Angkor Wat in Cambodia is the national treasure of the Khmers. Angkor, Cambodia: description, photos and reviews Ankor Khmer

In the south-eastern part of Asia is located unusually beautiful country with a great history - Cambodia. For a long time this kingdom was closed to tourists, but today it has become a very popular tourist destination. This exotic country attracts travelers with its mild climate, warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand, snow-white beaches, and, of course, majestic temple buildings.

People come from all over the world to see the mysterious shrines with their own eyes - ancient temples of Cambodia , built more than a thousand years ago.

How and when were temples built?

The construction of sanctuaries was carried out by the ancestors of today's Cambodians - the Khmers, who have inhabited the territory of the kingdom since time immemorial. This people, according to legend, originated from the relationship of the daughter of the king of snake-like creatures - nagas, and an Indian hermit.

Grandiose construction began in the 9th century, when numerous Khmer principalities under the leadership of Emperor Jayavarman II united into a great state - the Khmer Empire with its capital in the city of Angkor. In it, the founder of the dynasty erected the first temple complex, and his successors subsequently continued this work. Today all surviving temples ancient capital form the main attraction of the country - the Angkor temple complex. Its size is amazing - Angkor temples in Cambodia located on an area of ​​more than 200 thousand square meters. km.

The construction of religious buildings in the capital continued until the 12th century - it was during this period that the most famous temples in Cambodia were built. By that time, a huge city had already been built around them, which was inhabited by more than a million inhabitants. In the X-XIII centuries. the great Khmer Empire became the most developed state in all of Southeast Asia militarily and economically.

However, already in the second half of the 15th century, after a long siege of the Siamese, its capital fell and was destroyed.

Residents were forced to flee and abandon the city. Over the years, Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, the humid climate did not spare many living quarters and soon nothing remained of them, but the temple buildings managed to survive. For 400 years, people forgot about ancient Angkor, until in 1860 the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muot came across it in impenetrable thickets.

Angkor Wat

The Cambodian Angkor Wat, rising a few kilometers from the city of Siem Real, is considered the largest temple on the entire globe. This shrine was erected in the first half of the 12th century in honor of the supreme god in Hinduism - Vishnu. The empire was ruled by King Suryavarman II at that time.

According to scientists, the construction of this structure required 5 million tons of stones - the same amount as was spent on the construction of the second largest Egyptian pyramid of Khafre (Khefre).

The ancient builders put a lot of effort into creating a stunning architectural creation - all the stone blocks from which this sacred structure was built were artistically processed - scenes from the history of the Khmers, Hindu mythology and ancient Indian epics were carved on all surfaces.

But the most amazing thing is that the Khmers did not use any mortar to secure the blocks together - the stones were hewn and fitted to each other in such a way that sometimes it was simply impossible to find the joints between them.

Main religious complex Cambodia temple Angkor Wat consists of 3 buildings, inside there are 5 lotus-shaped towers, the height of the central one reaches 65 meters. The complex is surrounded by a ditch 190 meters wide, which is always filled with water due to heavy rains. According to the builders, this grandiose project symbolizes the abode of Brahma - the sacred Mount Meru: the central tower is the peak, the walls are rocks, and the huge moat is the world ocean, washing the Universe on all sides.

Undoubtedly this temple in Cambodia - 8th wonder of the world , after all This is what historians all over the world call it.

Bayonne

Not far from Angkor Wat is the second largest ancient religious building. This is the Bayon Temple, built in the 12th century under ruler Jayavarman VII.

Bayon Temple in Cambodia has 54 towers, and it is no coincidence - each of them was a symbol of the province that was under the authority of the ruler. There are 4 faces carved on each tower - one on each side of the world.

The ancient builders managed to do the impossible - the expressions of all these faces change depending on the lighting and time of day.

They can be kind, smile, be sad, and sometimes with their gaze they even inspire chilling horror. It is noteworthy that no matter what part of the temple a person is, he will always be under the gaze of stone eyes. It is believed that the carved faces are the face of the deity of compassion Avalokiteshvara. The prototype of his appearance was King Jayavarman VII.

Initially, the central tower of the temple had a gold coating, but it was torn off by the Siamese who captured the city. There was a four-meter figure of Buddha on it, but it was also destroyed. The walls of the temple are covered with beautiful bas-reliefs, which depict scenes from the life of Cambodians - military campaigns, bloody battles, worship of gods, circus performances, feasts and much more.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm Temple (Ta Prokhm, Ta Prum) is another Buddhist religious building that is part of the structure of the city of Angkor. This temple-monastery was built at the end of the 12th century in honor of the mother of King Jayavarman VII. That is why, scientists believe, its design in bas-reliefs and sculptures is dominated by apsaras - demigoddesses of Hindu mythology, spirits of water and clouds.

Greater popularity Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia acquired in 2001 after the release of the film “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” - it was this abandoned building that Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie wandered through.

Currently, the complex is an amazing spectacle in the best traditions of surrealism - all the structures from the base to the roof are entangled in bizarre dense vegetation. Here, for centuries, the roots and trunks of trees climbed the walls, framed doors and windows, broke stone roofs, making their way to freedom.

It seems that in this territory there was once a merciless battle between the gods and nature, and the latter won, making a unique structure part of the earth. Now Ta Prohm and the jungle are an indivisible whole.

Bapuon

In the very center of the sacred city of Angkor Thom there is another amazing temple 49 meters high - Baphuon. It appeared in the 11th century during the reign of Udayadityavarman II. This structure is shaped like a five-stage pyramid, consisting of three tiers.

Baphuon is distinguished from other sanctuaries by special bas-reliefs - they are made in the form of small squares, in which scenes from the daily life of the Khmers are carved. In its early years, the temple amazed with its splendor.

Back in the 13th century, the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan admired it, calling it “a truly amazing sight.” Bapuon has reached this day in very poor condition, and the sandy foundation on which it was built is to blame. It turned out to be unstable, and the grandiose building began to rapidly collapse.

Less Famous Temples of Cambodia

In Cambodia, there are several hundred ancient religious buildings that fascinate with their beauty and original architecture. The Koh Ker temple complex, located 90 km from Angkor, is considered very interesting. Tourists rarely visit this place because it is not easy to get there. What attracts the most attention in this complex is the temple-mountain Prasat Prang, 32 meters high.

This temple is in Cambodia It is also called the “Pyramid of Death” due to the fact that there is a deep well at its top. According to legend, after sacrifices to demons, lifeless bodies were thrown into it. It was believed that this well led to the underworld.

Another amazingly beautiful temple is Preah Vihear, or, as it is also called, “Temple in Heaven.” It was erected on a mountain, at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. It is considered a very significant building for the ancient Khmers, since it took a very long time to build - construction lasted during the reign of seven kings.

Distinguished by originality Buddhist temple Neakpean, created in the 12th century. It is located in Angkor, near the city of Danang, on a small artificially created island in the middle of a pond. If you believe ancient legend, the water in these places is endowed with healing properties. Actually, this prompted King Javaiyarman VII to build a temple here.

Another miracle of Khmer architecture is the Banteay Srei Temple, located in the province of Siem Real. It was built in honor of the god Shiva in the 10th century. The temple became famous for its decoration - all its walls are covered with jewelry carvings, which are practically untouched by time. Another feature of this structure is that it contains ancient pink statues of guardian monkeys.

