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Siem Reap

4 Days exploring temples & more

By Wander with Jill

January 29^th, 2019

Since I am a photographer I naturally follow many National Geographic accounts and I can remember about a few years ago I saw a photo of a stunning temple in Cambodia called Angkor Wat. I had no idea about this temple up until that moment, and I made sure to add it to the top of my bucket list of places to visit.

Just a few months ago I decided to finally head to Asia making Siem Reap one of the cities I visited while there. It had been my dream to visit the Angkor Wat temple ever since seeing that photo and finally it was coming true. As with any trip I plan, I research heavily what I can do in the city while Im there. While researching I learned that Angkor Wat was just one of the hundreds of temples in Siem Reap, and finding a proper tour guide would be my best option for exploring them in just a few days. Although you can choose to explore the temples without a guide I decided to do a private tour with Angkor Special Tours. By having a private tour guide and driver we were able to visit over 10 temples, a waterfall, and a floating village in a matter of 3 days for a reasonable price.

Here are the photos of the places I was able to see....

ANGKOR WAT

Angkor Wat is an enormous Buddhist temple complex located in northern Cambodia. It was originally built in the first half of the 12th century as a Hindu temple. Spread across more than 400 acres, Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious monument in the world. Its name, which translates to “temple city” in the Khmer language of the region, references the fact it was built by Emperor Suryavarman II, who ruled the region from 1113 to 1150, as the state temple and political center of his empire.

Our tour guide Thean explaining the gallery walls

Angkor Wat is famous for having more than 3000 beguiling apsaras (heavenly nymphs) carved into its wall

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

During our tour we were able to visit Angkor Wat 2 times. Once during the day where we had time to walk through the large temple and the second time we returned the next day around 430am to catch the sunrise.

Angkor Wat sunrise is a must-do during your visit to Siem Reap especially if you are a photography enthusiast like me. Make sure to arrive early enough to get a good spot as it gets very crowded.

Hundreds of people waiting for the sunrise

Bayon

My favorite of the 12 temples I was able to visit was Bayon. This place is so unique, with its enormous smiling faces carved in the stone, each with just the tiniest of a grin.

Bayon was constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII, one of the rulers of the Khmer Empire. Bayon is a Buddhist shrine. 216 smiling, serene faces were carved onto gigantic towers. The faces were carved to look like Jayavarman VII. Since the construction of the temple, several of these towers have toppled. Now, it is estimated that about 200 faces remain.

Ta Keo

Ta Keo is an incomplete temple built out of sandstone that boasts a moat, five 50-meter tall towers, and a 22-meter tall pyramid. It was built in the end of the tenth century to early 11th century by the King Jayavarman V. He dedicated the enormous structure to the Hindu deity Shiva, hoping that it would one day become the new state temple of the Khmer Empire. Unfortunately, Jayavarman V died before the temple was ever finished.

Construction on Ta Keo resumed under King Jayaviravarman and King Suryavarman I. But they couldn’t finish it either. According to legend, the temple was abandoned permanently when a bolt of lightening struck one of the temple’s towers. The Khmer people interpreted this event as an evil omen.

In order to enter the temple compound itself, you have to climb up a set of wooden steps.

Ta Promh

This was one of the major temples built at the height of the Khmer Empire by Jayavarman VII. It features a set of concentric galleries with corner towers and gopuras, but with many other additional buildings and enclosures. The complexity of its layout is increased by its partly collapsed state, with trees interlaced among the ruins.

The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm. This temple has been left as it was found, showing exactly what the jungle can do when it takes over control. The roots of the trees attach to the porous sandstone, extracting the water from the stones. The roots are firmly placed on the building itself, slowly crushing it but also holding it up at the same time.

It has gained popularity and is now known as the 'Tomb Raider Temple' because it was used as a location during the filming of the 2001 movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider featuring Angelina Jolie.

In the middle you can see Stegosaur-like animal on the wall of Gopura

Phnom Bakheng

The Phnom Bakheng temple was built around the year 900 in Yasodharapura by King Yasovarman I, also known as the leper King, as he suffered from leprosy. The Phnom Bakheng is a mountain temple dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and one of the oldest temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. King Yasovarman I made this the state temple, the most important temple of the Kingdom. It harbored the most sacred linga in Angkor.

