Angkor Wat: temple complex in Cambodia. Angkor: History and Guide to Khmer Temples Giant Temple Complex

Story

Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire for over 600 years, from 802 to 1432. During this time, the empire saw ups and downs, constant wars with its neighbors: Vietnam, Siam (Thailand) and Burma (Myanmar). Between the wars, rulers focused their efforts on building more and more temples. The temples that can be seen today are only a small part of a huge, powerful empire. It’s hard to believe, but at a time when European capitals were small settlements and, for example, no more than 40,000 people lived in all of Paris, the population of Angkor was almost a million inhabitants! The reason why only temples remained from the million-strong metropolis is simple: only “god-kings” and priests were allowed to live in stone structures, and mere mortals built themselves dwellings made of wood, which have not survived to this day.

Until 802, Cambodia consisted of scattered principalities. King Jayavarman II managed to unite the country into a single empire. He declared himself a "god-king" and built a huge temple on top of the Phnom Kulen hill, symbolizing the abode of Shiva, on the legendary Mount Meru, at the center of the universe. Thus began the architectural “race for glory”, which gave us the beauty that we can admire today.

King Indravarman I (877-889) built an artificial lake and a Pre-Ko temple. The lake served as the beginning of an irrigation system that allowed Angkor not to depend on the vagaries of nature when irrigating the land. The king's son, Yasovarman I (889-910) , continued his father’s work by creating his own mountain-temple Phnom Bakeng, from which today tourists admire the sunset over Angkor Wat. After the death of Yasovarman I, the capital briefly moved to Koh Ker, a city 80 km from Angkor. Already in 944, Angkor again became the center of power of the kings of Rajendravarman IV (944-968) , who built Pre-Rup, and Jayavarman V (968-1001) , who created the temples of Ta Keo and Banteay Srei.

The largest pearls of Angkor, the temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, were built during the classical heyday of the city. The first king of this period, Suryavarman II (1112-1152) , managed to significantly strengthen the empire and spread Khmer influence to nearby countries. He, unlike other kings, worshiped not Shiva, but the supreme deity Vishnu, to whom he dedicated the most majestic of all Angkorian temples - Angkor Wat. By that time, serious problems had begun in Angkor itself: the city was overpopulated, there was not enough water, and the surrounding lands were depleted. The construction of the temple undermined the economy of the capital. In 1177, the inhabitants of the Cham kingdom - vassals of the Khmer Empire - rebelled, captured and destroyed Angkor. Four years later, King Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) expelled the Chams. On the site of old Angkor, the walled city of Angkor Thom was built. Jayavarman VII built many temples, including Bayon, a temple-mountain with faces facing in all directions. Jayavarman VII was the first king of Cambodia to worship Buddha rather than Hindu gods.

After the death of Jayavarman VII, the empire fell into decline, Buddhism was forgotten and many Buddhist statues were destroyed. The Khmer Empire was never able to regain its former power.

In 1351 and 1431, the Thais destroyed Angkor, taking with them gold and artefacts. The center of power in Southeast Asia has shifted to Thailand. The capital of Cambodia was moved to Phnom Penh, and Angkor was abandoned.

In the 1860s, French traveler and botanist Henri Muot accidentally stumbled upon a monastery on the territory of Angkor, then under Thai control. Descriptions of majestic temples in the jungles of Cambodia had appeared before, but only after the publication of Henri Muo's discovery did the eyes of Europeans turn to Angkor.

In 1907, Angkor was returned to Cambodia. Travelers, adventurers, archaeologists, historians flocked here, and Angkor gradually became one of the main attractions of Southeast Asia. Restoring the temples was a very serious task. Most of them, except Angkor Wat, were heavily overgrown with jungle, sometimes so much so that it was impossible to clean the temple without damaging it. A debate arose over the extent to which temples should be restored, whether late additions such as Buddhist images in Hindu temples should be removed, etc. In 1920, it was decided to restore the temples using the method of anastylosis. The idea of ​​the method was that the restoration was carried out using only those materials that were used in the original construction, and also to preserve the original structure of the temples. Modern materials were only allowed to be used if the originals were lost.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, most of the temples were restored. The Khmer Rouge almost did not damage Angkor, but restoration work was suspended and the jungle attacked the temples with renewed vigor. After the fall of the Pol Pot regime, work continued, and in 2003 UNESCO considered it possible to remove Angkor from the list of cultural heritage in danger.

A small dictionary for a better understanding of the description of temples

Gods

• Brahma is the main of the three primary gods of the Hindu trinity, the “creator”.
• Shiva is one of the three primary gods of the Hindu trinity, the “destroyer”.
• Vishnu is one of the three primary gods of the Hindu trinity, the “protector”.
• Krishna is the eighth reincarnation of Vishnu, usually depicted in blue, most often with a flute.
• Lakshmi is the wife of Vishnu, the goddess of beauty and wealth.
• Parvati is the wife of Shiva, also known as Shakti or Durga, the goddess of power.

