Some might say the only reason the town Siem Reap exists, is, because of Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia. To go and see the Temples you stay in Siem Reap. So maybe they are right? And as mentioned in my previous post – Beautiful Cambodia and the Town of Siem Reap – Siem Reap is a great place to hang out in and relax.
I have been here for almost two weeks now and so I feel like a local already. During that time I have visited all the temples around here, from the world known Angkor Wat Temple to the smaller ones nearby. To do that I bought the 7x entry pass that is valid for one month. It was a great decision, as it gave me enough time to see everything in my own timeframe. And my times was generally based around avoiding crowds and the heat. In Europe there are castles, in Asia there are temples.
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Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia
THE Angkor Wat
The temple Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares and one of the best preserved. The temple was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, and gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.
I’ve seen plenty of photos of Angkor Wat but nothing prepares you for the actual WOW feeling you get, when seeing this monument for real. It is an architectural masterpiece and absolutely stunning! I am a big fan!
With my pass and multiple days, I was able to do a few trips to this temple and it is great to see it at different hours. The light and scenery change accordingly and each angle of the temple has their best side depending on the time of the day. There is of course sunrise and sunset, both popular to the photographers and social media fanatics (myself included).
Tip: It is quite hot during the day, so always bring lots of water with you. And always cover your shoulders of course!
Dress Code for Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia
As it is a sacred place the dress code is quite strict. I have to wear long pants/skirt and covered shoulders at all times. It is unfortunately way too much fabric for the heat, and I was definitely sweating a lot! And my stylish side refuses to buy the ‘elephant print’ pants or tops that almost every tourist seems to be wearing here. Oh dear!
Tip: Many recommend to see Angkor Wat at sunrise, but I think the afternoon and sunset light is perfect to bring out the grandness of the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap.
Angkor Thom Temple
Angkor Thom was my favourite after Angkor Wat. It is an ancient city and was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII’s empire. It covers an area of 9 km² and Bayon is the temple in the centre. Bayon was my personal favourite due to the smiling faces looking down at me from 37 towers. I love the details in the stones and architecture and I was once again amazed by the overall size of it.
Although it is not as grand as Angkor Wat. But nevertheless breathtaking!
While you’re there, make sure you enter through the main gate into Angkor Thom. It is a grand gate entry and you’re welcomed by four smiling faces already. In addition, there are the lined up soldier statues that lead the way to the gate. What an entry!
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The Elephants
I have never been close to Elephants and so seeing the elephants near Angkor Thom was quite an incredible feeling. Especially standing so close to them.
However, as amazing as it was, these particular elephants aren’t having a great time. The sad sound they are making shows how tortured they are by all the tourist wanting to ride them. Yes, it sounds like a great experience but I’d rather see (and hoping to see more) Elephants in their free environment or in a place where they are well looked after. I think that is always worth a consideration before riding the elephants of Angkor Thom (or anywhere else really).
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Temple Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm is very different to Angkor Wat and Bayon as it has been swallowed up by the jungle. Roots and big trees have taken over, and it makes this temple more appealing. It is more or less still in the state as originally found, however, it is clearly visible that renovations are under way.
Personally I kind of like it as is. Not everything has to be put back together to its original state. Let the jungle take this one. Especially since Angelina Jolie was filming Tomb Rider here, at Ta Prohm, in 2011.
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Temple Ta Keo
Ta Keo was just a quick stop as I drove pass in my personal Tuk Tuk. Did I mention I organised myself a personal Tuk Tuk driver for all my temple adventures? Khorn is a great guy. He is very nice and flexible to take me wherever and whenever I want. So much easier to deal with, and it’s fun having a personal chauffeur as well.
Ta Keo has been clearly done up with the help of China (found that quite interesting) but there were still enough of the old stairs to climb. The view from the top was quite beautiful and peaceful as the sun was about to set. Another amazing temple visit!
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The temples of Cambodia summary
There is a reason why we call it ‘Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia’. Add the temples Pre Rup, Ta Som, the palace Neak Pean and Preah Khan to the overall area and you have a list of temples to see.
Those are all smaller ‘Angkor Wat’ temples and I visited them all in one trip. If you don’t have much time they are probably not a ‘must see’ but as I have the 7 day ticket, the time and my driver, it was nice to do a special trip to see them. You never know what you might see until you see it.
I particularly liked the palace Neak Pean. A temple placed in the centre of a man made lake, which was the water supply to the city. I’m sure it would have looked stunning back in the day.
Ok, I think I had my share of temples for a while, although seeing Angkor Wat and the Temples of Cambodia was pretty stunning. Do you agree? A few more days in Siem Reap before heading towards the next town and the Cambodian beach! – Is Otres Beach and Koh Rong worth a visit? xx
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