5 Awesome Temples to See in Siem Reap, Cambodia
The massive Ankgor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap is an incredible destination with a rich history. This important spiritual site is featured on the Cambodian flag.
Cambodia is home to more than 1,000 temples, and the nation's crown jewel is undoubtedly Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. This massive complex (picture at top) is just one of several temple sites you can visit when in Siem Reap, though. We explored Siem Reap as the first stop on a two-week voyage with Avalon Waterways through Cambodia and Vietnam. Here are the five temples we wandered through (while sweating buckets under the hot sun).
1. Angkor Wat
This is the big one. This ancient stone city within the Angkor Archaeological Park is the largest temple complex in the world, covering 400 square miles. This place was built in the 12th century as the spiritual home for the Hindu god Vishnu, and today it serves as the heart of Cambodia's Buddhist practices (the country was converted from Hinduism in the 13th and 14th centuries).
Angkor Wat is famed for its spires that represent lotus buds, and the sprawling facility that was "lost" has been gradually reclaimed from the forest of the past two centuries. Now, a UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors flock to the picturesque temple, which is depicted on the Cambodian flag, to marvel at the stone buildings that feature intricate carvings and reliefs that tell the stories battles and daily life in the Khmer Empire.
2. Ta Prohm
The "Tree Temple" looks as if it sprang from a fairytale. The temple is featured in the movie "Tomb Raider," which starred Angelina Jolie, who formed a special bond with the Cambodian people while filming. Ta Prohm dates to the 12th century, and trees have overgrown the stones, attaching their roots to the porous sandstone structures and extracting water to spur growth.
Over the centuries the trees and temple have merged, with the roots both destroying parts of the walls while holding up other sections. The jungle also has spread a mossy carpet over several surfaces, and massive bee hives hang in the trees. The effect creates a spooky and surreal atmosphere at the temple, displaying the incredible power of the jungle. While most temples in Cambodia have rigorous programs for preservation and restoration, Ta Prohm receives limited stabilization work to keep the towers and walls safe to explore.
The aim is to preserve the unique and visually appealing aura of the muscular roots embracing the temple.
3. Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom
Feel like you're being watched? Dozens of calm and smiling faces adorn the numerous towers on Bayon Temple, the centerpiece of Angkor Thom, the former state capital (13th century). You only need about 30 minutes to visit this site, which like Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm is heavily touristed. Climb the steep steps to the third level of the temple and you get interesting views of the faces on the towers.
There were originally 49 towers, but the site now has 37, and each tower has four faces — one faces in each direction. Bayon is also known for its wonderfully detailed bas reliefs that tell the stories of battles, commerce, fishing, games, entertainment and other facets of life in the Khmer Empire.
4. Banteay Srei
This small 10th century temple can be explored quickly, too. It's dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu, and the red sandstone buildings are attractive, well maintained and show off artistic carvings. The images in the soft rock display impressive detail and precision.
5. Baphuon Temple
This site is also in Angkor Thom, and it's a three-level temple where visitors like to climb the steps for fine views of the region. The temple was built in the mid-11th century and dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. After more than 50 years of restoration efforts that were interrupted by the era of the rule by the Khmer Rouge, the temple work was finished and opened for visitors in 2011.
To visit these sites in and around Siem Reap, visitors must get a park pass, which allows access to all temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Tickets can be bought at the ticket center complex on the main road to Angkor Wat. Tickets are $37 for one day or $62 for a three-day pass, and you will be photographed to create a ticket with your picture on it. It's also easy and inexpensive to hire a tuk tuk (or remork) driver to take you all around Siem Reap during your stay. Just flag them down on the road whenever you are set to head out for the day.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your visit to Siem Reap.
It's an amazing experience.
JR