1. English researchers G. Hancock and D. Grisby conducted large-scale computer studies and came to a very interesting conclusion: the main religious buildings of Cambodia are associated with a map of the starry sky of 10500 BC. e. In their opinion, the Angkorian temples of Cambodia on the map, if connected by one line, recreate the outlines of the Draco constellation.
2. The temples of Cambodia were not intended to be visited by religious people. These religious buildings were considered the abode of the gods; only priests and monks could enter them. In some temples, tombs were erected for rulers, whom they considered the incarnation of God on earth.
3. Each Khmer king followed the tradition - upon ascending the throne, he began the construction of two temples - for himself and his ancestors. If he died and the buildings were not yet completed, they were left unfinished and new construction began immediately.
4. There is an image carved on the wall of the Ta Prohm temple, which to this day haunts scientists around the world. And there is depicted a herbivorous dinosaur, or more precisely, a stegosaurus, who lived on the planet more than 150 million years ago. How the ancient Khmers learned about this animal still remains a mystery.
5. There are several pyramid-shaped temples throughout Cambodia. As is known, such grandiose structures were found only in Peru, Egypt and Cambodia. An ancient legend explains this fact - they were all built by the same people who roamed these countries.
6. Many Cambodian temples are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Angkor Wat- the largest temple complex in Cambodia with an area of ​​​​about 200 hectares and a height of 65 meters, built by the ancient Khmers in the 12th century. The Angkor Wat temple is one of the most recognizable monuments of Hindu architecture in the world, which millions of tourists come to see every year. I have wanted to see it with my own eyes ever since I heard about Angkor in Cambodia from an experienced traveler friend. Located near the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia, it is the country's most significant landmark, and a schematic representation of the turrets of the main temple adorns every emblem in Cambodia, including the national flag. And the Khmer temple of Angkor Wat itself is recognized as one of the new wonders of the world.

Long before my first trip to Cambodia, I studied in detail the history of the construction of Angkor Wat, and then, of course, my husband and I went to the Khmer country and saw it in all its glory. We didn't book a tour, we just bought plane tickets and flew in on our own. And we liked it there so much that we returned more than once to discover new and interesting details on the territory of the main temple complex of Angkor. And now I will tell you in detail about visiting the main Khmer shrine, about the construction of Angkor Wat and the details that you need to pay attention to during the visit.

And I’ll start by defining what Angkor Wat actually is.

What is Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, the main attraction of Cambodia and one of the world's archaeological masterpieces, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located 6 kilometers north of the city of Siem Reap on the territory of the Angkor temple complex. Its name literally means “temple city”, because the word “Angkor” is translated from the Khmer language as “city”.

According to Hindu cosmogony, Angkor Wat symbolizes the sacred Mount Meru - the place where the gods live - surrounded by mountains and the ocean. The architectural plan of the city combines elements that depict a heavenly city, as if transported to earth. In this, the main Khmer temple of Angkor Wat is similar to the temple.

Basic information:

Interesting fact: Angkor Wat is a symbol of Khmer national pride and has been featured on the Cambodian flag since 1863.

View of Angkor Wat from above. Photo by Cambodian photographer A Sok Sothy picture

I would especially like to note that Siem Reap is very conveniently located for visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex and it has all the conditions for the convenience of tourists coming from all over the world.

The history of Angkor Wat is closely connected with the rise of the Khmer Kingdom in the 12th century. I have read several books on the history and architecture of the Khmers and now I will briefly tell you about the most important thing - the construction of the brilliant temple complex of Angkor Wat.

The boom in the construction of temples in Cambodia occurred due to the combination of Indian traditions nurtured on Cambodian soil mixed with Javanese ones. This effect immediately distinguished the Khmers from their neighbors. They began to build two types of temples:

1. Temple-mountain in the form of a stepped pyramid, dedicated to Shiva;
2. Ground level temple to honor ancestors.

Honing architectural skills and sometimes combining incompatible things or creating something unique, the inhabitants of the Angkor Empire came to the conclusion that the mountain-temple in form and content became irrelevant, and they focused on creating temples at ground level.

Who built Angkor Wat - historical background

Vishnu statue at Angkor Wat

To understand who built Angkor Wat, let's first look at history. At the beginning of the 11th century, tremendous changes reigned in the Khmer political arena. Suryavarman I was more inclined towards Buddhism - whether due to personal preferences or political ones - but he began to introduce Buddhist elements into the construction of temples. In this way, the power of the Brahmans was balanced, who by this time felt their power so much that they built their own temple -.

Suryavarman conquered Dvaravati, a Buddhist state in central Thailand, and his successors, it seemed, no longer lived in Angkor, because for a long time no new Khmer temples appeared. But Phimai was erected (on the territory of modern eastern Thailand), as if the center of power had temporarily shifted there.

So when Suryavarman II ascended the Khmer throne, it was necessary to take decisive measures and return the center to where it belonged, as was planned at the dawn of the empire. The king fought and built. The Khmer Empire occupied a huge size, and Angkor Wat began to take on its usual shape.

It's all in history Khmer Empire speaks of progressive development, of trial and error. Maybe this is precisely what distinguishes it from many other ancient civilizations, where construction technology appeared immediately, and then deteriorated over time until it was completely lost. In Egypt there were no centuries of learning, there were no courses for pyramid builders. In Peru and Bolivia, the most impressive achievements are the most ancient, such as or. Then comes the era of imitators. But in Cambodia, the process of consistent development and honing of architectural skills is clearly visible.

Angkor Wat

So, it’s the middle of the 12th century - the heyday of the Khmer Empire, and Cambodia is building Angkor Wat temple. Dedicated to Vishnu, it eventually became a Buddhist temple-monastery. First the sanctuary of the god and the palace of the king, then the tomb of his creator.

Combining all the advanced construction techniques and architectural skill, Angkor Wat became a unique combination - a temple-mountain at ground level. What Jayavarman IV failed to achieve in Koh Ker, Suryavarman II was able to achieve. He built an earthly version of the heavenly city. The result was a huge temple complex, which raised it up to the gods - a three-stage pyramid and the most high tower rise 60 meters! The Khmers even have a legend about this, which says that Indra gave Angkor Wat to his human son so that he would not miss the heavenly city.

Diagram of the Angkor Wat temple. Photo from the book “Angkor. The Greatness of the Khmer Civilization" by Marilia Albanese

Interestingly, all Khmer temples usually face east, while the façade of Angkor Wat faces west. The western direction can be explained by various reasons: west is the direction of Vishnu and a favorable location in relation to the previous capital. They began to look at each other. If the Khmers had built the Angkor Wat temple with its façade facing east, it would have stood as if turning away from the past. And the Khmers believe in karma. Maybe this is why Angkor Wat has survived the entire history of Cambodia - changes in religion, power and God knows what else. One way or another, he was reborn and became the face of the country.

From Angkor roads stretched to all other temples in the form of an endless serpent. The Naga tradition, which came from India, took hold; snakes among the Khmers became a symbol of the rainbow, the connection of earth and sky. Therefore, it was the rainbow that connected the cities with the heavenly Angkor. We saw nagas back in Baghkong, but now they have become much more sophisticated.

Cities of Angkor on the map and ancient Khmer roads to them

Naga snakes greet you at the eastern entrance to Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat - photos and details

And now I’ll tell you about the main thing - how best to explore Angkor Wat.

• The first time we visited Ankgor Wat, we arrived at the western entrance. It seems to me that it is best to do just that - because then the turrets of the main prasat will gradually appear before your eyes while you walk along the stone road across the canal.
• Then there will be galleries, so long that you want to walk there for a long time. But they are a distraction. After the first galleries, a huge temple area appears. Along the way we went into lonely libraries on the right and left.
• And only at the end does Angkor Wat itself appear. No matter how long you would like to stand and admire it, you have to go inside, because the details of the Hindu temple are as interesting as its appearance.

