http://travelindiathroughmyeyes.com/angkor-wat-cambodia-a-world-wonder-other-incredible-temples/
Introduction
Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the most stunning example of magnificent Hindu architecture in the world. It may come as a surprise to many to know that Angkor Archaeological Park at Siem Reap is the largest group of temples in the world. Angkor Wat built around 1150 CE is the largest and the most prized & celebrated show piece among them. Angkor means City and Wat means temple. So it literally translates to “City of temple/s”. Angkor Archaeological Park, spread in an area of 250 sq kms, comprises of more than 200 temples. At the peak of Khmer empire, Cambodia had more than 1000 temples.
Re-discovery of Angkor temples
The city of Angkor was gradually deserted in the 15th century. It is widely believed that thereafter, it remained hidden in the deep jungles. It is further claimed that a French explorer Henri Mouhot re-discovered it in 1840’s. The sheer grandeur of Angkor Wat temple amazed him. He wrote “It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome”. He goes on to add that the temple rivals the Solomon temple mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. And, it looked like the handiwork of an ancient Michael Angelo. Frank Vincent Jr, at a very young age was among the first American traveller to have explored Angkor Wat in 1872. He wrote an article in the Journal of American Geographical Society. “The general appearance of the wonder of the temple is beautiful and romantic as well as impressive and grand. It must be seen to be understood and appreciated.”
Book by Claude Jacques
Claude Jacques, French Scholar studied the history of Angkor for 30 years. In his book ‘Ancient Angkor’ published in 1999 and revised in 2003, he refutes the theory of rediscovering Angkor. According to him, even though the city was deserted, it was never forgotten. Cambodians never forgot the existence of their temples. Even if they neglected the other temples, Angkor Wat always remained occupied by monks and continued as place of worship. At least till the 18th century, Angkor Wat was an active temple. It’s only that Europeans had forgotten about it. It is true that Mouhot visited it in 1840 and wrote about it. This rekindled the interest of the Western world in Angkor.
City of Siem Reap
The World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is among the top tourist destinations in the world. While Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia, Siem Reap a city of 0.2 million caters is the destination to visit these temples. It has about 250 hotels with 50k rooms and gets about 22 million foreign tourists every year. In contrast, India with 36 World Heritage Sites gets about 11 million foreign tourists every year. We have still a long way to go to develop world class tourist facilities in our country.
Historical city of Angkor
According to a few historians, Angkor at the zenith of the Khmer empire was the largest city in the world. Spread over several kms, it was a well-connected, fully functional, well-planned city. In addition, various estimates put the population at around 1 million. The several temples were just part of the burgeoning city. Recent research with funding by National Geographic in 2015 in Angkor region have revealed the existence of a fully developed city buried inside the earth. This has generated a lot of interest & study and may give a new perspective to the history of Cambodia.
Our visit to Angkor Wat
We had visited Siem Reap almost a decade ago and spent 4 nights & 4 days there. Each & every experience of that memorable visit remains etched clearly in my mind with fondness. It was indeed a magical time that our family (comprising of my dad, my wife, my two sons & my elder daughter-in-law) spent there. My elder son stays in Singapore so we enjoyed the Diwali festivities at Singapore. Thereafter, we took an early morning flight to Siem Reap. My elder son had planned the itinerary in advance.
Our stay & travel in Siem Reap was booked through About Asia Services and I should say they turned out to be an excellent choice. A comfortable 7-seat vehicle with chauffeur & guide were at the airport to receive us. As it turned out, our guide was a young, affable lady Solin Aing. She had a very good knowledge of history of the temples. They were with us for 4 days and also took us around the various temples. Another surprising discovery was that the driver was a thorough professional. Except for saying ‘Good morning’ & ‘Good night” he didn’t utter a single word during the 4 days despite knowing English. Quite unlike India !! The guide, Solin did all the talking.
Our hotel
We stayed at FCC Angkor Hotel which has a French Colonial style mansion with a modern wing attached to it. All the rooms opened into a central courtyard that contained a salt water swimming pool. The rooms were named after the name of trees. The hotel was very comfortable and we enjoyed our complimentary English breakfast served every morning. The service was also excellent. Undoubtedly, this hotel deserves it’s 5 star Trip Advisor traveler rating.