Mythical creatures

• Asura is a demon.
• Rakshasa is a demon.
• Yakshasas are the inhabitants of the underworld.
• Apsara - heavenly nymph, dancer.
• Devata is a demigoddess.
• Naga - snake naga.
• Garuda is half man, half eagle. Vishnu's mount.

Architectural and geographical terms

• Banteay is a fortress or citadel.
• Baray is an artificial reservoir.
• Boeng - lake.
• Gopura is a gate tower in the temple enclosure of Hindu temples. Serves as the entrance to the temple complex.
• Linga (Lingam)- a phallic symbol that looks like an unfinished circle, from the center of which a stone rod protrudes vertically - a symbol of the god Shiva.
• Phnoma is a hill or mountain.
• Prasat - tower.
• Preah - sacred.
• Wat is a temple or pagoda.

Angkor Temples

The temples of Angkor are perhaps the most impressive site in all of Southeast Asia. The ancient Khmer kings spared no expense to outdo their predecessors, and each subsequent temple was larger, better and more elegant than the previous one.

The crown jewel of a visit to Angkor is the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat (Angkor Wat). The profile of its spiers has practically become a symbol of Cambodia. Angkor Wat consists of five central shrine towers, three rectangular galleries, increasing in height towards the center, surrounded by a 190 m wide moat of water. The overall profile imitates a lotus bud. From the entrance gate, on the western side, an alley with a fence decorated with seven-headed snakes leads to the Temple.

The first gallery, this is the outer wall above the moat, has square columns on the outside and closed walls on the inside. The ceiling between the pillars of the outer facade is decorated with rosettes in the form of a lotus, and the inner one is decorated with figures of dancers. Bas-reliefs on the walls of three galleries depict scenes from various mythological stories and historical events. Here you can see scenes from the battles of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, a depiction of the army of Suryavarman II, the churning of the ocean by demons and gods, the victory of Vishnu over demons and scenes of various mythical battles.

From the first gallery a long alley leads to the second. You can climb to the platform by stairs decorated on both sides with figures of lions. The inner walls of the second gallery are covered with images of apsaras, celestial maidens.

The third gallery covers five Towers, which crown the highest terrace. Very steep stairs present the difficulty of climbing to the realm of the gods. The walls of this gallery are carved with motifs of snakes whose bodies end in the mouths of lions.

The Temple stones, smooth as polished marble, were laid without any adhesive mortar. The building material is sandstone, which was brought from Mount Kulen, a quarry about 40 km to the northeast. Almost all surfaces, columns and even roof lintels are carved in stone.

The Indian Archaeological Society carried out restoration work at Angkor between 1986 and 1992. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Angkor Thom is a great city surrounded by a high eight-meter wall. Each side of the wall is 3 km long, and the outside of the wall is protected by a wide 100-meter ditch filled with water. It is believed that about a million people lived here during the heyday of the empire. Angkor Thom was built by King Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) after he recaptured Angkor from the Cham warriors who had captured it. Angkor Thom can be entered through one of five large gates, each gate is reached by a bridge built over a moat. It is best to enter through the most beautiful southern gate. On the bridge there are 108 stone statues guarding the city, on the right there are 54 devatas (deities), left 54 ​​asura (demon). Devatas and asuras supported the multi-headed naga (snake)- Khmer symbol of the rainbow, the bridge between earth and heaven. In front of a row of statues are nagas, whose seven heads are ready to pour out deadly poison. Above the gate there are four stone faces looking in different directions.

Bayonne

Bayon is a temple complex in the center of Angkor Thom, built in honor of Jayavarman VII. The temple has three levels and is surrounded by three walls. The main part of the decoration of the temple is a depiction of the everyday life of the Khmers. There is also a 4.5 meter high blank wall depicting scenes of Jayavarman VII's victory over the Chams at the Battle of Tonle Sap Lake.

In 1925, the temple was recognized as a Buddhist sanctuary, and in 1928, thanks to the efforts of F. Stern and J. Sedes, it was correctly dated.

In 1933, a statue of Buddha was found in a foundation well, whose facial features were similar in appearance to Jayavarman VII and which, during the Brahminist restoration (immediately after the death of Jayavarman VII) was desecrated. It was restored and installed on a terrace east of southern Khleang.

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Bapuon

After enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of Bayon, you can go to the neighboring Bapuon Temple (Baphuon). For a long time, only a construction site could be seen here. Only two years ago this ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva was opened to the public. Several decades of restoration work in the temple have been called “assembling one of the most complex puzzles” in the world.