The temple is located on top of a 60 meter high hill. From the top there are great views of the surrounding area including Angkor Wat and and two other temples. It is a popular place to view the sunset, which can make the temple very crowded.

Preah KHan

The temple of Preah Khan is one of the largest complexes at Angkor, a maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen-clad stonework. It was one of Jayavarman VII's largest projects. Built by Jayavarman VII in 1191, the name of the temple means "Sacred Sword." It's rumored that this was where Jayavarman called home during the building of the Bayon.

The Buddhist stupa right at the centre of the temple

Two-storey structure which is the only one of its kind found in the temples of Angkor.

Looking up at a tall tree growing on the ruins of Preah Khan

neak Pean

Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease); it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source, the main tank, by a stone conduit presided over by one of Four Great Animals which are the Elephant, Ox, Horse, and Lion.

Water once flowed from the central pool into the four peripheral pools via ornamental spouts, which can still be seen in the pavilions at each axis of the pool. The spouts are in the form of an elephant’s head, a horse’s head, a lion’s head, and a human head.

A wooden walkway over the waters leads to the central sanctuary,

Ta som

Although Ta Som is one of the smaller temple sites in the Angkor Archeological Park, it is definitely worth visiting. One of features of the site is the huge strangler fig tree which has engulfed the eastern gopura or gate. The Bayon style monument was built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. The King dedicated Ta Som to his ancestors.

East Mebon

East Mebon is a mountain temple dedicated to Shiva build by King Rajendravarman II halfway the 10th century. The unique thing about East Mebon is that it is actually built on an island. The island is in the middle of what was a man made reservoir called East Baray. The reservoir is now dry so you have to use your imagination when exploring East Mebon, that it was completely surrounded by water. The temple has three tiers and five towers on top. The structures are fairly well preserved, especially for one of the older temples at Angkor.

Elephant standing guard at the East Mebon temple

Banteay Srei

Located about 30 minutes away from the main monuments is the Banteay Srei temple. This temple contains the finest, most intricate carvings to be found in Angkor. The name means 'Citadel of the Women.' Unlike the major sites at Angkor, this was not a royal temple. It was built in 967 by Yajnavaraha, a Brahmin priest and counselor of King Rajendravarman II and his brother.

Beng Mealea

Located about an hour away from the main monuments you can find the large temple of Beng Mealea which means 'Lotus Pond.' Though unrestored, and in a fairly ruinous state this temple is worth venturing to. The history of the temple is unknown and it can be dated only by its architectural style, identical to Angkor Wat, so scholars assumed it was built during the reign of king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century.

Heaps of enormous mossy stone blocks very loosely retaining the shape of the original entrance

Phnom Kulen

The main attraction of Phnom Kulen is the waterfalls at the top of Kulen Mountain. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Siem Reap and well worth the drive. This waterfall has two levels. The lower level was great for a quick dip.

Kampong Khleang floating village

Kampong Khleang is located on the northern edge of Tonle Sap lake about 35 km east of Siem Reap town. Since it was dry season, I was awestruck by the forest of stilted houses rising up to 10 meters. We were told that in the wet season, the waters rise to within one or two meters of the buildings. Kampong Khleang is a permanent community within the floodplain of the Lake, with an economy based on fishing and surrounded by flooded forest.

I truly enjoyed the boat ride up out to the lake and highly suggest to anyone that visits Siem Reap to make a stop here.

Hot Air Balloon Sunrise

My favorite and most epic part of my short trip to Siem Reap was the Hot Air Balloon ride over the town on our last day. I had been dreaming of going on a Hot Air balloon for some time now so when I found a tour that offered it I couldn't pass it up. Watching the sun rise floating in a huge balloon was really magical.

Overall, my 4 day trip to Siem Reap was everything I expected it to be. Exploring the temples and learning the history of an ancient civilization is something I will never forget. My friendly guide Mr. Thean was knowledgeable, funny, and helped me get some great photos. If you plan to visit Siem Reap I highly recommend taking a tour with Angkor Special Tours.