72). Moreover, all these images will be connected in one way or another. The ancient runic alphabet became the root for almost all existing Indo-European alphabets. Those 24 runes that they know today are the third part of the real language, because if you multiply 24 by three, you get just 72 runes. Because the ancients taught that the world is three-fold. One of them is the earthly world of Getig, the second is the intermediate world of Ritag, and the third is the upper world of Menog. Here are the three forms of runes.

In the ancient Avestan language (the language of the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism) there were 72 letters for all possible pronunciations of sounds;

The most significant book of the Avesta is Yasna, which is a text read at the main Zoroastrian liturgy "Yasna", contains 72 chapters;

The number 72, both in Sanskrit and in the original Avesta, found its manifestation in the 72 threads of the sacred Kushti belt, which every Zoroastrian has, as a symbolic connection to religion, or rather, as an umbilical cord connecting a person with the Lord God.

In Judaism, the number 72 is considered sacred and is inextricably linked with the name of God, the forbidden name to which the universe is subject. These are 72 sequences of letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each of which corresponds to a specific sound, which have an amazing power to overcome the laws of nature in all forms, including human nature. According to legend, the name of God encompasses everything that exists, which means that one who knows how to pronounce it correctly will be able to ask the Creator for whatever he wants.

The unpronounceable name of God is the main subject of study of medieval Kabbalists. It was believed that this name contains all the forces of nature, it contains the very essence of the universe. The name of God is also depicted by the tetragrammaton - a triangle with letters inscribed in it. If you add up the numerical values ​​of the letters placed in the tetragrammaton, it turns out - 72.

In the legend about the Tabernacle (Temple), the ancient Jews mention 72 almond buds, with which they decorated the candlestick used in the sacred rite, it is a combination of 12 and 6 (that is, half of 12) and personifies realized harmony. The mystical root of the number 72 is also the legendary nine.

The number 72 is the number of the mother of God. She left this world at the age of 72. No wonder Vysotsky sings in one of his songs: “girl, 72nd, don’t leave the altar!”;

The human DNA molecule is a rotating cube. When the cube is rotated sequentially by 72 degrees according to a certain model, an icosahedron is obtained, which, in turn, is a pair of a dodecahedron. Thus, the double strand of the DNA helix is ​​built on the principle of two-way correspondence: the icosahedron is followed by the dodecahedron, then again the icosahedron, and so on. This sequential rotation through the cube by 72 degrees creates a DNA molecule.

The points of intersection of the diagonals in the pentagon are always points of the "golden section"

Three-level device of the temple of Angkor Wat

The Angkor Wat temple complex has three levels. It consists of a series of concentric, rectangular enclosed spaces, including three rectangular galleries, each towering over the next with open courtyards, interconnected by cruciform galleries. In fact, Angkor Wat is a huge three-tiered pyramid.

One of the views of Angkor Wat

Climbing the stairs and passing through the first two of three successively ascending galleries, one enters the third gallery, famous for its bas-reliefs, most of which are magnificent in their execution.

One of the bas-reliefs on the wall of Angkor Wat - Scene from the life of the Khmer king

Apart from the bas-reliefs in the corner pavilions, they stretch for almost 700 meters, being almost 2 meters high, being the longest bas-reliefs in the world. Thousands of figures depict scenes from the Hindu epic Bhagavad Purana, palace and military life in the days of Suryavarman II, the founder of the temple of Angkor Wat.

Ancient warriors on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat

Since the main entrance to Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat with water 190 meters wide around the perimeter, forming a square-shaped island, the temple grounds can only be reached by stone bridges on the western and eastern sides of the temple. The main entrance to Angkor Wat from the west is a wide pavement built from massive sandstone blocks. Crossing the cruciform terrace, which is a later addition to the complex, we see ahead of us the entrance to the western gopura with the remains of three towers.

Directly at the main entrance to Angkor Wat

Now the entrance to the gopura is on the right, through the sanctuary under the south tower, where the eight-armed statue of Vishnu fills the entire space. This statue, which clearly has little space in this room, may have originally been located in the central sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Large statue of the ten-armed god Vishnu - Angkor Wat Temple

After passing through the gopura, a magnificent view of the main temple towers at the end of the road opens up. At sunrise they are surrounded by the radiant silhouette of the morning sky, and at sunset they glow orange. Continuing our way inside Angkor Wat, we observe on both sides of the main road - two large, so-called "libraries" with four entrances to each side of the world. They were a kind of sanctuaries, and not warehouses of manuscripts, as the name suggests.

Breathtaking Sunrise Over Angkor Wat

Closer to the temple, on both sides of the road, there are two more reservoirs dug later, in the 16th century. Inside the temple you will be greeted by 1800 apsaras (celestial dancers).