All roads and architectural elements in the Angkor Wat complex lead to the central prasat of the temple, which rises above everything and is home to Vishnu. The temple was built with visual perception in mind. And when you examine it correctly, you understand the architects’ intentions.

Some unresolved technical problems still remained during the construction of Angkor Wat, for example with the stepped vaults. However, it can be safely said that the Khmer Empire created a masterpiece of architecture, raising architectural excellence to an unattainable level.

Let's wander around this unusual place and admire the most important monument of Hindu architecture, Angkor Wat in the photo.

Eastern entrance to Angkor. From here, despite the fact that this is not the most popular entrance, it is best to start exploring the monument if this is not your first time at Angkor. Come in the morning - at this time the walls of the temple are very well lit.

The charming turrets of the Angkor Wat temple complex look especially stunning in the sunset rays

The charming turrets of the Angkor Wat temple look especially stunning in the sunset rays

The connected galleries, which first appeared in, surrounded the main temple of the Khmer Empire on all sides. And Banteay Srei shared rich bas-reliefs. And in the case of Angkor Wat, scenes from the scriptures took up a much larger surface. Scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the reign of Suryavarman II and Vishnu - all achievements are embodied in one place. The king is equated to gods, his deeds are compared to the heroic deeds sung in poems, his wars are compared to great battles. The bas-reliefs end with the story of the last battle, the Battle of Kurukshetra.

Stone drawings on bas-reliefs make it possible to touch something ancient, and the size of the panel, stretching along the entire length of the gallery, is truly amazing!

The walls of Angkor Wat are decorated with scenes from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, skillfully carved in stone

The walls of the temple are also decorated with figures of celestial apsara dancers, which invariably attract the attention of tourists. Apsaras peek out from literally every wall. Some of them are more popular than others - this is noticeable by the zeal with which travelers stroke the stone maidens, trying to enlist their support and catch luck.

Angkor Wat is always full of Buddhist monks. And tourists are happy to take pictures of them against the backdrop of the walls of the ancient temple.

It is important to know: Don’t forget that before you take a photo with a monk, you must politely ask him about it. Women should not touch monks under any circumstances!

It is more convenient to leave Angkor Wat through the same western gate in order to once again walk past the galleries and libraries, turn around several times and remember Angkor Wat.

My tips for visiting the Angkor Wat temple complex:

• For the first time, it is better to see Angkor Wat from the western entrance and it is better to do it in the afternoon, otherwise the sun will hit you straight in the face while you walk towards the main prasat.
• If you stay in Siem Reap for a couple of days or more and Angkor Wat impresses you so much that you want to return, then come here for the second time early in the morning and start exploring from the east side.
• And of course, one day it’s worth coming here at dawn, to the western entrance.

If you have two or three days at Angkor, then it is best to plan your first day like this. In the morning you should watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, then have breakfast and go to see other temples, and in the late afternoon return to Angkor and wander around it.

How to get thereto Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Getting to Angkor Wat is very easy. The complex is located not very far from the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. Therefore, first you need to think about how exactly to get to Cambodia.

• The easiest way is fly by plane. Flights fly to Siem Reap from all Asian countries - from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia. Usually, tourists come from Thailand to explore Angkor - on their own or as part of an excursion from Pattaya.
• Personally, we went to Angkor Wat on our own several times on public transport from Phnom Penh and from Bangkok. Read about all the difficulties of the road. If you don’t need such difficulties, then it’s better to fly.

If you have already arrived in Siem Reap, then there is also several ways to get to Angkor Wat:

• First of all, you can. This is the easiest way, although not very comfortable, but almost all tourists do this. In order not to build a route yourself, you can simply hire a person who, for a fee, will take you to Angkor Wat and other Angkor temples throughout the day. It’s very easy to do this right on the street of Siem Reap, at a travel agency or at your hotel.
• Secondly, you can rent a motorbike, bicycle or electric bike - this is a convenient option for independent and experienced travelers, which implies that you need to know where and how the temples are located in relation to each other. Many people are afraid to go and see the temples of Angkor on their own, mistakenly thinking that this cannot be done or fearing a fine. So, since about 2016, there have been no problems driving into the territory of Angkor yourself using a vehicle that you rented. There will be no penalties for this. But don’t forget to park your bicycle or bike in a safe place and, just in case, lock the wheel with a special lock so that no one gets away with your two-wheeled friend.

So, you have reached Angkor. What's next? As for Angkor Wat, it is the first temple that tourists come across after entering through the main entrance to the territory of the archaeological complex on the road from Siem Reap. By the way, there are two routes for studying the temples of Angkor that have been established over the years -. Angkor Wat falls into both routes.

Ticket prices to Angkor Wat not that high compared to

• If you buy a ticket to Angkor for one day and see only Angkor Wat, then its price is $37. This ticket is worth buying only if you come for only one day. By the way, with this ticket you can also see all the nearby temples of Angkor and Banteay Srei.
• The price of a ticket to Angkor for 3 days is higher - $62 per person. It used to be cheaper, but nothing lasts forever, and prices for the main attraction of Cambodia have also increased since February 1, 2017. This is the most popular entry ticket option among tourists. If you plan to see the temples of Angkor for only two days, it is more profitable to buy a three-day ticket.
• There is also a weekly ticket for $72, which gives you an excellent opportunity to see Angkor Wat and other Angkor temples (far and near) for 7 days during the month.

Tickets are purchased at a special place at the ticket office before entering the Angkor temple complex. The cashier will take a photo of you and immediately print a personalized ticket with your photo. This way, only you will be able to use your ticket to Angkor, and you will not be able to transfer it to anyone. Please note that the queues for tickets for one day (for which no photographs are taken) and for three days or a week are different.

Visiting hours for the Angkor Wat temple complex:

Unlike other Angkor temples, the Angkor Wat temple complex opens earlier and closes later than the others. Therefore, it is worth starting and ending your visit to Angkor here.

• Opening hours of Angkor Wat: daily from 5:00 to 19:00.

Firstly, we must immediately stipulate that we really liked Angkor Wat. That's why we've been here three times already. Every time we visit Cambodia, we definitely visit Angkor Wat.

This was the first Khmer temple that we saw, since we arrived here right at dawn. A very grandiose sight - the red sun rises above the towers of Angkor Wat. We immediately advise everyone to definitely watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, despite the fact that it is very crowded, especially in winter and spring, when it is the high tourist season and Chinese tourists come here in droves.

You can also try to come at sunset (especially if you are not staying for one day), and spend one of the evenings on the territory of the Angkor Wat complex.

• Sunrise at Angkor Wat spectators are brought in at 6.00. But it’s better to be here by 5.30 - and in order to take a place among other photographers, and the first lightning is also very beautiful. Take a flashlight with you.
• Sunset at Angkor Wat comes around 18.00. But, as with sunset, it's wise to be earlier. In addition, at 16.00 the light is best and you can take pictures of the temple itself, and then watch the sunset.

Secondly, Angkor Wat is the most famous temple ancient Khmers. An interesting fact is that it was here that the concert of the Placebo group was recorded and some scenes from the film “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie” were filmed here. The American actress also returned to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat to film her own film, First They Killed My Father, based on the autobiography of Ung Luong, a Cambodian woman who survived.

Thirdly, this is the most unique historical monument, the ruins of which can provide insight into centuries gone by. Compared to, which are understandable only in the complex, Angkor Wat can be seen without getting to know the other temples of Angkor, if you don’t have time. But I would, of course, recommend visiting as many different Angkorian temples as possible while traveling to Cambodia.

