Attractions Places

Angkor Thom is undeniably an expression of the highest genius. It is, in three dimensions and on a scale worthy of an entire nation, the materialization of Buddhist cosmology, representing ideas that only great painters would dare to portray.

Background

Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire, was a fortified cit enclosing residences of priest, officials of the palace and military, as well as buildings for administering the kingdom.

These structures were built of wood and have perished but the remaining stone monuments testify that Angkor Thom was indeed a "Great City" as its name implies. Temples inside the walls of the city described in this article are Bayon,Phimeanakas, Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Prah Palilay, Tep Pranam and Prasat Suor Prat.

The Royal Palace situated within the city of Angkor Thom is of an earlier date and belonged to kings of the tenth and first half of the tenth and first half of the eleventh centuries. Although the foundations and an enclosing wall around the palace with entry towers have been identified, little evidence remains of the layout of the buildings inside the enclosure. This absence of archaeological evidence of the royal buildings suggests that they were constructed of wood and have perished.

The French ascertained a general plan of the Royal Palace (see map opposite). It included the temple-mountain of Phimeanakas and surrounding pools together with residences and buildings for administering the capital, which were probably at the back of the enclosure. Jayavarman VII reconstructed the original site of the Royal Palace Palace to erect the city of Angkor Thom, which was centered on the temple of Bayon and surrounded by a wall.

Zhou Daguan the Chinese emissary, who provided the only first-hand account o f the Khmer, described the splendor of Angkor Thom.

At the center of the Kingdom rises a Golden tower Bayon flanked by more than twenty lesser towers and several hundred stone chambers. On the eastern side is a golden bridge guarded by two lions of gold, one on each side, with eight golden Buddhas spaced along the stone chambers. North of the Golden Tower of Bronze [Baphuon], higher even than the Golden tower. a truly astonishing spectacle. With more than ten chambers at its base. A quarter of a mile further north is the residence of the King rising above his private apartments is another tower of gold, These are the monuments which have caused merchants from overseas to speak so often of "Cambodia the rich and noble " Symbolically, Angkor Thom is a microcosm of the universe, divided into four parts by the main axes. The temple of the Bayon is situated at the exact center of the axes and stands as the symbolical link between heaven and earth. The wall enclosing the city of Angkor Thom represents the stonewall around the universe and the mountain ranges around Meru. The surrounding moat (now dry) symbolizes the cosmic ocean.

Angkor Wat (Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត) was first a Hindu, then subsequently a Buddhist, temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.

Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយស្រី) is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia. It lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km (16 mi) north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today.

The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a "precious gem", or the "jewel of Khmer art.

Beung Mealea Temple Lies at the Foot of Phnom Kulen’s Eastern Extreme, About 70kilometers From Siem Reap Provincial Town. It Takes Two Or Three Hours To Get There Via Either Banteay Srei Or Dam Dek On National Road 6.

It Is The Most Accessible Of Angkor’s Lost Temples, A Mirror Image Of The Mighty Angkor Wat, But Totally And Utterly Consumed By Jungle. Constructed By King Suryavarman II (AD 1113-1150), The Builder Of Angkor Wat, Nature Has Triumphed Here, And It Is Hard To Get A Sense Of The Monument’s Shape Amid The Daunting Ruins.

Like Angkor Wat, Beung Mealea Was Enclosed By A Large Moat, Which Would Have Measured 1,200 To 900 Meters. Once Inside The Complex, Visitors Climb Over Heaps Of Stones, Edge Along Dark And Damp Corridors And Through Dense Foliage-This Is Not One For The Fainthearted. The Atmosphere, However, Is Something Special.

The Phnom Kulen mountain range is located 30 km northwards from Angkor Wat. Its name means "mountain of the Lychee” . There is a sacred hilltop site on top of the range.

Phnom Kulen is considered a holy mountain in Cambodia, of special religious significance to Hindus and Buddhists who come to the mountain in pilgrimage.