Historical background
Archaeologists have discovered stone tools & ceramics in the Angkor region near the Great Lake. This proves that the region was occupied from Neolithic times.
Cambodia has a very long, interesting & absorbing history specially their close links with India. Therefore, I have provided hereunder the highlights. The proper appreciation of the temples would not be complete without knowing the history. Those not interested in history may skip this section.
The ancient name
The ancient name of Cambodia was Kampuchea which is derived from the Sanskrit word Kamboja. The country was referred to as Kambojadesha.
Hindu influence in Cambodia
Many of you must be wondering how come there are so many ancient Hindu & Buddhist temples in Cambodia! The fact is that merchants from Tamil Nadu had trade relationship with Cambodia from the 1st century CE. It was this trade with India that established their primary cultural contacts. This introduced them to Hinduism & Buddhism. Pallavas & Cholas were the two principal dynasties that established contact with Cambodia. In fact the earlier Khmer temples reflect the architecture of Pallava dynasty and the later ones of Chola temple architecture. Both Pallavas & Cholas were Shaivites so it’s natural that for several centuries Shiva became the principal god in Cambodia. The Pallava influence is also seen in the use of the title ‘Varman’ (protector) in the names of Cambodian kings.
Chola dynasty in Tamil Nadu was active from 3rd century BCE to 13th century CE. It is among the longest ruling dynasties in the world. Even though they reached the status of a large empire only between 907 to 1215 CE. During this period, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power. Their influence extended even to South Asia & South East Asia. They had close cultural, maritime & trade relationship even with Cambodia.
An interesting legend
The Hindu influence in Cambodia is explained by a legend. Kaundinya, a Brahmin belonging to a family of Vedic scholars had travelled to Kambojadesha in the 1st century CE. He was a staunch Shaivite and said to have married a serpent princess of Cambodia. The Khmer people believed themselves to be the progeny of this couple.
Rise of the Khmer empire
The Khmer empire was formally established in 802 CE when Jayavarman II declared himself to be Chakravarti king (universal ruler). This ritual was taken from the Hindu tradition. He united all the warring Khmer princes. Thereafter, till the 14th century, the Khmer empire continued to grow and flourish. They accumulated immense power & wealth and wielded influence over much of South East Asia.
The Cholas were great builders and they had built magnificent temples in Tamil Nadu. It is believed that their relationship with the Khmer empire also influenced temple building in Cambodia. The early Cambodian rulers were all Shaivites so the early Hindu temples were all Shiva temples. The reign of the Khmers saw the construction of more than 1000 temples around Angkor. Many of them were on a gigantic scale.
After the death of Jayavarman II in 835 CE, the following kings ruled till 1001 – Jayavarman III, Indravarman I, Yasovarman I, Jayavarman IV, Rajendravarman II, & Jayavarman V. They continued to shift their capital cities which saw construction of several temples in various places. Following Jayavarman V‘s death in 1001 CE, there was a couple of years of conflicts among several claimants.
Suryavarman I era
In 1006 CE Suryavarman I gained the throne. In his initial years he continued to face resistance but he was successful in reclaiming the capital city of Angkor. He established diplomatic relationship with the Chola dynasty. He sent a chariot as gift to Raja Raja Chola I. Tambralinga kingdom of Malaya challenged the supremacy of Khmer empire in South East Asia. Suryavarman I struck an alliance with the mighty Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. On learning about this, Tambralinga king sought aid from the Srivijaya King. In the hard fought battle, the combined Chola & Khmer forces emerged victorious. Incidentally both Cholas and Khmers were Shaivites. while both the opponents were Mahayana Buddhists. At the invitation of Suryavarman I, Rajendra Chola I came to Cambodia in 1025 CE. This visit strengthened the alliance. It helped the Tamil trading companies to do flourishing trade with merchants of Khmer.
After the death of Suryavarman I in 1050 CE, the later kings faced challenge from the Champa empire.
