Angkor Wat
Constructed: Early-Mid 12th Century C.E.
King/Patron: Suryavarman VII

Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breath taking. It is a massive three tiered pyramid crowned by five beehive-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Angkor Wat is centerpiece of any visit to the temples of Angkor.

At the apex of Khmer political and military dominances in the region, Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of massive "temples mountain" dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu. Other temple include Thommanon, Banteay Somre, Wat Athvea and Beoung Melea, which may have served as prototypes to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat with an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters. Nearly 2000 distinctively rendered Apsara carvings adorn the wall throughout the temple. They also represent some of the finest examples of the apsara carving in Angkorian era art. But it is the exterior walls of the lower level that display the most extraordinary bas-reliefs, depicting stories and characters from Hindu mythology and the historical wars of Suryavarman II. It is the viewing of the bas-reliefs that a tour guide can be very helpful.

The northern side is the most popular sunrise locations. For sunrise, arrive very early well before sunrise begins. The sun will rise behind Angkor Wat providing a silhouette of Angkor's distinctively shaped towers against a colored sunrise sky. Some of the best color appear just before the sun break over the horizon.

A visual impact of Angkor Wat, particularly on one's first visit is memorable. As you pass through the outer gate and get your first glimpse, its size and architectures make it appear two dimensional against the sky. After you cross through the gates and approach the temples along the walkway, it slowly gains depths and complexity. To maximize this effect, you should make your first visit in optimal lighting conditions, i.e. after 02h00m. Do not make your first visit to Angkor Wat in the morning when the backlighting obscures the view.

The first level of the Angkor Wat is the most artistically interesting. Most visitors begin their exploration of the temples with the bas-relief highlight, which include the mythological battle of Kuru on the west wall: the historical march of the army of Suryavarman II, builder of Angkor Wat, against the Cham, follow by a sense from heaven and hell on the south wall: and the classic "Churning of the Ocean Milk" on the north wall.

The temple interior is not as densely carved as the first level exterior, but still sports hundreds of fine carving of Apsara and t=scenes from Hindu mythology. Again, a guide can be quite helpful in explaining the stories of the various chambers, statues and architectural form to be found in the interior. At the upper most of your tour of the temples, the central towers on the third level houses four Buddha images, each facing a different cardinal point. Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu Temple, It has served as a Buddhist temple since Theravada Buddhism was established Cambodia's dominant religion in the 14th century. Some believe that it is good luck to pay homage to all tour Buddha images before departing Angkor.

   Angkor Thom

Constructed: Late 8th - Early 13th Century C.E.
Religion: Hinduism

Bayon Temple

The Bayon takes an easy second place after Angkor Wat, the smile of the four-faced Bayon has become a world recognize symbol of Cambodia.

The towering faces reaching up to four meters in height, adorn the Bayon temple at the exact center of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. As many as 216 faces on the 54 remaining towers, each represented one province of Khmer empire in the ancient time. The Bayon is now known to have been built by Jayavarman VII. There is still much mystery associated with the Bayon – its exact function and symbolism – and this seems only appropriate for a monument whose signature is an enigmatically smiling face.

Ta Prohm Temple
The temple of Ta Prohm rates with Angkor Wat and the Bayon as the one of
most popular attractions of Angkor. Ta prohm is a unique other-world experience.

Temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. Ta prohm is a temple of towers, close courtyard and narrow corridors. Many of corridors are impassible, clogged with jumbled piles of delicately carved stone blocks dislodge by the roots of long-decayed trees. Base-reliefs on bulging walls are carpeted by lichen, moss and creeping plants, and scrubs sprout roof form of the monumental porches. Trees, hundred of years old – some support by flying buttresses – tower overhead, their leaves filtering the sunlight.

Banteay Srei
Constructed: Late 10th Century C.E.
Religion: Hindu
King/Patron: Rajendravarman Style: Bantey Srei

Banteay Srei loosely translates to "Citadel of the women", but this is a modern appellation that probably refers to the delicate beauty of the carvings. Built at the time when the Khmer empire was gaining significant power and territory, the power was constructed by a  Brahmin counselor under a powerful king, Rejendravarman and later under Jayavarman V. Banteay Srei displays some of the finest examples of the classical Khmer Art. The walls are densely covered with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carving of any Angkorian temples, temple's relatively small in size, pink sand stone construction and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance. The colors are best before 10h30am and after 2h00pm, but there are fewer tourists in the afternoon. This temple was discovered by French archaeologist relatively late, in 1914. The temple area close at 5h00pm. Banteay Srei lies 38 km from Siem Reap, requiring extra travel time, drivers usually charge a fee in addition to their normal daily charge for the trip. Banteay Srei is well worth the extra effort. Combine a visit to Banteay Srei with Banteay Somre.

Phom Bakheng
Constructed: Late 9th - Early 10th Century C.E.
Religion: Hindu
King/Patron: Yasovarman I
Style: Bakheng