Amazing return to Siem Reap and the Angkor heritage
Cambodia has changed in the last years and it has developed a lot.
Our first attempt to enter Cambodia was in 1995. The 145 km highway between the Thai/Cambodian border Poipet and Siem Raep was indescribable bad, the surface of the road more looked like the surface of the moon. Bridges were broken and the buffalo service ready to pull cars of the mud.
We nearly were alone visiting the giant Angk… (read more)
Our first attempt to enter Cambodia was in 1995. The 145 km highway between the Thai/Cambodian border Poipet and Siem Raep was indescribable bad, the surface of the road more looked like the surface of the moon. Bridges were broken and the buffalo service ready to pull cars of the mud.
We nearly were alone visiting the giant Angk… (read more)
Causeway to the Angkor Wat
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Angkor Wat is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking.
It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. Angkor Wat is the centerpiece of any visit to the temples of Angkor.
The famous view of Angkor Wat
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The largest component of this complex is known as Angkor Wat. The word "Wat" means monastery, and it was used as just that. This huge temple was built by King Suryavarman II, who decorated and built it in his Hindu beliefs. Dedicated to the Hindu Gods Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. It was a holy place for many. But soon in the ruling of King Jayavaraman VII decided that the Gods of Hinduism had failed him. Buddhism was prevalent in the construction of Angkor Thom, a new nearby capital.
The city of Angkor, Angkor Thom, was the capital of a kingdom known as the Khmer Empire, for over five hundred years. In fact, the word "angkor" means capital.
It became one of the most architecturally complex places in the world between the 9th and the 13th centuries,
The temple mountain of Angkor Wat
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Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 km long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next.
At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.
Northern Library of Angkor Wat
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This library is one of the four in the complex of Angkor Wat. After entering the complex trough the entry tower we passed a library building on the left and one on the right side in excellent condition after a renovation from the Japanese Delegation.
Most likely the library functioned broadly as a religious shrine rather than strictly as repositories of manuscripts.
Freestanding buildings, they were normally placed in pairs on either side of the entrance to an enclosure, opening to the west.
Northern Library of Angkor Wat
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This building on the left side of the causeway was restored by the Japanese Permanent Delegation in 1999 and is now in beautiful condition. When I came the first time to visit Angkor it looked like a heap of rubbles.
Structures conventionally known as "libraries" are a common feature of Khmer temple architecture, but their true purpose remains unknown.
Entrance to the temple mountain Angkor Wat
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The dominant scheme for the construction of state temples in the Angkorian period was that of the Temple Mountain, an architectural representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods in Hindu mythology.
Mount Meru of Hindu traditions has clearly mythical aspects, being described as 84,000 Yojanas high, and having the Sun along with all its planets and stars in the Solar System revolve around it as one unit.
(A Yojana is a Vedic measure of distance used in ancient India. The exact measurement is disputed amongst scholars with distances being given between 6 to 15 kilometers.)
Gallery of thousand Buddhas
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As the name suggests, this area used to have hundreds of Buddha images. Now only remnants remain as some were removed and others stolen.
Cross-coat on the first level
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A Buddha statue displayed in the Hindu temple. Buddhism and Hinduism two religions come together. Angkor Wat became an important destination for Buddhist pilgrims.
Cloister of the second level
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Standing within the cloister is a great experience. Your eyes will be busy taking in every detail - the size of the enclosure, the many Apsara dancer figures, the airiness and ancient feeling. Being under the roof where it's shady and cool, we could see how bright the Cambodian sun is shining.
Apsara as guardian
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This angle is standing still and facing forward in their role as temple guardians.
The Nymphs and Goddesses of Angkor Wat
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At the Angkor Wat Complex there are two types of females represented Apsaras and Devatas. The former are always dancing or poised ready to dance and the latter are standing still and facing forward in their role as temple guardians.
Apsaras in Angkor Wat
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According to Hindu legend the “elixir of immortality” was lost in the mythological Ocean of Milk and the gods went looking for it. It is said that these goddesses were born from the ocean of milk; water nymphs that were pulled from the ocean by the Hindu Devas (gods); Visuki, the god of serpents and a group of morally corrupt demons, the Asuras.
It does not make sense to censor Apsaras beautines…
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My swiss friend tried to censor the aesthetic upper body of an Apsara, but there are too many of this beautiful carved master pieces. The present alive Apsaras got more puritanical.
Korean tourists visit the second level
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In 1996 when we visited Angkor the first time, we were nearly alone at that place. Tourism has increased a lot; first Korean, then Red- and Taiwanese Chinese, Japanese and ... Russian who mostly have problems to keep the correct behaving in temples areas.
(Some of the Western and Japanese tourists - mostly backpackers - manage to explore the giant cultural area by riding a bike. This tourists also learn to get a close feeling to the culture and the near contact to the Cambodian people. This is the right way to travel!)
Lintel at the entrance gate
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A lintel is a horizontal beam connecting two vertical columns between which runs a door or passageway. Because the Angkorean Khmer lacked the ability to construct a true arch, they constructed their passageways using lintels or corbelling.
A rest beside the Apsaras
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For visiting Angkor Wat and of its terrain you need three to four hours. A rest in the shade next to eight hundred years old sandstone reliefs.
Central tower built with sandstone
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After we climbed up the stairs, we finally arrived at the top level. Here we were able to enjoy some really great views, because we were now 50 meters from the ground.
The only stone used by Angkorian builders was sandstone, obtained from the Kulen mountains 35 km far away. Since its obtainment was considerably more expensive than that of brick, sandstone only gradually came into use, and at first was used for particular elements such as door frames.
My wife looks out the arcardes
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