The Golden age of Khmer civilization
Suryavarman II (r 1113 to 1150 CE)
Suryavarman II reign started in 1113 CE. His period was a period of conflicts with Champa & Vijaya empires. Even though, the earlier kings were followers of Shiva, Suryavarman II declared himself to be Vishnu devotee. He built the grand, imposing temple of Angkor Wat during his reign. After his death in 1150, the reigns of the subsequent kings were short lived. In 1177 CE, the Chams conquered Angkor and looted it.
Jayavarman VII (r 1181 to 1219 CE)
Jayavarman VII gathered an army, defeated the Chams and regained Angkor. He ascended the throne in 1181. His war with Champa empire continued for 22 years till he routed them in 1203. Jayavarman VII also annexed a major part of their territory. He is considered as the greatest king of Cambodia. He united his kingdom and carried out several projects including a network of irrigation projects. Jayavarman VII embraced Mahayana Buddhism and converted the Vishnu temple of Angkor Wat into a Buddhist temple.
He built the new capital city of Angkor Thom (literal meaning ‘Great City’). He built several temples including the state temple Bayon. The other temples were Ta Prohm for his mother, Preah Khan for his father, Banteay Kdei, and Neak Pean, as well as the reservoir of Srah Srang. He also ensured an extensive network of roads that connected every town of the empire. He built rest-houses for travelers and a total of 102 hospitals across his realm.
The subsequent kings
After his death, his son Indravarman II reigned for 24 years. He completed building of many temples that his father had started. He was not successful as military commander and Chams regained many of their lost territories. His Thai subjects rebelled and established the first Thai kingdom.
Indravarman II was succeeded by Jayavarman VIII (reigned 1243–1295). In contrast to his predecessors, Jayavarman VIII was a follower of Hindu Shaivism and an aggressive opponent of Buddhism. He destroyed many Buddha statues in the empire and converted Buddhist temples to Hindu temples. His son-in-law Srindravarman deposed him in 1295. The new king was a follower of Theravada Buddhism,
Fall of the great empire
For the next 100 years the Khmers were in constant war with the Thai Kingdom. Ayutthaya, the Thai kingdom attacked and ransacked Angkor around 1431. Consequently, the Kingdom weakened and gradually disintegrated. The seat of the remnant Khmer kingdom moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital today. Historians have proposed different causes for the decline. That include the religious conversion from Hinduism to Thervada Buddhism. It affected social and political systems. Also incessant internal power struggles, vassals revolt, foreign invasion, plague, and ecological breakdown became contributory.
Some scholars add that the imperious ambition of rulers and cities proved to be the undoing of Angkor. Excess population caused unsustainable deforestation, the degradation of topsoil and the overworking of the intricate irrigation system that would have required a huge workforce to keep it in a permanent state of good repair. Gradually, forests reclaimed the once prosperous & powerful kingdom. A lesson to be learnt by our metros and other cities aspiring to become a metro!!.
The wonder that is Angkor Wat
António da Madelena, a Portuguese Capuchin friar, was one of the first Western visitors to Angkor Wat. He had mentioned the following to Diogo do Couto the Portuguese historian in the 16th century. “It is of such extraordinary construction, that it is not possible to describe it with a pen. Particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of”.
Angkor Wat has a massive moat surrounding the central temple complex – seen from the air, the entire site is remarkable for its precise 90-degree angles (Credit: Alamy on www.bbc.com)l
History of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the largest religious building in the world. The Khmer kings considered themselves as the earthly reincarnation of gods. Suryavarman II who built Angkor Wat during his reign between 1113 & 1150 regarded himself as reincarnation of Vishnu. So he dedicated the temple to Vishnu. When he died the temple was not fully complete. The completion happened during the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181- 1219 CE). Towards the turn of the 12th century he embraced Buddhism and converted the temple to a Buddhist temple. A Buddhist image replaced the Vishnu image in the central hall.
Uniqueness of Angkor Wat
Unlike majority of the temples facing east, Angkor Wat faces west. Further the narration of epics on bass reliefs is in the reverse order i.e. from right to left. This made many to conjecture that the temple complex had also meant to serve as the burial place of Suryavarman II. But Suryavarman II was not buried here as he had died on the battle field at a far off place.