Along with tourists, Buddhist monks are frequent visitors to Angkor Wat.

Climbing up to the second level of the temple, you can see a breathtaking sight - the peaks of the central towers rising from behind the courtyard. From the entrance, to all the central towers, as well as the two internal libraries of the second level, you can go over pedestrian bridges on short round posts.

View from the second floor of the temple

Gradually climbing the stone steps to the highest, third level of the Angkor Wat temple - the heart of the complex, huge conical towers open, located in the center and corners of the square, symbolizing the five heavenly peaks of the sacred Mount Meru - the center of the universe.

One of the four large corner towers of Angkor Wat

The highest level of Angkor Wat and its galleries only emphasize the perfect proportions of the famous towers of the temple and make the overall view unforgettable. The central tower, or altar, was the abode of the god Vishnu, and since Angkor Wat was originally a Vishnu temple, and only later turned into a Buddhist one, it once stood a statue of Vishnu, perhaps the one that now stands at the entrance to the western gopura. It was an ancient custom among the Khmers to make offerings to the god in the form of gold sheets or small gems, which were left in a recess below the statue of the god. Unfortunately, these offerings have been looted over the centuries.

One of the buddha statues inside the temple

Today, only some of the statues of the god Vishnu or Buddha are displayed in the southern part of the galleries. The large reclining Buddha is still worshiped by local and Asian visitors.

"Buddha sleeps" - This Buddha statue, a place of special reverence for Buddhists in Angkor Wat

The entire temple capital of Angkor and the largest temple of Angkor Wat in particular is the soul and heart of the Khmer people, the people of free Kampuchea, a symbol of the prosperity of the Khmer civilization, which had a huge impact on the cultures of all the states of Southeast Asia. The image of the temple of Angkor Wat adorns the national flag of Cambodia (Kampuchea) and is its symbol.

State flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Kampuchea, Cambodia)

The era of Angkor lasted seven centuries. Many believe that the founders of the city of the gods Angkor were descendants of a previous civilization and this is a direct legacy of the great and mysterious Atlantis. Until now, the battles of historians over the officially announced dates for the construction of temples in Angkor and Angkor Wat have not ceased. There are more and more facts indicating that people settled in these places long before the heyday of the Khmer culture, but in the dates, many sources contradict each other, and quite significantly.

The great story of Angkor continues to save our souls...

However, all figures quite accurately reflect the peak of the heyday and greatness of the Khmer Angkorian era, in which the highest cultural achievements were achieved. The history of this period, which left us no paper manuscripts, is being restored with the help of inscriptions in Pali, Sanskrit and Khmer found on the monuments and sculptures of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes of Angkor. Active archaeological and historical research in Angkor continues to this day, continuing to amaze the world with new discoveries of the secrets and mysteries of the great temple of Angkor Wat.

Documentary "Angkor Wat - Home worthy of the gods"

Angkor Wat - A Home Fit for the Gods is a non-fiction documentary film from National Geographic's "Superstructures of Antiquity" series dedicated to the world-famous temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia (Kampuchea). The authors of the film made an attempt to show the grandeur of the city of the gods Angkor and reveal the secret of the construction of the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Abandoned by people under unclear circumstances more than 500 years ago, the Cambodian city of Angkor impresses with its scale - it is a giant stone map of the universe and one of the most remarkable creations of mankind.

- this is the visiting card of Cambodia, Siem Reap, and possibly the whole of Southeast Asia. But in fact, Angkor Wat is just one of the most famous temples of Angkor, and in addition to it, more than a hundred other temples, of varying degrees of interest and integrity, are located on the territory of the archaeological complex. But in this post I want to talk about only one of the temples of Angkor - directly about Angkor Wat, which is depicted on the flag of Cambodia.

Angkor Wat (Angkor Wat)- this is the modern name of the temple complex, which in translation means "Temple City" Unfortunately, its historical name has not come down to us.

It is believed that "Angkor" comes from the word "nagara", which in Sanskrit means a city or capital. Wat means temple. And so it turned out Angkor Wat - Temple City.

angkor wat- is one of the largest places of worship ever built in the world, well, at least of those that have somehow survived to this day. Initially, it was a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, but over time it became a Buddhist one.

A lot of secrets and legends, conjectures and assumptions are connected with it. Without pretending to encyclopedic knowledge, I will try to collect at least some of the reliable and interesting information about Angkor Wat in this post.

angkor wat

Location: .

Important: Angkor Wat is usually viewed within the framework of small circle and this first point this route.

