With the capital of the Khmer Empire being situated at Angkor for some 500 years, there are a wealth of ancient temples and other sites near Siem Reap Town. Most of these sites are in and around the Angkor Archaeological Park. The largest and most significant ruins of the Angkorian Empire are found just to the north of the municipality of Siem Reap, and thus has grown into a tourist oriented town. It is the base from which most visitors explore the temples of Angkor.
The ruins and restored sites in the Angkor Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and form part of the largest pre-industrial city in the world.
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| Angkor Wat at year 1936 during French Colonials |
Depending on how you count them, there are some 50 Hindi and Buddhist temples and other sites near Siem Reap, with another 10 major sites further away.
Unfortunately, due to the ravages of time and conflicts, some sites are ruined and not in good condition, but even these crumbling sites are fascinating to visit, and provide a glimpse into the distant past. We have provided descriptions of some the more important sites you may wish to visit.
There’s no point of coming to Cambodia without visiting this marvel. The Archeological complex is close to Siem Reap. The temple complex was made by King Suryavarman II, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and served as both capital city and royal temple; this explains the temples name (Angkor means city, and Wat or Vat means temple in Khmer).
After centuries of being hidden in the jungle the temples finally revealed themselves. The temples are considered to be the biggest temple complex of the world, the whole area is about 400km2 this also includes the surrounding forest. There are three important things you should know about Angkor Wat before you go there: first of all it is probably one of the most beautiful sites on this planet. Second it is much larger than you think, it is not just Angkor temple only the complex is much bigger than that. Last but not least no temple is the same, the temples were built in different times which gives them all their unique characteristic.
Unlike other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, preserved as an example of what a tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when the protective hands of humans are withdrawn. Ta Prohm’s walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration, and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth, but the temple has been left in the stranglehold of trees.
After centuries of being hidden in the jungle the temples finally revealed themselves. The temples are considered to be the biggest temple complex of the world, the whole area is about 400km2 this also includes the surrounding forest. There are three important things you should know about Angkor Wat before you go there: first of all it is probably one of the most beautiful sites on this planet. Second it is much larger than you think, it is not just Angkor temple only the complex is much bigger than that. Last but not least no temple is the same, the temples were built in different times which gives them all their unique characteristic.
Unlike other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, preserved as an example of what a tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when the protective hands of humans are withdrawn. Ta Prohm’s walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration, and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth, but the temple has been left in the stranglehold of trees.
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