The construction of Angkor Wat is based on the principles of ancient Hindu cosmology. Consequently, the temple’s design supposedly represents Mount Meru, the home of the gods. This is according to tenets of both the Hindu and Buddhist faiths. It’s five towers stand for the five peaks of Mount Meru. While the walls and moat below signify the surrounding mountain ranges and the sea. Some scholars mention that the original name of the temple was Varaha Vishnuloka or Parama Vishnuloka. But the ancient name remains hidden in the maze of history.
Architecture of Angkor Wat – an engineering marvel
At the heart of the shrine is the central shikhar (tower) which is over 200 ft (61 metres) high. The construction used 5 million tons of sandstones that were quarried from a mountain 50 kms away. In addition, the extensive network of canals & rivers helped in transporting them on rafts.
From architectural point of view, Angkor Wat is a supreme achievement showing an advanced appreciation of mass, space and geometrical composition. In addition, the geometrical plan is elegant and it is on an enormous scale. It reflects the exalted grandeur and artistic perfection of the Khmer architecture that took inspiration from the Chola temple architecture. Spread over an area of 400 acres (1.6 sq kms), it mesmerizes the visitor with its gigantic size & magnificence. According to the inscriptions, the construction took 35 years, 300,000 labourers and 6000 elephants.
Description of the temple
Two causeways at W & E across the 190 metre wide moat connect to the temple. The temple stands in the middle on a terrace measuring 332 X 258 metres, i.e. nearly 9 hectares. The temple exhibits two major features of Khmer architecture – a pyramid and galleries. Angkor Wat looks like a pyramid of three levels, each one enclosed by gallery with four gopuras and corner towers. The summit is like a crown with five towers. It gave full expression to Hindu religious symbolism. At the end of the Western causeway is a 230 metre wide gopura with large entrances on both sides.
In its glorious days, it is believed that the temple towers & sculptures along with exquisite doors were covered with gold. Ravages of nature & time and the invaders have robbed them.
Just after entering the gopura, there is a shrine to the right under the Southern tower. In this shrine there is an eight-armed statue of Vishnu. Most probably it originally found its place in the central sanctuary.
The bas-reliefs
The high point of Angkor Wat are the bas-reliefs. They cover the exterior walls of third enclosure, just above ground level. The carved area is 2 metres high and it has a length of nearly 600 m. There is depiction of episodes including battle scenes from the Hindu epics Ramayana & Mahabharata. Historic procession of Suryavarman II is also carved. The visitor can view the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Sea of Milk) in the eastern gallery.
On the outer walls, one can see beautiful sculptures of Apsaras.
While the temple stands majestic, none of the palaces and other state buildings have survived. Because they were all made of wood.
Angkor Wat is at a distance of 5 kms from the city. After watching the majestic sunrise, we spent nearly 3 hours in the temple complex before returning to our hotel for a late sumptuous breakfast. The experience at Angkor Wat was overwhelming.
Magical sunrise at Angkor Wat
Among the highlights of the visit to Angkor Wat is watching it at sunrise. Though some feel that it is over hyped but I felt that they were wrong.
It was worth getting up at 4 a.m. Our guide Solin with her characteristic smile was waiting in the hotel lobby to take us to the site. Angkor Wat is at a distance of 5 kms from the city. She took us inside the temple complex via the back eastern gate. It was an unique experience walking about 400 m in pitch darkness. We made it to a vantage point in front of the temple by 5 am. To our surprise, there was already a large crowd. As the first streak of light was seen in the eastern sky behind the temple, a hushed silence descended on the crowd. You stand in awe as the silhouette of Angkor Wat gradually got illuminated from behind.
It was indeed a magical moment and those glimpses of Angkor Wat made for great photo opportunities. I wish I had a superior camera to capture those moments. As soon as the sun illuminated the front of the temple and the lotus pond was clearly visible, it was time to leave.
After watching the majestic sunrise, we spent nearly 3 hours in the temple complex before returning to our hotel for a late sumptuous breakfast. At that time the temple is less crowded and we could find many secluded peaceful corners. The experience at Angkor Wat was overwhelming.