Of course, wandering through stone ruins is quite difficult when you don’t really understand why all these buildings were erected. And the weather in Cambodia is usually either very hot or humid and stuffy. For example, the first time we didn’t understand much at all. Upon arrival at Angkor Wat, we all thought that we would now leave the complex, but it turned out to be simply huge. And after a while all the impressions got mixed up.

But before we returned to Cambodia again, I became so interested in understanding everything that I spent many hours studying materials about each Angkor temple. And on our second and third visits, we walked around the temple complex of the ancient Khmers with knowledge of the matter, and even gave excursions for a friend. Now I’m telling you about Angkor Wat.

Let me briefly summarize this: Angor Wat is a must see!

Angkor Wat on the map

Open on a large Google map →

Legend on the map:

• Gray marker on the map— Angkor Wat
• Orange- ticket office where they sell tickets to Ankor Wat
• Pink– two entrances to the Angkor Wat temple complex (western and eastern)
• Yellow- a place where you can fly in a hot air balloon over Angkor Wat
• Burgundy — international Airport Siem Reap in Cambodia
• Blue— Siem Reap city, where all the hotels are located
  

What else is important to know about Angkor Wat and the temples of Angkor

On the pages of our blog we write about the development of Khmer architecture and the honing of architectural skills over time, and century after century we follow what happened in Cambodia and what led to the creation of the masterpieces of Angkor and the construction of Angkor Wat:

air tickets to Siem Reap on the website Aviasales.

Hotels in Siem Reap

Why the most big temple have people left the world? What is the connection between the Angkor Wat complex and the spiral of the constellation Draco? Why was a dinosaur depicted on the Angkor Wat bas-relief? The article reflects the point of view official history and chronology.

The Angkor Wat temple complex is the largest Hindu temple not only in Cambodia, but also in the world, the largest religious building of humanity, created according to the traditional version by the Khmer king Suryavarman II about a thousand years ago. (1113-1150 AD)

The construction of the Angkor Wat temple lasted 30 years, it became the largest temple in the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. The area of ​​Angkor Wat is 2.5 sq. km. (This is almost 3 times larger than the area of ​​the Vatican), and the size of the entire ancient Khmer capital of Angkor with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants exceeded 200 sq. km. For comparison, for example, the second largest known city of the same ancient era was the city of Tikal - the most Big City Mayan civilization, located in what is now Guatemala. Its size was about 100 sq. km, that is, 10 times smaller, and its population was only 100 to 200 thousand people.

Tourist map of the main temples of Angkor

Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the ancient capital, but far from the only one. The city of Angkor - being the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries, included many Hindu and Buddhist temples, many of which have survived quite well to this day. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and characterizes different periods of the heyday of the power of the Khmer Empire. Later historians would call this period of Khmer history Angkorian.

Main entrance to Angkor Wat with west side

The construction of Angkor lasted about 400 years. It was started by the founder of the Angkorian dynasty, the Hindu prince Jayavarman II, who declared himself the “universal ruler” and “Sun King” of Cambodia in 802. The last temple complexes were built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. After his death in 1218, construction stopped. The reason for this, according to one version, was that the Khmer Empire simply ran out of sandstone deposits; according to another, the empire found itself in conditions of a brutal war and it was impossible to continue construction. The Angkorian period of Khmer history ended in 1431, when Thai invaders finally captured and sacked the Khmer capital and forced the population to flee south to the Phnom Penh region, which became the new Khmer capital. However, historians are still looking for evidence of the true reasons for the fall of the Khmer Empire.

Water moat 190 meters wide around Angkor Wat

In Angkor, the largest temple complexes stand out - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (which includes several temples, the largest of which is Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Preah Kan. The most notable temple was and remains Angkor Wat, which is still the largest religious building in the world. Its height is 65 meters. The temple is surrounded by a giant moat 190 meters wide, measuring 1300 meters by 1500 meters. Constructed over 30 years during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113–1150), Angkor Wat became the largest sacred building in the world. After the death of King Suryavarman II, the temple accepted him into its walls and became a tomb-mausoleum.

Angkor Wat - The story of the discovery of the lost city of Angkor

Widely known in modern world Ankor Wat received after the publication in 1861 of the diaries and reports of the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muot about his expeditions in Indochina. In his diary you can find the following lines:

“The monuments of building art that I saw are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are examples of the highest level compared to any monuments preserved from ancient times. I have never felt as happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never exchange this life for the pleasures and conveniences of the civilized world."

View of Angkor Wat from the northwest side (reflection in the water)

Henri Mouhot was born in 1826 in France, and from the age of 18 he taught French and Greek at the Russian Military Academy in St. Petersburg. After returning to his homeland, he married the daughter of a famous English explorer and moved to Scotland. And already in 1857, Henri Muo decided to travel to Southeast Asia (Indochina) to collect zoological samples. During his stay in Asia, he traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Perhaps he had a premonition of something, a few months after his last visit to Angkor Wat, in 1861 he died of malaria, on his fourth expedition to Laos. He was buried there, near the capital Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang), the location of his tomb is still known. The diaries of Henri Muot are kept in London, in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society, London.

The grave of the French explorer Henri Muot (1826-1861) in Laos

The grandeur of the Angkor Wat temple he first saw shocked Henri Muo; in his notes he wrote the following about Ankor Wat:

“The temple is incomprehensible to the mind and beyond all imagination. You look in embarrassment and bewilderment, admire and, overwhelmed with reverence, freeze in reverent silence... How sublime the genius of this Michelangelo of the East must have been, the genius of the creator of such a wondrous creation! He managed to connect various parts into a single whole with such skill that one can only marvel at it. He saw to the fulfillment of his dreams and achieved, both in general and in particular, such completeness of details, worthy of the whole, which only the most gifted can do.”

The majestic central tower of Angkor Wat

Etymology of the name of the temple Angkor Wat

"Angkor Wat" is not the original name of the temple, as neither the temple's foundation steles nor any inscriptions regarding the name at that time have been found. What the ancient temple city was called then is unknown, and it is likely that it was called “Vrah Vishnulok” (literally “Place of Saint Vishnu”), in honor of the god to whom it was dedicated.

View of Angkor Wat from the northeast side of the building

Most likely, the name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara", meaning "city". In Khmer it is pronounced "noko" ("kingdom, country, city"), but in common parlance, Khmers are much more comfortable pronouncing "ongko". The latter is very consonant with the concept of harvest, close to the peasants, and can, literally, be translated as “harvested grains of rice.”

Young descendants of the almighty demigod king Suryavarman II

Over the centuries, the reduced common "ongko" acquired the meaning of a proper name, which was fixed in the name of the ancient capital region of Angkor (or Ongkor), the former capital of the Angkorian Empire, Angkor Thom, as well as the Angkor Wat temple.

Everything in this world is subject to nature - even the walls of the great Angkor

The word “Wat” comes from the Pali expression “watthu-arama” (“the place where the temple is built”), which denoted the sacred ground of a monastic monastery, but in many countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) it has long had a broader meaning , referring to any Buddhist monastery, temple or pagoda. In Khmer, "voat" can mean both "temple" and "veneration, admiration." Indeed, Angkor Wat, the largest temple of the city of the gods of Angkor, is a symbol of Khmer national pride.