Working hours: With 5:00 before 17:30

Important: Angkor Wat opens to the public before all the other temples of Angkor. It is customary to meet the dawn here, and it is so popular that behind the backs of tourists there is a risk of not seeing the temple itself ☺. I would recommend coming to the temple no earlier than 10:00 when the bulk of the "dawn greeters" subside. To visit Angkor Wat, you need to lay a minimum 2 hours This is the bare minimum, more is better.

Visit cost:

• 1 day ticket - 37$ ;
• Ticket for 3 days - 62$ ;
• Ticket for 7 days - 72$ .

Important: The ticket price includes not only Angkor Wat, but also other temples of the Angkor group. You can read more about visiting Angkor here (the post is still under development).

So, let's start with some fun math ☺.

• Angkor Wat is located on 72 degrees east of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
• Angkor Wat is located in 5.5 km north of the modern city of Siem Reap;
• Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat that is 200 meters, and the length of each of its sides - 1500 meters;
• The height of the main tower (gopuras, maize) 65 meters from ground level, while over the entire territory of the temple it rises to 42 meters. Those. that's about the height of a modern 21-story building!
• 1800 Apsaras depicted on the walls of Angkor Wat. To be honest, I read this information in a not very trusted source, and we ourselves did not count the apsaras either. If suddenly someone decides to take on this hard work - let me know how many apsaras (I'll tell you about who they are somehow separately) are depicted on the walls of Angkor Wat.

As I wrote above, Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple, and he himself symbolized the mythical Mount Meru - the abode of the gods.

Here you need to understand that in the view of the Khmers during the construction of Angkor Wat, the temple was not at all a gathering place for believers. No, a temple is a place where the gods live, or at least occasionally appear. But the king Suryavarnam II somewhat departed from this rule and wished to make Angkor Wat his tomb in order to be closer to the gods.

Angkor Wat is built of laterite, we have already talked about this interesting material in our article about the wonderful. For bas-reliefs and other "finishing works" sandstone was used here.

At the same time, laterite blocks were so smooth that they were perfectly adjusted to each other, almost without gaps, without even using any joint mortar.

In some places, the blocks are held only by their own weight, and in some places they had to use various methods of fastening, such as latches, pins, etc.

The main entrance to Angkor Wat is located on the western side of the complex and a wide sandstone and laterite bridge leads to it. But during our visit, the bridge was under reconstruction, and a pantone bridge was built nearby. Restoration work must be completed by 2020.

The first thing that opens on the territory of Angkor Wat is two slightly more modern library buildings.

It is assumed that books, manuscripts and some temple valuables were previously stored there. Now the buildings are empty, although sometimes “messages” from our contemporaries appear on their walls.

But the main goal of tourists and pilgrims, of which there are many here, is the central gopuras, the very projection of the divine Mount Meru.

Important: what you need to know when visiting gopura (corn):

• In order to go upstairs, you will have to stand in line, unreasonably it takes an average of 15 minutes, what happens in the season is scary to imagine;
• The stones heat up very quickly, stock up on water - for thirst, an umbrella - for shade, patience - for yourself;
• No more than 100 people can go upstairs at a time, the rest will patiently wait until they finish the tour;
• The stairs to the gopuras are very steep and you have to be very careful on them. With us, a woman turned up on the descent - not pleasant enough;
• Clothing Requirements: Knees and shoulders must be covered. Moreover, just a stole will not work, you definitely need a T-shirt!

From the top there are stunning views of the entire Angkor Wat.

Only from above you can fully understand and appreciate the beauty and geometry of Angkor Wat.

In general, if someone wants to better prepare for a visit to Angkor Wat, or someone is interested in this topic, or maybe there is simply a desire to learn something new and interesting, we recommend watching the movie Superstructures of antiquity: Angkor Wat from national geographic:

Angkor Wat- the greatest temple complex in Cambodia with an area of ​​\u200b\u200babout 200 hectares and a height of 65 meters, built by the ancient Khmers in the 12th century. The temple of Angkor Wat is one of the most recognizable monuments of Hindu architecture in the world, which attracts millions of tourists every year. I have wanted to see it with my own eyes ever since I heard about Angkor in Cambodia from an experienced travel friend. Located near the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia, it is the country's most significant landmark, and a schematic representation of the turrets of the main temple adorns any emblem in Cambodia, including the national flag. And the Khmer temple of Angkor Wat itself is recognized as one of the new wonders of the world.

Long before my first trip to Cambodia, I studied in detail the history of the construction of Angkor Wat, and then, of course, my husband and I went to the Khmer country and saw it in all its glory. We did not book a tour, we just bought plane tickets and flew in on our own. And we liked it there so much that we returned more than once to discover new and interesting details on the territory of the main temple complex of Angkor every time. And now I will tell you in detail about visiting the main shrine of the Khmers, about the construction of Angkor Wat and the details that you need to pay attention to during the visit.