Sunrise pics at Angkor Wat
Exploring Angkor Wat temple through pictures
Ta Prohm
It belongs to late 12th & 13th centuries and it is a temple monastery belonging to Jayavarman VII era. Indravarman II had later enlarged it. It is in a state of ruins & collapse and that adds to the charm of exploring it. Large trees have interlaced some of the structures and that adds to mystic & romantic atmosphere.
Many famous Hollywood movies including Tomb Raiders (starring Angelina Joli), Two Brothers & Transformer 3 had some sequences shot at Ta Prohm & Angkor Thom.
Ta Prohm’s original name was Rajavihara (Royal Monastery). It was a conscious decision to leave Ta Prohm in a condition of neglect after carrying out the necessary restoration to prevent collapse.
The trees that are in abundance in the temple complex are the silk-cotton tree and strangler fig tree.
Do not miss seeing detailed decorative carving on one of the gopura. There are representations of animals both real & mythical. There is even a convincing representation of stegosaur.
The Bayon at Angkor Thom
What a wonderful surprise awaited us at the Bayon. This was the State temple of Jayavaraman VII and his immediate successors. The period of construction is around 1200 CE. It is a complex of face-towers that creates a stone mountain of ascending peaks. Out of the original 49 or 54 towers only 37 stand today. Majority of the towers have four faces while some have two or three faces. It is a delightful feeling as the smiling faces on stone seem to be welcoming you. This was at the centre of the capital city of Angkor Thom. The later kings instead of building a new temple kept on adding to this temple complex.
The temple has two galleried enclosures. It is a fascinating experience going through them and seeing the bas-reliefs. The bas-reliefs are religious & mythological and some depict the daily lives of the Khmer people. There are some bas-reliefs that depict the battle scenes with the Chams. Boats and marine life figure in the bas-relief. One famous carving is that of the Khmer army marching. Carvings of cavalry, elephants & musicians attract attention. Another famous scene depicts the Legend of the Leper King. In addition, the fee-standing face towers on the upper terrace with the faces exhibiting different expressions entice the visitor. Under Jayavarman VIII the temple converted to Hindu temple by the middle of 13th century. Some bas-reliefs also depict Hindu devatas and scenes from Hindu mythology.
Legend of the Leper King:
The entire sequence depicts a king fighting a giant serpent with his bare hands with onlookers all around. He then descends a staircase and women attend on the injured king and examine his hand. He seems to have acquired leprosy with the venom of the serpent and then the visitor sees the progression of the illness.
On the outer gallery one can see dancing apsaras on the columns.
A virtual tour of the Bayon
Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei consecrated in the 2nd half of the 10th century during the reign of Rajendravarman is an exquisite temple complex. This small temple is at the base of the Kulen mountains. Many visitors give a miss to this temple as it is 20 kms from Angkor but I feel one should not miss visiting this beautiful gem.
A king did not built it but Yajnavaraha, one of the counsellors of Rajendravarman built it. Banteay Srei means ‘Citadel of women or beauty’ and truly signifies its small size and the delicacy of its decoration. It is truly the ‘Jewel of Khmer Art’ because of its minitaure size and richness of decoration on the surfaces. The temple remained hidden in obscurity and the French discovered it only in 1914. Figures depicted are those of Indra on elephant Airavat with three heads. Other figures are those of Uma Maheshwara on Nandi, Vishnu as Narasimha killing the asura king Hrinyakasipu.
The pink sandstone adds to the beauty of the temple & carvings. The relief carvings are the finest in Khmer art both in its richness and execution. Some of the foliage has great depth which gives a three dimensional effect. They cover almost every square inch of the stone surface. Bas-reliefs that attract attention are those of fight between Vali & Sugriva and that of Krishna killing Kansa.
Ta Keo
This temple was built in the late 10th century during the reign of Jayavarman V. It’s ancient name was Hema-Sringagiri (the Mountain with golden peaks). A steep flight of steps takes you to the top. It is dedicated to Shiva.