Sculptures of seven-headed snakes on the road to the temple

In Khmer, the name of the Angkor Wat temple is pronounced "Ongkovoat". In the vast majority of sources it is interpreted as a “temple city”. Since the name “Angkor” has been used in the meaning of a proper name since the 15th-16th centuries, a more accurate translation can be assumed - “Angkor Temple”.

In the backyard of Angkor Wat

Why did people leave the largest temple in the world?

The reason why the Khmers, about 500 years ago, left the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat, to the mercy of the jungle and left Angkor to develop the new capital of their kingdom, Phnom Penh, is still the subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. For more than 100 years, hundreds of archaeological specialists from all over the world have been trying to lift the veil of secrecy over the ancient Khmer capital - the city of the gods, Angkor. The fact is that the past has left us a negligible amount of written evidence related to the history of the construction of temples in Angkor. The painstaking work of researchers over many years is gradually revealing to us the secrets of the sacred temple of Angkor Wat, introducing new adjustments to various historical theories related to its origin and purpose.

A rare shot of the temple wall when there are no tourists and the sky is contrasting

Khmer temples were never intended for gatherings of believers, they were built as a habitat for the gods. Access to the central buildings of the complexes was open only to priests and monarchs. The largest temple in the city of the gods, Angkor Wat also had an additional function: it was originally planned as a burial place for kings.

Top view of Angkor Wat (Height 200 meters)

It is noteworthy that Jayavarman II's successors followed his principles of construction. Each new ruler completed the construction of the city in such a way that its core was constantly moving: the center of the old city ended up on the outskirts of the new one. This is how this giant city gradually grew. Each time, a five-tower temple was erected in the center, symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the world. As a result, Angkor turned into a whole city of temples. The splendor of the Khmer Empire faded somewhat during the difficult and prolonged wars with the Chams and Tais. In 1431, Thai (Siamese) troops completely captured Angkor: the city was depopulated, as if a merciless epidemic had swept through it. Over time, the humid climate and lush vegetation turned the capital into ruins and the jungle completely swallowed it.

The entire territory of Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, only the area around the temples was cleared

Hard times (external and internal wars) in the history of Cambodia (Kampuchea) did not allow foreigners to visit the brilliant masterpiece of Asian architecture. For a long time, the temples of Angkor were difficult to access for a wide range of researchers, archaeologists and historians. The situation changed in December 1992, when the temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, deservedly joined the list of one of the most large temples in the world, were included in the list of world monuments cultural heritage UNESCO, and a year later the International Coordination Committee was created in Tokyo, which set as its goal to revive the former splendor of Angkor. Sources of financing for the project were found and active restoration work began. Huge trees that destroy walls are cut down, entrances, ceilings, walls, and paths are restored. Scientists from different countries are taking an active part in restoring the history of Angkor. There will be enough work for everyone for many decades.

The internal passages in different Angkor temples are very similar

The mysterious connection of Angkor with the spiral of the constellation Draco

In 1996, British archaeologist and historian John Grigsby, studying Angkor, came to the conclusion that the Angkor temple complex is an earthly projection of a certain section of the Milky Way, and the main structures of Angkor model the wavy spiral of the northern constellation Draco. He was prompted to begin research in the search for correlations between heaven and earth in relation to Angkor by a mysterious inscription from the time of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer king during whose time Angkor Thom and Bayon were built in the 12th century. On a stele excavated on the territory of the Bayon Temple, it was inscribed - “the land of Kambu is similar to the sky.”

Constellation Draco and Ursa Minor in our time

A certain connection with the stars was also indicated by an inscription made by the builders of the large pyramidal temple of Phnom Bakheng, built during the time of King Yasovarman I (889-900 AD). The inscription says that the purpose of the temple is to symbolize “with its stones the celestial movements of the stars.” The question arose whether there was a correlation between heaven and earth similar to the Egyptian one (the connection between the pyramids of Giza and the constellation Orion) in Cambodia?

The exact location of the main temples of Angkor

The fact is that the projection of the dragon constellation by the main temples of Angkor on Earth turned out to be not entirely accurate. The distances between the temples are proportional to the distances between the stars, but the relative position of the temples, that is, the angles between the segments connecting the temples, does not exactly repeat the picture in the sky. In addition, it should be noted that Angkor is not a projection of the constellation Draco onto the earth's surface, but a projection of an entire section of the sky around Draco, including several stars from the Northern Crown, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, and Deneb from Cygnus. All sacred places on Earth reproduce one or another part of the sky along the Milky Way.

Constellation Draco 10500 BC.

In the same 1996, another British amateur researcher, John Grigsby, joined the scientific and historical work on Angkor. Having set out to establish the exact date when the picture of the sky corresponded to a given location of the temples in Angkor, they carried out a lot of research work using computer technology. The results of their research shook the global archaeological community. Computer research has shown that the main temples of Angkor are indeed earthly reflections of the stars of the Draco constellation and that this is exactly the position of the stars on the day of the vernal equinox in 10,500 BC. e.

Comparisons of the layout of the temples of Angkor and the stars of the constellation Draco

Nowadays, few people doubt the fact that Angkor was really built between the 9th and 13th centuries. AD, however, how could the subjects of the Cambodian kings know the picture of the sky more than 10,000 years ago, because by their time precession had already hidden part of the projected picture behind the horizon. It has been hypothesized that all the main temples of Angkor were built on older structures, as evidenced by the huge slabs of lining artificial canals made of megaliths, the presence of polygonal masonry, high skill in stone processing, stone castles, but it is not known when they were built. However, if they were already projecting the Draco constellation then...

Covered with kilometers of fine carvings, the huge stones of the temples are perfectly fitted to each other, not fastened by anything and supported only by their own weight. There are temples where it is impossible to insert a blade between the stones; moreover, they are irregularly shaped and curved, like puzzles, where none of the modern technologies are able to recreate the former beauty of these temples.

Magnificent bas-reliefs on the outer walls of Angkor Wat Apsaras - Heavenly Dancers

Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could the Khmers have seen dinosaurs?

The hypothesis of the creation of Angkor in the 11th century BC. does not contradict the fact that the temples as we see them today were built between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. e. famous Khmer monarchs, but not everything is so simple. For example, the Ta Prohm Temple is full of intricately carved statues and stone columns with bas-reliefs carved on them. Along with images of gods and goddesses of mythological subjects of ancient Hinduism, hundreds of bas-reliefs depict real animals (elephants, snakes, fish, monkeys). Almost every inch of gray sandstone is covered with decorative carvings. What was the amazement of the scientists who discovered an image on one of the columns in Ta-Prom Stegosaurus- a herbivorous dinosaur that existed 155-145 million years ago.

Researchers have proven that this bas-relief is not a fake. One can only guess where the Khmers saw the stegosaurus? How to explain this?

Bas-relief depicting a Stegosaurus on one of the columns of Angkor Wat

Sacred numerology of Angkor - coincidence or prophecy?

What is this mysterious date - the Vernal Equinox of 10500 BC? It was on this day that the stars of the dragon constellation were in the projection that the Angkor temple complex reproduces on earth, if you look at it from above. This date is associated with the process of precession of celestial bodies. The Earth is like a giant top, under the influence of the gravity of the Sun and Moon, it makes a slow circular rotation. The Moon and the Sun, by their attraction, tend to rotate the Earth's axis, resulting in the phenomenon of precession.

The projection of the earth's axis, as it were, outlines a giant circle in the North of the celestial sphere, covering the constellations Draco and Ursa Minor. At the edge of the circle are Vega, Alpha Draconis and Polaris. This movement of the earth's axis along a circular line, a kind of swaying of the axis of rotation, is called precession.