And I'll start by defining what Angkor Wat is.

What is Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple of the 12th century dedicated to the god Vishnu, the main attraction of Cambodia and one of the world's archaeological masterpieces, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located 6 kilometers north of the city of Siem Reap on the territory of the Angkor temple complex. Its name literally means "temple city", because the word "angkor" from the Khmer language is translated as "city".

According to Hindu cosmogony, Angkor Wat symbolizes the sacred Mount Meru - the place where the gods live - surrounded by mountains and the ocean. The architectural plan of the city combines elements that depict a heavenly city, as if transferred to earth. In this, the main Khmer temple of Angkor Wat is similar to the temple.

Basic information:

Interesting fact: Angkor Wat is a symbol of Khmer national pride and has been featured on the Cambodian flag since 1863.

View of Angkor Wat from above. Photo by Cambodian photographer Sok Sothy (A Sok Sothy picture)

I will especially note that Siem Reap is very conveniently located for visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex and it has all the conditions for the convenience of tourists coming from all over the world.

The history of Angkor Wat is closely linked to the rise of the Khmer kingdom in the 12th century. I have read several books on the history and architecture of the Khmers, and now I will briefly tell you about the most important thing - the construction of the brilliant temple complex of Angkor Wat.

The boom in the construction of temples in Cambodia occurred due to the combination of Indian traditions nurtured on Cambodian soil mixed with Javanese. This effect immediately singled out the Khmers among their neighbors. They began to build temples of two types:

1. temple mountain in the form of a stepped pyramid, dedicated to Shiva;
2. Temple at ground level to honor ancestors.

By honing their architectural skills and sometimes combining the incompatible or creating something unique, the inhabitants of the Angkor Empire came to the conclusion that the temple-mountain in form and content became irrelevant, and they focused on creating temples at ground level.

Who built Angkor Wat - historical background

Vishnu statue at Angkor Wat

To figure out who built Angkor Wat, let's first look at history. At the beginning of the 11th century, grandiose changes reigned in the Khmer political arena. Suryavarman I was more inclined towards Buddhism - whether for personal preference or for political reasons - but he began to introduce Buddhist elements into the construction of temples. Thus, the power of the Brahmins was balanced, who by this time felt their power so that they built their own temple -.

Suryavarman conquered Dvaravati, a Buddhist state in central Thailand, and his successors seemed to no longer live in Angkor, because for a long time no new Khmer temples appeared. But Phimai was erected (on the territory of modern eastern Thailand), as if the center of power had temporarily shifted there.

So when Suryavarman II reigned on the Khmer throne, it was necessary to take decisive measures and return the center to where it belonged, as it was conceived at the dawn of the formation of the empire. The king fought and built. The Khmer Empire occupied a huge size, and Angkor Wat began to take on its usual shape.

All in history Khmer Empire talks about progressive development, about the method of trial and error. Maybe this is what makes it different from many other ancient civilizations, where construction technology appeared immediately, and then deteriorated over time, until it was completely lost. In Egypt, there were no centuries of teaching, there were no courses for pyramid builders. In Peru and Bolivia, the most impressive achievements are the most ancient, such as or. Then comes the era of imitators. But in Cambodia, the process of consistent development and honing of architectural skills is clearly visible.

angkor wat

So, in the courtyard of the middle of the XII century - the heyday of the Khmer empire, and in Cambodia is being built angkor wat temple. Dedicated to Vishnu, it eventually became a Buddhist temple-monastery. First the sanctuary of the god and the palace of the king, then the tomb of its creator.

Combining all the advanced building techniques and architectural craftsmanship, Angkor Wat has become a unique combination - a temple-mountain at ground level. What did not work out in Jayavarman IV at Koh Ker, Suryavarman II was able to achieve. He built built an earthly version of the heavenly city. The result was a huge temple complex, which raised it up to the gods - a three-stage pyramid and the highest tower rise to 60 meters! The Khmers even have a legend about this, which says that Indra gave Angkor Wat to his human son so that he would not miss the heavenly city.

Schematic of the Angkor Wat temple. Photo from the book “Angkor. The Greatness of the Khmer Civilization" by Marilia Albanese

Interestingly, all Khmer temples usually face east, while the facade of Angkor Wat faces west. The western direction can be explained by various reasons: the west is the direction of Vishnu and a favorable location in relation to the previous capital. They began to look at each other. If the Khmers built the temple of Angkor Wat with a facade to the east, then it would stand, as if turning away from the past. And the Khmer believe in karma. Maybe that's why Angkor Wat survived the entire history of Cambodia - the change of religion, power and God knows what else. One way or another, he was reborn and became the face of the country.