Preah Ko
In the late 9th century Indravarman I built this elegant small temple dedicated to Shiva. It has 6 towers and some fine lime mortar decoration. Most of it is ruins. The statues of three Nandis (Shiva’s bulls) face the shrines. So, in modern times people have started calling it ‘The Sacred Bull temple’.
Bakong
Bakong was the State Temple of Indravarman I. It was built around 881 CE. Some scholars believe that the central tower was added during the reign of Yasovarman II. It is located at Hariharlaya, the capital of Jayavarman II. This also is a Shiva temple. It is believed that this was probably the first temple-mountain symbolizing Mount Meru.
Pre Rup
Rajendravarman had built this temple-mountain around 960 CE. There is a beautiful harmony of colour between laterite, brick and sandstone. The ancient name of this Shiva temple was Rajendrabhadresvara after the name of the king. The structure resembles a pyramid and rises steeply in three tiers to a 35 m sqare platform. The five principal shrines on the top rise 12 m above ground level.
A few tourists come here in the evening to watch the sunset. We also climbed up and viewed the sunset but it was nothing great. We sat on the porch near one of the shrines and enjoyed bhel. My wife had carried onions & tomatoes along with ready pack of bhel!
Our pic gallery
A memorable boat ride on Tonle Sap lake (The Great Lake)
On the last day of our trip we took a boat ride on Tonle Sap lake. It turned out to be a wonderful diversion after spending three days amidst the ruins of the temples. In addition, it definitely gives an opportunity to see & experience Cambodian village life at close quarters. After breakfast we drove down about 45 kms through lush green countryside amidst paddy fields to Kompong Khleang. Then we continued our journey in a boat for the next 75 mins.
For quite a distance the boat was close to the banks of the lake to allow us to have a peep at the row of floating houses in the villages. They were all standing on stilts. We could see houses, shops, schools, places of worship & medical centres. Every house has a boat and even young children 5 or 6 years of age were rowing the boats comfortably. Women were selling many products from their boats. On on side of the lake are the paddy fields. The abundance of water ensures a rich harvest of rice. There are crocodile farms too.
Villagers lead a tough life and with meagre earnings are barely able to manage their livelihood. They lead a nomadic life as with changing seasons, the floating villages also move.
Tonle Sap has been the lifeline of Cambodia from time immemorial. Fish is the staple diet of Cambodians because 70% of Cambodia’s fish produce comes from this lake.
About Tonle Sap
Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia,. As a result, it contains an exceptional large variety of interconnected eco-regions. Therefore it is considered as a biodiversity hotspot. UNESCO designated it as UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1997.
120 kms long Tonle Sap Lake attaches the lake with Mekong river. The lake’s size, length and water volume varies considerably over the course of a year. It has an area of around 2,500 km2 and a length of 160 km at the end of the dry season in late-April. And, from this it grows to an area of up to 16,000 km2 (6,178 sq mi) and a length of 250 km (160 mi) at the end of rainy season in November. As we had travelled in November, the lake was full. After leaving the villages our boat reached the
As part of the package, Solin had carried chilled caned beer, juices & soft drinks along with some dry snacks. As a result, we enjoyed the picnic during the boat ride.
Other attractions & information about Siem Reap
Pub Street :
No trip to Siem Reap is complete without evening trips to the Pub Street and the adjoining streets. This is where all the tourists & backpackers descend to party and enjoy the nightlife. As the neon lights are put on, the streets come to life. It’s a non-stop fun-party of loud music, dance, drinking and eating. The celebrations continue till the wee hours of the dawn. The Pub Street is only a 100 metre stretch and it gets jam packed with revelers of every nationality & age. The area is full of iconic bars & restaurants, street food stalls, night clubs and shops. A wide variety of culinary treats ranging from Khmer specialties to Western delicacies are on offer at reasonable rates. In addition, draught/draft beer is available dirt cheap at 50 cents.
Massage & Spas
There is no dearth of good massage shops/parlours and spas at Siem Reap. The services can range from foot massage to full body massages with distinctive Cambodian massage therapy. There are boutique spas too that offer full range of spa services. They include aromatherapy, body treatment, wraps & scrubs and steams & sauna packages.