Schematic representation of the precession of the earth's axis

Astrologers believe that the precession cycle is 25,920 years, the so-called Great Year (the period during which the pole of the celestial equator describes a complete circle around the pole of the ecliptic). During this time, the earth's axis travels a full circle around the Zodiac. Moreover, one astrological era is equal to 1/12 of a cycle (25920:12=2160) and is 2160 years. One month of the Great Year, lasting 2160 earthly years, is the astrological era. Each cosmic epoch (2160 earth years) represents a whole stage in the development of humanity, associated with the sign of the Zodiac through which the earth’s axis passes. This period was somehow mystically known to the famous Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that this (25,920 years) was the period of existence of earthly civilization. Therefore, the period of precession is also called the Great Platonic Year (Great Year of Plato). One day of the Great Year is theoretically equal to 72 of our years (25920:360 = 72 years - the earth's axis passes 1 ecliptic).

Movement along the sidereal spiral of time - Everything returns to normal...

Nowadays, the North Pole of the world is, as we know, the North Star, but this was not always the case, and in the 3rd millennium BC. The North Pole of the world was where the star α (Alpha) - Draco - is located. The precession of the Earth's axis is known to cause an apparent change in the position of stars with a period of 25,920 years, that is, 1 degree is 72 years. In 10,500 B.C. at the lowest point of the trajectory was the constellation Orion, and at the highest point was the constellation Draco. There is a kind of “Orion-Dragon pendulum”. Since then, the precessional process has managed to rotate the celestial pole by half a circle relative to the ecliptic pole, and today Draco is near the lowest point, and Orion is near the highest. MIT history professor Giorgio de Santillana and his colleague Dr. Herta von Dehechend, based on their research, concluded that the entire Angkor is a huge precession pattern. The following facts speak in its favor:

Angkor Wat depicts 108 nagas pulling a huge top in two directions (54 by 54);

On both sides of the 5 bridges leading to the gates to the Angkor Thom Temple, there are huge sculptures in parallel rows - 54 Devas and 54 Asuras. 108x5 = 540 statues x 48 = 25920;

The Bayon Temple is surrounded by 54 massive stone towers, each of which is carved with four giant faces of Lokeshvara, oriented north, south, east and west, making a total of 216 faces - (216:3=72), (216:2=108 ). 216 - 10 times less than the duration of one precessional era (2160 years); 108 is 216 divided by two;

The central sanctuary of Phnom Bakheng is surrounded by 108 turrets. The number 108, one of the most sacred in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is equal to the sum of 72 and 36 (that is, 72 plus half of 72);

A regular pentagon has an angle of 108 degrees, and the sum of its 5 angles will be 540 degrees;

The distance between the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, where the sages ruled who walked the astronomical “road of Horus,” and the sacred temples of Angkor in Cambodia, is, with slight rounding, an important geodetic value - 72 degrees of longitude. From the ancient Egyptian language, “Ankh-Hor” is literally translated as “the god Horus lives”;

There are a total of 72 major stone and brick temples and monuments in Angkor.

The length of the sections of the main roads in Angkor Wat reflects the duration of the four yugas (great world eras of Hindu philosophy and cosmology) - Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Their duration is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. And in Angkor Wat, the length of the main sections of the road is 1728, 1296, 864 and 432 hats.

They look at us from the walls of temples through millennia and... smile)))

The cosmic meaning of the number 72 and its power over humanity

Let us dwell in more detail on the sacred number - 72, because there are too many coincidences associated with it in our lives:

The number 72 is considered a sacred number in all religions.

The Khmer alphabet has 72 letters and the same number of sounds.

The ancient Indian language “Sanskrit” (the language of classical Indian literature, sacred texts, mantras and rituals of Hinduism, Jainism, and partly Buddhism) uses the Devanagari alphabet. Devanagari means “writing of the Gods” or “Urban language” and in Devanagari of classical Sanskrit there are 36 letter-phonemes (72:2=36). Devanagari uses 72 main ligatures (combinations of consonant letters represented by an independent symbol).

The most ancient runic system, the so-called “Elder Futhark” consists of 24 runes, each rune can represent a letter, syllable, word or image. Moreover, the image has priority. But one rune can hide up to three images, depending on the context (24x3=72). Moreover, all these images will be connected in one way or another. The ancient runic alphabet became the root alphabet for almost all currently existing Indo-European alphabets. Those 24 runes that are known today are the third part of the real language, because if you multiply 24 by three, you get exactly 72 runes. Because the ancients taught that the world is three-component. One of them is the earthly world of Getig, the second is the intermediate world of Ritag, and the third is upper world Menog. Here are the three forms of runes.

In the ancient Avestan language (the language of the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrianism) there were 72 letters to represent all possible options pronunciation of sounds;

The most significant book of the Avesta is Yasna, which is a text read in the main Zoroastrian liturgy “Yasna”, contains 72 chapters;

The number 72, both in Sanskrit and in the original Avesta, found its manifestation in the 72 threads of the sacred Kushti belt, which every Zoroastrian has, as a symbolic accession to religion, or rather, as an umbilical cord connecting a person with the Lord God.

In Judaism, the number 72 is considered sacred and inextricably linked with the name of God, the forbidden name to which the universe is subject. These are 72 sequences of letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each corresponding to a specific sound, which have the amazing power to overcome the laws of nature in all forms, including human nature. According to legend, the name of God contains everything that exists, which means that anyone who can pronounce it correctly will be able to ask the Creator for everything they want.

The unpronounceable name of God is the main subject of study by medieval kabbalists. It was believed that this name contains all the forces of nature; it contains the very essence of the universe. The name of God is also depicted by the tetragrammaton - a triangle with letters inscribed in it. If you add up the numerical values ​​of the letters placed in the Tetragrammaton, you get 72.

In the legend about the Tabernacle (Temple), the ancient Jews mention 72 almond buds with which they decorated a candlestick used in a sacred rite; it is a combination of 12 and 6 (that is, half of 12) and personifies realized harmony. The mystical root of the number 72 is also the legendary nine.

The number 72 is the number of the Mother of God. She left this world at the age of 72. It’s not for nothing that Vysotsky sings in one of his songs: “girl, 72nd, don’t leave the altar!”;

The human DNA molecule is a rotating cube. When the cube is rotated sequentially by 72 degrees according to a certain model, an icosahedron is obtained, which, in turn, forms a pair with a dodecahedron. Thus, the double strand of the DNA helix is ​​built on the principle of two-way correspondence: the icosahedron is followed by the dodecahedron, then the icosahedron again, and so on. This successive 72 degree rotation through the cube creates the DNA molecule.

The intersection points of the diagonals in the pentagon are always the points of the "golden ratio"

Three-level structure of the Angkor Wat temple

The Angkor Wat temple complex has three levels. It consists of a series of concentric, rectangular enclosed spaces, including three rectangular galleries, each rising above the next with open courtyards, interconnected by cruciform galleries. In fact, Angkor Wat is a huge three-stage pyramid.

One of the views of the Angkor Wat temple

Having climbed the stairs and passed through the first two of the three successively ascending galleries, you find yourself in the third gallery, famous for its bas-reliefs, most of which are magnificent in their execution.

One of the bas-reliefs on the wall of Angkor Wat - A scene from the life of the Khmer king

Not counting the bas-reliefs in the corner pavilions, they extend for almost 700 meters, being almost 2 meters in height, being the longest bas-reliefs in the world. Thousands of figures depict scenes from the Hindu epic Bhagavad Purana, palace and military life in the days of Suryavarman II, the founder of the Angkor Wat temple.