It also has a major symbolic importance for Cambodians as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire, for it was at Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarma II proclaimed independence from Java in 804 CE. Jayavarman II initiated the cult of the king, a linga cult, in what is dated as 804 CE and declaring his independence from Java of whom the Khmer had been a vassalage state (whether this is actually "Java" or "Lava" (a Lao kingdom) is debated, as well as the legend that he was earlier held as a ransom of the kingdom in Java. See Higham's The Civilization of Angkor for more information about the debate). During the Angkorian era the relief was known as Mahendraparvata (the mountain of Great Indra).

Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3,000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques.

Angkor Night Market was established last 2007 at that time there’s no night market in the whole country of Cambodia. The market founders were careful not to create a tourist park as in often case. there is no warehouse like setting instead you will find smoothly laid out huts built from natural materials and design in beautiful Khmer style. Over the years we have 240 souvenirs shops which sells traditional Cambodian made handicraifts from clothing’s, silk, painting and photography's, jewelries, wood and stone carvings.

You can also watch the history of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime during 1975 – 1979, or the Cambodian landmine and the world's largest snake harvest at our Movie Mall , after a tiring shopping you can pamper yourselves with our original Dr. Fish massage, Body and Feet massage and spa or relax at our two bars the Island bar with its impressive bamboo tower and tiered lamp which you cannot see in any other bars here in Siem Reap, Cambodia or the secluded Brick House bar with its thatched roof and large bamboo furniture's blend a relaxed stylishness surrounded by a tropical garden. We also have a food court which offers Cambodian, Western, Asian Cuisine, Cafe Puka Puka with its milk snow ice.

In the evening in Siem Reap, Cambodia - once people have returned from the temples of Angkor, had a shower and freshened up - the attention switches over to ‘Pub Street’ and the pub street alleys in the Old Market Area.

Pub Street earned its name from the numerous pubs that line Street 8 and also contains various restaurants, boutiques and shops, but the main focus is certainly on filling up with some food and then hitting the cocktails. The action kicks off at around 17:00hrs once people have returned from the temples. The street is cordoned off to allow tourists to roam freely without the dangers of traffic, and the music begins to get louder as more and more people frequent the bars.

West Baray is the largest man-made body of water at Angkor. Visitors can hire a boat to take them to the island in the middle where West Mebon temple once stood. Today, only traces of it remain. But the island is a pleasant spot for a picnic or just walking around when water level is low. Alternatively, visitor can also go for a refreshing swim.

As the temple in the middle is in the same style as Baphuon, the baray was probably constructed in the 11th century. The east dyke leads to Ba Kheng temple. Some historian believed that the West Baray could have been a mooring place for the royal barges as well as a reservoir and a place for breeding fish.

The West Baray is a vast man-made lake, surrounded by an earthen levee which forms a dyke. According to legend, the young daughter of a ruler of Angkor was grabbled by an enormous crocodile, which made a large opening in the south dyke of the West Baray that can still be seen today. The crocodile was capture and killed. The princess, still living in its stomach, was rescued.

Angkor National Museum project has been initiated from the granted contract to “Build, Cooperate and Transfer (BCT)” between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, APSARA Authority (MCFA & APSARA) on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia and The Museum Co., Ltd. on its 30 year concession period.

Angkor National Museum is a profound cultural landmark in Siem Reap placing in the area of 20,000 Sq.m. which combined together The Museum: The world-class museum that reveals the legend of Golden Era of Khmer Kingdom, and The Museum Mall: The lifestyle landmark providing completed facilities and recreation services for both tourists and local community.

Cambodian Cultural Village (CCV) is a theme park and museum in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is located on the road to and from the airport, 6 km from the town.

The theme park was constructed in 2001 and opened to the public on 24 September 2003. It covers a total area of 210,000 square meters. The CCV presents miniature versions of important historical buildings and structures, together with local customs. There are eleven unique villages, representing the varied culture heritage of nineteen ethnic groups. At each village are wood houses, carvings in stone, traditional performances in different styles such as: Apsara dancing, performances of ethnic minorities from the north-east of Cambodia, traditional wedding ceremony, circus, folk games, peacock dancing, acrobats, elephant shows, boxing and more.

Cambodian Cultural Village is considered by some as "kitsch", but is popular with Cambodians and other Asian visitors. It includes a wax museum displaying scenes from the culture and history of Cambodia.