Mode of travel:
Tuk tuk is the most popular, comfortable and convenient mode of transport in Siem Reap. It is like an open carriage with two wheels that’s attached to the driver’s motorbike. It can seat up to four people.
A ride in the tuk tuk allows the visitor to take in the fresh air and enjoy the view. They are available every where, outside every large hotel. In addition, they ply even late night to ferry people from Pub Street to their respective hotels. They are very reasonable. Tourists even hire them on hourly basis to take them to the various temples.
For cycle enthusiasts, cycling to the several temples is a very good option. Cycles are available on hire.
Indian restaurants
There are a number of Indian restaurants in Siem Reap. We could find a good Indian restaurant close by to our hotel. Being vegetarian has its limitations but fortunately at this restaurant we found delicious north Indian vegetarian food. The price was also reasonable. Though, we enjoyed the breakfast at our hotel, we went to the Indian restaurant for lunch or dinner.
Hotels
As mentioned earlier, Siem Reap is a tourist friendly city and it has no dearth of good hotels ranging from 5 star hotels to family run guest houses. They can suit any category of tourist and cater to every budget.
Best season to visit
The best months to visit Angkor are from November To February
Connectivity
Siem Reap is connected with majority of international cities by direct flight. But to my knowledge there is no direct flight from India to Siem Reap. One has to travel either via Bangkok or Singapore. It takes minimum of 9.30 to 12 hours to reach Siem Reap from India.
Visa
Indian citizens can apply for Cambodian tourist visa online.
Currency
US dollar is accepted form of currency every where.
Entry fee to monuments
The visitor must possess an admission pass (an ‘Angkor Pass’) to visit the temples and sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Passes may be purchased at the main entrance on the road to Angkor Wat.
Passes are sold in one-day ($37), three-day ($62) and seven-day ($72) blocks that must be used on consecutive days. Photo is taken at time of purchasing the ticket and it is printed on the ticket.
Visiting hours are 5:00AM – 6:00PM. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00PM, Banteay Srey closes at 5:00PM and Kbal Spean at 3:00PM. Always carry your ticket. It would be checked at major temples. There is a significant fine for not possessing a valid ticket inside the park. A regular admission ticket is not required to visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, but there is a separate entrance fee of $20, $10 and $5, respectively.
Other tips
Wear light, comfortable cotton/linen clothing. Do carry a hat/cap, scarf, sun glasses and sunscreen. It’s also advisable for ladies to carry an umbrella. Carry a bottle of water even though bottled water is available every where. If going for sunrise, it’s better to apply mosquito repellent.
Shopping
You can not leave Cambodia without indulging in shopping. In the market area there are a number of shops, curios & boutiques. You can search for Cambodian souvenirs such as silks, handicrafts, textiles and Cambodian art both traditional & contemporary.
Other activities
A 20 mins hot air balloon ride is a very good option to get a feel of the temples from the top. A number of hotels arrange traditional Apsara dance shows in the evenings.
References
(i) Ancient Angkor by Claude Jacques and Michael Freeman (ii) Wonders of the World -100 Great Man-Made Treasures of Civilization (iii) India and South East Asia – a history of architecture by Christopher Tadgell (iv) Hindu Temples
of Bharat, Cambodia and Indonesia by Dr. Uday Dokras (iv) Official website: https://www.siemreap.net
Regular Updates
I have clicked all the pics (except as mentioned below the picture)
In case you have enjoyed going through this travelogue then please comment below. In addition, please share the link with your friends. If you have missed reading my earlier blogs then you can go to the site www.travelindiathroughmyeyes.com and click on the heading of the respective blogs.
You can reach me at rameshkabra1956@gmail.com for any feedback or queries related to this post.
Please follow my Instagram Accounts @rameshkabraexplorer and @artheritageofindia_rameshkabra
I am also on Twitter as rameshkabratraveller @rameshkabra12
I am Life Member of INTACH Nasik Chapter.
Disclaimer:
I have made sincere efforts to provide you the correct information about all the places. They have been culled out from various sources. I do not take any responsibility for any errors that might have crept in the narration. There is no intention to hurt the faith or religious sentiments of any person, community or nationality.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.