Ancient warriors on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat

Since the perimeter of the main entrance to Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat with water 190 meters wide, forming a square-shaped island, the temple territory can only be accessed by stone bridges on the western and eastern sides of the temple. The main entrance to Angkor Wat, from the west, is a wide sidewalk built from massive sandstone blocks. Crossing the cruciform terrace, which is a later addition to the complex, we see ahead the entrance to the western gopura with the remains of three towers.

Directly the main entrance to Angkor Wat

The gopura is now entered from the right, through the sanctum beneath the southern tower, where an eight-armed statue of Vishnu fills the entire space. This statue, which clearly has little room in this room, may have originally been located in the central sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Large statue of the ten-armed god Vishnu - Angkor Wat Temple

Once through the gopura, there is a magnificent view of the main temple towers at the end of the road. At sunrise they are surrounded by the glowing silhouette of the morning sky, and at sunset they glow orange. Continuing our way inside Angkor Wat, we see on both sides of the main road - two large, so-called “libraries” with four entrances on each side of the world. They were a kind of sanctuary, and not warehouses for manuscripts, as one might imagine from the name.

Mesmerizing view of the sunrise over Angkor Wat

Closer to the temple, on both sides of the road, there are two more reservoirs, dug later, in the 16th century. Inside the temple you will be greeted by 1800 apsaras (celestial dancers).

Along with tourists, Buddhist monks are frequent visitors to Angkor Wat

Climbing to the second level of the temple, you can see a breathtaking sight - the peaks of the central towers rising from behind the courtyard. From the entrance, all the central towers, as well as the two internal libraries of the second level, can be reached via pedestrian bridges on short round posts.

View from the second floor of the temple

Gradually climbing the stone steps to the highest, third level of the Angkor Wat temple - the heart of the complex, huge conical towers open, located in the center and corners of the square, symbolizing the five celestial peaks sacred mountain Meru is the center of the universe.

One of the four large corner towers of Angkor Wat

The highest level of Angkor Wat and its galleries only emphasize the perfect proportions of the famous temple towers and make general form unforgettable. The central tower, or altar, was the abode of the god Vishnu, and since Angkor Wat was originally a Vaishnava temple, and only later converted to a Buddhist one, it once contained a statue of Vishnu, perhaps the one that now stands at the entrance to the western gopura. The Khmers had an ancient custom of making offerings to the god in the form of gold sheets or small precious stones, which were left in a recess below the god's statue. Unfortunately, over the centuries these offerings have been looted.

One of the buddha statues inside the temple

Today, only some of the statues of the god Vishnu or Buddha are presented in the southern part of the galleries. The large reclining Buddha is still an object of worship for local and Asian visitors.

"Buddha Sleeps" - This Buddha statue, a place of special veneration for Buddhists at Angkor Wat

The entire temple capital of Angkor and the largest temple of Angkor Wat in particular are the soul and heart of the Khmer people, the people of free Kampuchea, a symbol of the prosperity of the Khmer civilization, which has had a huge influence on the cultures of all states of Southeast Asia. The image of the Angkor Wat temple adorns the national flag of Cambodia (Kampuchea) and is its symbol.

National flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Kampuchea, Cambodia)

The era of Angkor lasted seven centuries. Many believe that the founders of the city of the gods of Angkor were descendants of a previous civilization and this is a direct legacy of the great and mysterious Atlantis. The battles of historians over the officially announced dates for the construction of the temples in Angkor and Angkor Wat are still ongoing. There is more and more evidence indicating that people settled in these places long before the heyday of Khmer culture, but in the dates many sources contradict each other, and quite significantly.

The great story of Angkor continues to save our souls...

However, all the figures quite accurately reflect the peak of the heyday and greatness of the Khmer Angkorian era, in which the highest cultural achievements were achieved. The history of this period, which left us no paper manuscripts, is reconstructed with the help of inscriptions in Pali, Sanskrit and Khmer found on the monuments and sculptures of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes of Angkor. Active archaeological and historical research in Angkor continues to this day, continuing to amaze the world with new discoveries of the secrets and mysteries of the great temple of Angkor Wat.

Documentary film "Angkor Wat - A House Worthy of the Gods"

“Angkor Wat - A House Worthy of the Gods” - This is a popular science documentary film from National Geographic from the “Superstructures of Ancient” series, dedicated to the world famous temple Angkor Wat in Cambodia (Kampuchea). The authors of the film made an attempt to show the grandeur of the city of the gods, Angkor, and reveal the secret of the construction of the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Abandoned by people under unclear circumstances more than 500 years ago, the Cambodian city of Angkor is impressive in its scale - it is a giant stone map of the universe and one of the most remarkable creations of mankind.

A detailed historical excursion that will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!

The religious building of Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple. It is considered one of the most magnificent “pearls” of Angkor, the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.

Angkor Wat: history

More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesha) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.

The empire reached its peak a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was built in honor. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, craftsmen were searched throughout Asia.

The main material used was sandstone, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. No mortar was used during installation.

In those distant times, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.

The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated; at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. There was a catastrophic shortage of water, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218), several uprisings occurred, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.

Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into disrepair. People left the city forever. Only monks remained to live in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the structures became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.

Planning a trip? That way!

We have prepared some useful gifts for you. They will help you save money while preparing for your trip.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach any importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. Ancient Angkor owes its second birth (late 19th century) to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of explorers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and traders rushed to Angkor.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the capital's former splendor. The sandstone from which the buildings were built has eroded over time due to exposure to wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned by vandals during periods of hostilities. Tree roots and branches grew through the walls of buildings in many places.

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings in the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After the end of the civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been protected by UNESCO.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Structure and architecture of Angkor Wat

The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat measures 1.3 km from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building of rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. By appearance somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected on all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front side of the structure are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the eastern side of Angkor Wat, but it is less noticeable and can be found by using the services of a guide.

You have to walk around the entire temple territory; transport is prohibited here.

Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any direction, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are connected by staircases, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The internal space thus formed is divided into numerous square-shaped courtyards.

The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. The ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of strange animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.

The first tier is the largest and consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “subjects” are the battles of the gods, the period of the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. The outer wall is made in the form of a double row of columns.

At the end of each gallery there are corner pavilions. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. At one time these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn away and are barely noticeable.

The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier using transitions. Between them are four courtyards, which are filled with water during the rainy season and serve as swimming pools. The interior walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns, through which the courtyard-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.

At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language. On both sides of the second tier there are libraries, each of which has four entrances.

Hello, dear readers! Today the goal of our virtual journey will be the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia. The Angkor region was the center of Kambujadeshi, the ancient Khmer state. In addition to Cambodia itself, it included the territories of today's Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

As is known from, this feudal kingdom existed from the 9th to the 13th centuries. It reached its peak in the 12th century, when Angkor Wat was built. History is silent about what the temple was called in those days.

Suryavarman II, one of the rulers of the Khmer Empire, erected it in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. Therefore, there are suggestions that the historical name could sound like “Varah Vishnuloka”, that is, “the place where Saint Vishnu lives.”

What does the modern name mean?

"Angkor" (from the Sanskrit "nagara") means "city". It is interesting that in Kambujadesh they spoke two languages: the rulers spoke Sanskrit, and the common people spoke Khmer. The word "Wat" in Asian languages ​​can mean temple, pagoda or monastery.

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

The Khmer language is no exception, but it also has a second meaning for the word “Vat”: it is “admiration” or “veneration”.

Cambodians are incredibly proud of their main shrine. An image of Angkor Wat is present on state symbols country: coat of arms and flag.

