Siem Reap: Temples Part 1

 

Angkor Wat Temple is awe-inspiring for its size and detail. Photos don’t do it justice. Built by Suryavarman II, it is the earthly representation of Mt Meru, Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith and the home for the ancient gods. Unlike most Angkor sites, it was not abandoned and has been in continuous use since it was built. 

The stone carvings told stories.  We marveled how new many looked. The darker spots are where people touch the stone.

We climbed to the top of the tower, got blessed by a monk and explored the many corridors and spaces of this majestic  site.

Ta Prohm is a Buddhist temple in the Bayon Style.  It was constructed in the mid 12th-early 13th century by King Jayavaman VII.  The jungle overgrowth, the massive fig and kick-cotton trees make one of the most popular sites.  Lara Croft aka Angelina Jolie also made this site popular in the film Tomb Raider. The film paid $10,000 a day to film-all of which went towards repairing and preserving the temples.

Victory Gate is one of five gates into Angkor Thom or the “Great City.”

The Terrace of the Elephants is part a 350m ornamental wall that is mostly decorated with carved elephants in front of Baphuon, Phimeanakas and the Royal Palace in the heart of Angkor Thom. It was built in the late 12th century as a viewing platform from which King Jayavarman VII  overlooked his victorious army.

Phimeanakas is a Hindu Temple built in the late 10th century by King Jayavarman V in the Kleang style.  It is the tallest scalable temple in Angkor Thom and served as the king’s temple.

Bayon is a Buddhist temple built by King Jayavarman VII during the late 12th century.  The majority of the thirty-seven standing towers with four carved faces.  There is disagreement among scholars as to who the faces represent. Some say it is Loksvara or a combination of Buddha and Jayavarman VII.  Bayon was the state-temple and was constructed piecemeal over a century.