Modern cities like Madrid, Frankfurt are worth a single visit. You spend a day or two and move on. But visiting the Angkor Wat in Cambodia gave me the feeling, ‘We should return to this place sometime soon’.
The size of the temple complex is equal to 300 Football fields. Can you believe it?
Suryavarman II, King of the Khmer empire built this magnificent temple in the first half of the 12th century. Initially, the temple was dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu. But later towards the end of the 12th century, it was transformed into a Buddhist temple. Here the word ‘Wat’ refers to a temple or Buddhist monument. This temple’s architecture is said to have inspired from Chola style Dravidian architecture. The whole region was calm and pleasant.Where is the head? Read more to knowSiem Reap is the closest city. It also has an international airport drawing millions of tourists every year. This place has many temples to keep you occupied for a week. Before my trip, I read many interesting facts, mysteries, and secrets about this great temple. Below is a summary
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Angkor Wat interesting facts
The main construction took 35 years to complete with over 5 million tons of sandstone transported 25 miles to the temple.
This stunning monument receives more than 2 million visitors annually. Half of the tourists visit Cambodia only to see this monument.
Unlike other temples facing the East, this temple faces sunset (West).
Angkor Wat, today remains the largest religious complex on our planet, an area four times larger than Vatican City.
The history, creation, the architecture of this large religious structure completely blew me.The main complex of Angkor Wat
Top mystery & secrets of Angkor Wat
The capital of the Khmer empire, Angkor suffered a gradual decline. Residents abandoned the city and the exact reason is still unknown.
Most of the idol’s heads are looted. So one can see the idols with no heads. Despite the Cambodian government’s continuous efforts to protect their heritage, looting continues.
Stolen heads !!
Angkor remained isolated from the Western world for many years. The entire region was hidden in the jungle. Lost for almost 400 years, the city was discovered street by street in recent years. In 1992, the temple was declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Without proper tools, building such a huge structure during ancient times was a miracle. Hence this site is rumoured by the locals, “Temples built by gods or giants”.
How can such a large monument be lost in history for centuries?
Angkor Pass
To enter the Angkor Wat, you need to buy the Angkor Pass. These passes are available for 1, 3, or 7 days. To know more, read my blog on ‘All you need to know about the Angkor Pass‘
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
SunriseWatching the sunrise over Angkor Wat was the most beautiful sight on our trip. Our tuk-tuk driver picked us from our hotel at 4.45 am. We reached the temple complex around 5.30 am. The place was flooded with tourists waiting to capture the sunrise. Around 6 am, finally the moment came. The sun was rising slowly behind the temple towers. It was truly mesmerizing to watch. Don’t forget to click the sun’s reflection in the nearby pond.After enjoying the sunrise, we headed inside the main area. All around the premises, kids were selling coffee, tea, snacks, and drinks. If they successfully manage to drag you inside a restaurant, they get a commission. A kid approached us and said, ‘Breakfast. Breakfast. Come to my hotel’. I said,’Yes, but only after visiting the temple’. We kept our promise and had food once we returned.Enroute main complex
The main complex
Long queues started building up to enter the main area. The central tomb is built high with steep steps leading to the entrance. I recommend the old people to be very careful while climbing. Most of the idols inside had their heads looted. This was expected. Isn’t it? Throughout my trip, I rarely found a carving with a head. Watch out for these steep stepsAfter spending a couple of hours, we exited the main Angkor Wat premises. The temples here resemble more like ruins than an actual operating temple. One of the main reasons being hidden for many years in the jungle. We had lunch in a nearby restaurant, invited by that kid. He immediately recognized us and was so glad that we returned. Stay tuned in my upcoming blogs to know about the local food.
To know more about transport, nightlife, tourism in Siem Reap, read my blog on ‘All you need to about Siem Reap‘
After the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Angkor Wat is one historic architecture that will stay close to me. It exceeded my expectations. Friendly locals made the city more welcoming for tourists. If you have a bucket list, add the Angkor Wat right on top. Overall experience:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5Time of visit: April 2019
“To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries ” – Aldous Huxley
After enjoying the sunrise, we headed inside the main area. All around the premises, kids were selling coffee, tea, snacks, and drinks. If they successfully manage to drag you inside a restaurant, they get a commission.
A kid approached us and said, ‘Breakfast. Breakfast. Come to my hotel’. I said,’Yes, but only after visiting the temple’. We kept our promise and had food once we returned.