Thus, the name of the sanctuary can be translated as:

• temple city;
• city ​​temple;
• capital temple.

But in fact, the word Angkor has long become a proper name and therefore cannot be translated in any way. Therefore, Angkor Wat is the temple of Angkor.

Location

The ruins of Angkor are located very close to Siem Reap. It is the capital of the Cambodian province of the same name. Angkor Archaeological Park occupies approximately four hundred square meters. km along with its wooded territory.

Angkor Wat temple complex on the map

Here are the majestic relics of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, which existed at different times from the 9th to the 15th centuries. They include the Angkor Wat temple, which will be discussed in our story. Angkor Archaeological Park has been protected by UNESCO since 1992.

Rediscovery of the world

The once great Kambujadesha was drained of blood by endless wars with neighbors and exorbitant expenses for grandiose construction. In the 14th century it ceased to exist. Angkor Wat gradually fell into disrepair, but was not completely abandoned, since monks always lived here.

Two centuries later, the first Europeans visited the sacred place. They were the Portuguese. At first, the merchant Diogo do Couto published his travel notes. And 36 years later, the monk Antonio da Madalena, visiting the ruins of the temple, described it in excellent colors.

But Europeans really became interested in the shrine in 1860. This time the French did their part in attracting attention to the shrine:

1. Preacher Charles-Emile Bouillevo, who published a two-volume book of his impressions from visiting this place.
2. Naturalist and traveler Henri Muo, who popularized the great Khmer temple among Westerners.
3. Henri Ernest Jean Parmentier, archaeologist and later director of the French Institute Far East, who studied, described in documents and participated in the restoration of the monuments of Angkor.

The Paris Colonial Exhibition, which was held in 1931, exhibited a model of the Angkor Wat sanctuary.

Model of Angkor Wat in the Royal Palace, Cambodia

There were some barbaric antics. In the 70s, some of the buildings and sculptures were damaged by Polpot soldiers. Well, now, protected by the world community, the temple is the number one attraction in the Kingdom of Cambodia, and any travel agency will tell you how to get here.

Those who have already been here share their experiences with tourists:

1. Entrance tickets can be purchased for a day, three days or a week. It must be saved, as ticket inspectors periodically check tickets. With a ticket you can leave the complex any number of times during the paid time and re-enter. It is personal: they will take your photo at the ticket office and it will be on the ticket.
2. Ticket forgery is punishable by law, as is plunder and damage to Angkor property.
3. It is customary to watch the sunrise here at 5 a.m., and the complex closes at 5:30 p.m.
4. You must dress appropriately, covering your shoulders and knees. A hat will save you from sunstroke. And despite the heat, it is recommended to choose comfortable shoes, such as sneakers, since the stairs with stone steps are very steep.
5. Well, and completely obvious truths: do not litter, smoke, or touch images with your hands. You must respect and follow the instructions of signs and signs on the territory.

Before visiting the temple, of course, it’s a good idea to get some theoretical knowledge. Therefore, let us turn to the description of its architecture.

Architectural features

The Angkorian style in which this sanctuary is built combines features of both Khmer and Hindu architecture. This is a temple-mountain, personifying, combined with many galleries. The building consists of three rectangular terraces that make up a pyramid.

The internal rectangular courtyard occupies two hundred hectares. It is surrounded by a four and a half meter high wall. On the outside of the wall, a ditch filled with water stretches for more than three and a half kilometers.

Along its edges the land has been cleared of jungle to a width of thirty meters. The width of the moat is one hundred and ninety meters, and it is believed that it was he who saved the temple from destruction and from the invasion of wild animals from the jungle during the years of oblivion.

Towers of Angkor Wat

The five towers give the monastery its unique beauty. Each of them is shaped like a lotus flower. The tower, which is in the center, rises sixty-five meters into the sky. She is forty-two meters taller than the other four.

Khmer believers did not go to temples: their gods lived here. Only representatives of the clergy and rulers could go inside. Agkor Wat also served as the tomb of Suryavarman II.

The entrance to the temple is through the western gopura (tower above the gate), which is considered the main one. It consists of three dilapidated towers, behind which the gigantic main building is initially not visible, and is similar in shape to it. Coming out of the gopura, the traveler walks towards the temple along the road, on both sides of which there is a parapet with sculptures of seven-headed snakes.

The road is laid along a dam made of sandstone. The dam was probably previously replaced by a wooden bridge. On the eastern side, an earthen embankment leads to the shrine. There are gopuras on all four cardinal directions, but the other three are smaller than the western one.

Vishnu statue in the south tower, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

There is a statue of Vishnu in the southern tower. It is believed that he appeared there later, and initially his place was in the central hall. Four gopuras on each of the three tiers are connected by galleries decorated with square columns along the outer wall.

The galleries are so spacious that an elephant could walk through them if desired. Because of this, another name for gopura is “elephant gate”. The ceiling of the galleries has decorations in the form of stone lotus flowers. And the walls have the richest decoration, more than a thousand square meters. What is this:

• bas-reliefs with scenes from the history of the Khmers, ancient Indian epics and Hindu myths;
• figurines of two thousand charming demigoddesses - apsaras with intricate, exquisite hairstyles;

Bas-reliefs on the walls of the temple - apsaras

• griffins;
• sculptures of dancing people;
• dragons with wings harnessed to chariots;
• figures of men dancing on the backs of running animals;
• unicorns;

• warriors with leaders riding on elephants;
• devatas.

The map of the complex originally included both city buildings and the royal palace. But they all collapsed over time, since they were not built of stone. Only the outlines of some streets have survived to this day.

From the main road to the temple, perpendicular to it, there are six pairs of side stairs along which you can go down to the territory former city. There are two library buildings located symmetrically on both sides of the road, and in front of them are ponds. These ponds, as well as the cross-shaped terrace into which the main road goes, appeared later than other elements of the complex.

Subtleties of construction

The stones used for the construction are so smooth that they seem polished. No mortar was used to adhere them. They fit so tightly to the adjacent stones that the seams are not visible at all.

Sometimes the blocks have no joints at all; they are held together by gravity. In most blocks, researchers noticed multiple holes about three centimeters in length and slightly smaller in cross-section. Opinions differ about their purpose: some scientists believe that they are intended for metal connecting rods, others that they are for connecting parts, with the help of which the movement of stones during installation was facilitated.

There is evidence that elephants were used to operate the block mechanism. The ropes were made from coir, the middle layer of the wall of coconuts. So the stones were lifted into place.

There are also holes in the walls. This suggests that there were once bronze panels here. This was the height of chic in ancient times, but it also attracted looters.

The figure indicating the amount of sandstone that went into the construction of this ancient monument is impressive: over five million tons. This building material was delivered from the Kulen Plateau along the Siem Reap River.

According to modern ideas, a structure of such complexity should have been built over several hundred years. Nevertheless, the construction of Angkor Wat was completed in about forty years - the lifetime of its founder. This indicates that the builders had some special knowledge and skills.

And finally, absolutely sensational information: scientists have established, using computer programs, that the location of the temples of the Angkor complex exactly corresponds to the location of the stars in the constellation Draco, as it was at the time of sunrise ten and a half thousand years BC, on the day of the vernal equinox. So What is thismiracleSveta, which is only about a thousand years old, continues to keep its secrets.

Conclusion

Having visited the Angkor Wat temple, even hardened skeptics admit that famous place It has amazing energy and stays in your soul for a long time. Many come back here again, and more than once. Tourists who have visited here are unanimous on one thing: this miracle must be seen with your own eyes at least once in your life.