From Angkor, roads stretched to all other temples in the form of an endless serpent. The tradition of the Nagas, which came from India, was entrenched, the Khmer snakes became a symbol of the rainbow, the connection of earth and sky. Therefore, it was the rainbow that connected the cities with the heavenly Angkor. We saw nagas back in Bagkong, but now they have become much more refined.

Cities of Angkor on the map and ancient Khmer roads to them

Naga snakes meet at the eastern entrance to Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat - photos and details

And now I will tell you about the main thing - how best to see Angkor Wat.

• The first time we visited Angkor Wat, we came to the western entrance. It seems to me that it is best to do just that - after all, then the turrets of the main prasat will gradually appear before your eyes as you walk along the stone road through the canal.
• Then there will be galleries, so long that you want to walk there for a long time. But they divert attention. After the first galleries, a huge temple area appears. Along the way, we entered lonely standing libraries on the right and left.
• And only at the end does Angkor Wat itself appear. How long one would not want to stand and admire it, but one must go inside, because the details of the Hindu temple are as curious as its appearance.

All roads and architectural elements in the Angkor Wat complex lead to the central prasat of the temple, which rises above everything and is the home of Vishnu. The temple was built with visual perception in mind. And when you examine it correctly, you understand the architects' idea.

Some unresolved technical problems in the construction of Angkor Wat still remain, for example, with stepped vaults. However, we can safely say that the Khmer Empire created a masterpiece of architecture, raising architectural excellence to an unattainable level.

Let's wander around this unusual place and admire the most important monument of Hindu architecture Angkor Wat in the photo.

Eastern entrance to Angkor. From here, despite the fact that this is not the most popular entrance, it is best to start exploring the monument if you are not visiting Angkor for the first time. Come in the morning - at this time the walls of the temple are very well lit.

The charming turrets of the Angkor Wat temple complex look especially stunning in the setting sun.

The charming turrets of Angkor Wat look especially stunning in the sunset.

The connected galleries, which first appeared in, surrounded the main temple of the Khmer Empire from all sides. And Banteay Srei shared rich bas-reliefs. And in the case of Angkor Wat, the scriptural scenes took up a much larger surface. Scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the reign of Suryavarman II and Vishnu - all achievements are embodied in one place. The king is equated with the gods, his deeds are compared with the heroic deeds sung in poems, his wars are compared with great battles. The bas-reliefs end with the story of the last battle, the Battle of Kurukshetra.

Stone drawings on the bas-reliefs make it possible to touch something ancient, and the size of the panel, which stretches over the entire length of the gallery, is truly amazing!

The walls of Angkor Wat are decorated with scenes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, skillfully carved in stone.

The walls of the temple are also decorated with figures of celestial apsara dancers, which invariably attract the attention of tourists. Apsaras peek out literally from every wall. Some of them are more popular than others - this can be seen from the zeal with which travelers stroke the stone maidens, trying to enlist their support and catch their luck.

There are always a lot of Buddhist monks in Angkor Wat. And tourists are happy to take pictures of them against the backdrop of the walls of an ancient temple.

It is important to know: Do not forget that before you take a photo with a monk, you must always politely ask him about it. Women should not touch the monks in any case!

It is more convenient to leave Angkor Wat through the same western gate in order to once again walk past the galleries and libraries, turn around several times and remember Angkor Wat.

My tips for visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex:

• For the first time, it is still better to see Angkor Wat from the western entrance and it is better to do it in the afternoon, otherwise the sun will beat right in your face while you go towards the main prasat.
• If you stay in Siem Reap for a couple or more days and Angkor Wat impresses you so much that you want to return, then come here for the second time early in the morning and start exploring from the east side.
• And of course, one day it is worth coming here at dawn, to the western entrance.

If you have two or three days to Angkor, then it is best to plan your first day like this. In the morning it is worth meeting the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then have breakfast and go to get acquainted with other temples, and in the late afternoon return to Angkor and wander around it.

How to get thereto Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Getting to Angkor Wat is very easy. The complex is located not very far from the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. Therefore, you first need to think about exactly how to get to Cambodia.

• The simplest way is come by plane. Flights from all Asian countries fly to Siem Reap - from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia. Usually, tourists come from Thailand to see Angkor - on their own or as part of an excursion from Pattaya.
• Personally, we went to Angkor Wat several times on our own. by public transport from Phnom Penh and from Bangkok. Read about all the difficulties of the road. If such difficulties are of no use to you, then it is better to fly.

If you have already arrived in Siem Reap, then there is also several ways to get to Angkor Wat:

• First, you can. This is the easiest way, although not very comfortable, but almost all tourists do this. In order not to build a route on your own, you can simply hire a person who will take you to Angkor Wat and other temples of Angkor for a fee throughout the day. It is very easy to do this right on Siem Reap Street, at a travel agency or at your hotel.
• Secondly, you can rent a motorbike, bicycle or electric bike - this is a convenient option for independent and experienced travelers, which implies that you need to know where and how the temples are located relative to each other. Many people are afraid to go to see the temples of Angkor on their own, mistakenly thinking that it is impossible to do this or fearing a fine. So, somewhere since 2016, there are no problems to drive yourself to the territory of Angkor on the transport that you rented. There will be no penalties for this. But don't forget to park your bike in a safe place and, just in case, block the wheel with a special lock so that no one leaves on your two-wheeled friend.

So, you have reached Angkor. What's next? As for Angkor Wat, it is the first temple that tourists come across after entering through the main entrance to the territory of the archaeological complex on the way from Siem Reap. By the way, there are two routes for studying the temples of Angkor that have been established over the years -. Angkor Wat falls into both routes.

Ticket prices for Angkor Wat not so high compared to

• If you buy a ticket to Angkor for one day and see only Angkor Wat, then its price is $37. Such a ticket is worth buying only if you have arrived only for one day. By the way, with this ticket you can also see all the nearby temples of Angkor and Banteay Srey.
• The price of a ticket to Angkor is 3 days higher - $62 per person. It used to be cheaper, but nothing lasts forever, and prices for Cambodia's main attraction have also increased since February 1, 2017. This is the most popular entry ticket option among tourists. If you are planning to watch the temples of Angkor for only two days, it is more profitable to buy a three-day ticket.
• There is also a ticket for a week for $ 72, which gives an excellent opportunity to watch Angkor Wat and other temples of Angkor (far and near) for 7 days a month.

Tickets are bought at a special place at the box office in front of the entrance to the Angkor temple complex. The cashier will take a picture of you and immediately print a personalized ticket with your photo. This way, only you will be able to use your ticket to Angkor, and no one will be able to transfer it. Please note that the queues for tickets for one day (which is not photographed) and for three days or a week are different.

Angkor Wat Temple Complex Visiting Hours:

Unlike other temples of Angkor, the temple complex of Angkor Wat opens earlier and closes later than others. Therefore, it is worth starting and ending your visit to Angkor here.

• Angkor Wat temple opening hours: daily from 5:00 to 19:00.

Firstly, we must immediately stipulate that we really liked Angkor Wat. That is why we have been here three times already. Every time we visit Cambodia, we definitely visit Angkor Wat.

This was the first Khmer temple we saw since we arrived here right at dawn. A very grandiose sight - the red sun rises over the turrets of Angkor Wat. We immediately advise everyone to meet the dawn at Angkor Wat, despite the fact that it is very crowded there, especially in winter and spring, when the tourist season is high and Chinese tourists come here in droves.

You can also try to come at sunset, (especially if you are not for one day), and spend one of the evenings on the territory of the Angkor Wat complex.

• Sunrise at Angkor Wat spectators are brought to 6.00. But it's better to be here by 5.30 - and in order to take a place among other photographers, and the first lightnings are also very beautiful. Take a flashlight with you.
• Sunset at Angkor Wat arrives around 6:00 pm. But, as with the sunset, it would be wiser to be earlier. In addition, at 16.00 the best light and you can take pictures of the temple itself, and then meet the sunset.

Secondly, Angkor Wat is the most famous temple of the ancient Khmers. An interesting fact is that it was here that the Placebo concert was recorded and some scenes from the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie were filmed here. The American actress also returned to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat to shoot her own film First They Killed My Father, based on the autobiography of Ung Luong, a Cambodian woman who survived.

Thirdly, this is a unique historical monument, the ruins of which can give an idea of ​​bygone centuries. Compared to, which are understandable only in the complex, Angkor Wat can be viewed without getting to know other temples of Angkor, if there is no time. But I would, of course, recommend visiting as many different Angkorian temples as possible while traveling to Cambodia.

Of course, wandering through the stone ruins is quite difficult when you don’t really understand why all these buildings were erected. And the weather in Cambodia is usually either very hot or humid and stuffy. For example, for the first time we did not understand much at all. Upon arrival at Angkor Wat, we all thought that now we would leave the complex, but it turned out to be simply huge. And after a while, all the impressions were mixed up.

But before we returned to Cambodia again, I became so interested in understanding everything that I spent many hours studying materials about each temple of Angkor. And on the second and third visits, we walked around the temple complex of the ancient Khmer already with knowledge of the matter, and even conducted excursions for a friend. Now here I am telling you about Angkor Wat.

Briefly summarized as follows: Angor Wat is a must see!

Angkor Wat on the map

Open on a large Google map →

Symbols on the map:

• Gray marker on the map— Angkor Wat
• Orange- ticket office where they sell tickets to Angkor Wat
• Pink- two entrances to the temple complex Angkor Wat (western and eastern)
• Yellow- a place where you can fly in a hot air balloon over Angkor Wat
• burgundy Siem Reap International Airport in Cambodia
• Blue- Siem Reap city, where all hotels are located
  

What else is important to know about Angkor Wat and the temples of Angkor

On the pages of our blog we write about the development of Khmer architecture and the honing of architectural skills over time, and century after century we follow what happened in Cambodia and what led to the creation of the masterpieces of Angkor and the construction of Angkor Wat:

air tickets to Siem Reap online Aviasales.

Hotels in Siem Reap

Angkor (Cambodia) is the center of the ancient Khmer Empire, a complex of temples that have survived to this day. This cultural heritage is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is rightfully considered the most popular attraction in the country. How to get to Angkor, the schedule and the cost of visiting the temples - all the information you need for a successful trip is in this article.

angkor wat

Do not confuse! Angkor is an ancient city, on whose territory there are over 20 temples, among which the largest is Angkor Wat.

Excursion into history

The construction of the Angkor complex was started by the founder of the local dynasty - the prince who declared the independence of Cambujadesh (today's Cambodia), Jayavarman II. Since then, almost every king erected one or more sacred buildings during his reign, often marking a certain event. The construction of the complex was completed in 1218, after the death of Jayavarman VII, by whose order the temples of Preah-Kan (in honor of the victory over the tyams), Ta-Prohm (in memory of the mother of the majestic ruler) and others were erected.

Interesting fact! The largest temple in history, Angkor Wat, was built over 30 years. It occupies the same territory as the state of the Vatican.

The majestic Khmer empire fell in the middle of the 15th century as a result of a centuries-old struggle with the Tyams and Tays. In 1431, Siamese troops occupied Angkor, and all its inhabitants left their homes, deciding that it was better to live in peace, albeit far from their homeland. In the end, the devastated city, along with all the temples, was swallowed up by the jungle.

Angkor was rediscovered in 1861 by the French scientist Henri Muo, but due to the difficult times in the history of Cambodia, accompanied by bloody wars, no one was involved in its restoration. Only 130 years later, UNESCO will add the temple complex to the World Heritage List, and an organization will be created in China that brings together specialists who are still engaged in the restoration of this majestic landmark of Cambodia.

Amazing details! All the temples of Angkor are built without the use of cement and other binding materials.

Where is Angkor

You can get to the temple complex by tuk-tuk (about $ 2), bicycle ($ 0.5 / hour) or taxi (from $ 5), after hitting the city of Siem Reap, located in western Cambodia. For this you can use:

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Angkor opening hours and cost of visiting

The cash desks of the temple complex open at 5 am and work until 5:30 pm, at the same time tourists are allowed in here. According to official rules, all travelers must leave the territory of Angkor before 18:00, but if you do not get caught by the police, you can stay there a little longer and enjoy the beauty of the temples in the setting sun.

The price of entry to Angkor varies depending on the number of days. There are three options in total:

• One day visit for $20;
• Three-day cultural education for $40;
• Seven-day walk through the temples for $60.

You can use a 3-day pass within a week of purchase, while a 7-day pass will be valid for a month. On the front side of such a ticket there should be your photo, it is made at the box office directly upon purchase.

Note! You can buy a day-to-day ticket only until 17:00, the remaining half an hour tickets are sold for the next day.

Structure of Angkor (Cambodia)

On the territory of the ancient city there are more than 30 temples, which cover an area of ​​500,000 square meters. It is absolutely unrealistic to visit them all in one day, most often travel agencies and travelers who have visited this attraction of Cambodia are advised to spend three to five days walking around the temple complex.

The most popular Angkor itinerary is designed for three days and is divided into visiting the temples of the small circle, the large circle, as well as distant temples, which are reached by the most persistent and curious.

Advice! If you are going to visit the temple complex with a group, rent bikes or bicycles. This will help you save time and effort (since the length of the same route through the temples of the small circle is 20 km), and not lose your rented property if you digress to take a photo of Angkor Wat and other places.

small circle

These include those temples that every traveler must see - the most majestic, beautiful and valuable. The distance of the route is 20 km, designed for one day. The direction of travel is shown in the titles of the following sections: first Angkor Wat, then Angkor Thom, etc.

angkor wat

This temple occupies a vast territory and can rightfully be considered a whole complex. It is surrounded by a moat that fills with water during the rainy season, there are many trees, green grass, flowers and wild animals around.

In the center of Angkor Wat is a temple-mountain, built in such a way that its five identical turrets can be seen from any side. The second key attraction of the complex is the library - a one-story building surrounded by palm trees and tourists.

No less interesting are the galleries of Angkor Wat, which can be viewed from above, climbing the stone stairs in the backyard. In total, 8 galleries with bas-reliefs were built on the territory of the temple, densely covering the walls. The most famous among them is the Hell and Heaven Gallery.

Advice! If you want to take a deserted photo of Angkor Wat, wait for the full sunrise and look into the backyard of the temple. At this time, all the tourists who met the dawn go to rest, and the newly arrived travelers disperse to the main parts of the complex.

angkor thom

This is another attraction on the must-see list in Cambodia, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and a majestic 13th-14th century city of over a million people. Its name explains its popularity in the modern world - "Great Angkor" really impresses with its scale, unusual architecture, harmony and magnificence.

The structure of Angkor Thom is very logical - the city is a square with stone walls, inside which there are various buildings. The most significant of them:

In addition, Angkor Thom has the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, several prasats, the Gate of Victory and an unusual bridge with figures of gods and demons. The recommended time to visit this attraction is 3-4 hours.

Advice! Head to Bayon before sunrise to avoid crowds of tourists and get the most spectacular photos.

Ta Prom

Another of the most beautiful buildings in Cambodia is Ta Prohm, which became popular after the filming of the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and today bears the proud name of Angelina Jolie Temple. For seven centuries, this building played the role of a monastery and a university, where local residents received education and conducted scientific research.

Ta Prohm is several times smaller than Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom, there are no separate significant sights on its territory, they are all part of the temple itself. Thus, the galleries of Ta Proma are among the most interesting in the entire complex, as they are built into one another and resemble a small labyrinth.

Another feature of the temple is its proximity to the jungle - the roots of trees wrap around stone walls and amaze with their size. To this day, Ta Prohm cannot be cleared of vegetation, because it is due to it that the building has survived to our times.

Millennium Mystery. Among the picturesque bas-reliefs of the temple there is an image of a dinosaur. Both scientists and tourists have been struggling with the question of what this ancient creature is doing on the walls of Ta Proma for more than a year.

Small temples of the small circle

This category includes Pre Kan (built by the last king of Cambodia in honor of his father), Ta Keo (the highest temple-mountain, the construction of which was not completed because lightning hit the building, which was considered a bad sign) and Phnom Bakeng (temple in the rock , which offers a panoramic view of the whole of Angkor). The total duration of the visit to all three buildings is 4-5 hours.

big circle

The route includes more than ten small temples, the total duration is 25 km. The most popular buildings worth visiting in the first place:

1. Banteay Kdey. It was built as a Buddhist temple, consists of many galleries, decorated with bas-reliefs.
2. Pre Rup. Temple-mountain, created in honor of the god Shiva.
3. Banteay Samre. It is distinguished by the grace of architecture and unusual carved walls. It was erected in honor of the ancient Indian god Vishnu.
4. Ta Som. A place for spectacular photographs showing the unity of nature and ancient buildings.

distant temples

This category includes several temple complexes located at a decent distance from the center of Angkor. You can only get there by taxi or rented car (do not take a bike or bicycle, otherwise you will get mired in the dust of Cambodian dirt roads). The cost of such a trip is $ 50-60, so try to find fellow travelers or become one yourself.

Beng Melia

Located 67 km from Siem Reap, this temple is definitely worth visiting. At the entrance you will be met by unusual guards in the form of seven-headed snakes, and once inside you will understand what is the beauty of stone chaos. The peculiarity of Beng Melia is that the hands of restorers did not touch its walls, so you have a great opportunity to see it as it was found at the end of the 19th century.

Important! The cost of visiting the temple is $ 5, not included in the general ticket for Angkor.

banteay srey

It is called the "Fortress of Beauty", the citadel of women and the pearl of Angkor. This is a unique building, unlike all other buildings of the complex due to:

• Your size. Banteay Srey is really miniature, which is very impressive, especially after visiting Angkor Wat;
• materials. The temple is built of pink sandstone (the rest are yellow), which gives it a special charm and beauty, especially early in the morning;
• Handmade carvings and bas-reliefs that cover the walls of Banteay Srey.

On the territory of the temple there is a library, a central sanctuary, many statues. Recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours. Distance from Siem Reap - 37 km.

This place is sacred to all the inhabitants of Cambodia, because it was here that the country's independence was proclaimed 1200 years ago. Here is the famous statue of the reclining Buddha, the sacred temple, where pilgrims go every year, the river of a thousand lingams and the most picturesque waterfall in Cambodia.

The cost of visiting Phnom Kulen is $ 20 (paid separately from the general ticket to Angkor), located 55 km from Siem Reap. You can only get there by taxi or rented car.

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A map of the city of Siem Reap showing landmarks, including Angkor Wat and some important infrastructure.