In ancient times, the Baphuon Temple was one of the most beautiful buildings in Angkor. However, by the early 1950s it was on the verge of complete destruction. A team of restorers led by French archaeologists decided that the only way to save the temple was to dismantle it into pieces to strengthen the foundation, and then put the building back together. In the early 60s, the project was launched and Bapuon was dismantled. During the deconstruction, the temple blocks were carried into the surrounding jungle, each block being numbered. In the mid-1970s, the Khmer Rouge came to power and work was suspended. As it later turned out, the Khmer Rouge destroyed the documentation for dismantling the temple, and there was no information left in what order the 300,000 stone blocks should be stacked. The task was extremely difficult - there were no two blocks that were identical, each stone could only lie in its place. The architects had to rely only on numerous photographs and memories of Cambodian workers. The work was further complicated by the fact that at a later time, in the 15th-16th centuries, a 60-meter unfinished statue of Buddha was carved into the wall of the second level, which violated the uniform style of the temple. One way or another, today the giant puzzle has been assembled and the main work on the temple has been completed. True, some finishing work remains; part of the temple is still covered with scaffolding, which makes it difficult to photograph it.

A steep staircase with very high steps leads to the top of the temple. If you decide to climb up, do so carefully.

North of Bapuon is the famous Elephant Terrace (Elephant Terrace), a thick wall 320 meters long, along which are carved images of elephants, lions and garudas - mythical half-humans, half-birds. You can climb the wall and walk along the top, or look at the images below. It is better, if time allows, to do both - images from the inside of the wall, which are visible only from above, are no less interesting. At one time, the terrace served as a platform from which the king and the invited public could observe official ceremonies and review troops. Also on the terrace there are traces of pavilions in which the king could receive delegations. There are 5 massive arched entrances to the terrace from the Royal Square: three in the central part and one at each end. The eastern and western terraces are decorated with bas-reliefs and statues of garudas and lions, they support the terrace in the manner of the Atlanteans. At Angkor Wat, in the bas-relief of heaven and hell, the same figures support the heavenly palaces. The northern and southern sides are decorated with life-size bas-reliefs of elephants with their drivers. A small Buddha carved on the wall of the central section confirms that the terrace is the work of the Buddhist king Jayavarman VII. The central staircase is decorated in the same way as the gates of Angkor Thom - three elephant heads with trunks forming pillars, crowned with lotuses. The Elephant Terrace has an unusual topography: in some places the figures protrude forward quite a bit, and in others they protrude very much. In some places the trunks form columns, and the remains of stairs have been preserved. This is an impressive sight, there is only one problem - a lot of tourists clicking cameras.

A little further north is another terrace - the Terrace of the Leper King (Terrace of Leper King)- a platform seven meters high, 25 meters long. The terrace is part of the Royal Square. On the three outer sides of the terrace, images of gods, demons, mythical nagas and inhabitants of the deep sea are carved in several rows. The best images are from the east (front) sides of the terrace. At the top there is a stone figure of a man surrounded on four sides by warriors, from which the terrace got its name. There are several versions of who is depicted on the statue and why it is a leper. According to one, the terrace was given this name because of the lichen spots covering the statue. According to another, numerous chips on the face of the statue suggested leprosy. (they are not on the copy standing today; the original is kept in a museum in Phnom Penh). There is a theory that the statue actually depicted one of the two Cambodian kings with leprosy. However, the Khmers never depicted kings without clothes. The most common versions are that the statue depicts the god of death Yama, that the terrace was used for cremations of members of the royal family, or that the statue symbolizes the inhabitants of the underground kingdom of the Yakshas.

Legend of the Leper King

A young king reigned in the newly built capital. He became famous in military campaigns and in governing the country, but his heart was cruel. He was hated by everyone except his four concubines, whose whims were his law. When the women got bored with court life, they wanted to go on a trip with him, and the king, without notifying anyone, left the palace. The very next day, discord broke out in the kingdom - two noble nobles began to fight for the throne and started a civil war. While traveling, the king and his concubines decided to visit a hermit who predicted the future. When the disguised king appeared before him, he guessed the high rank of the guest and said: “You were a great sovereign, but from now on you will never be called king. Two large armies are fighting to dethrone you, and only you can put an end to the feud. But at the zenith of your glory and triumph you will know the bitterness of existence and a terrible fate will befall you.” These words shocked the king. After a while, he entered the camp of one of the rebel nobles, formed an alliance with him and led his army. Having put another to flight, he subsequently killed the nobleman with whom he entered into an alliance. At the head of both armies, the king returned to the capital to restore peace. It was then that the hermit’s prediction came true. When the king was riding a horse through the city, an old woman in rags suddenly plunged a dagger into the chest of the horse - it collapsed, and the old woman rushed at the king and pressed her flabby body against him. The king was released from these embraces, and the woman fell, wounded by a thousand blows. The old woman took revenge because several years ago her daughter was kidnapped and imprisoned in the royal harem. She was a leper and infected the king. Leprosy developed quickly, and everyone abandoned him except four concubines. He lost his right to the throne and had to live outside the palace, doomed to despair and starvation. In the legendary history of Cambodia, this king is identified with Prince Preah Thong, who came from India to marry the daughter of the Naga king, and he allegedly founded the first capital of Cambodia - the city of Angkor Thom.

There are also several small temples and chapels inside Angkor Thom. The most interesting of them is Tep Pranam (Tep Pranam)- a large open terrace in the shape of a cross with a statue of a huge Buddha sitting on a lotus in the “calling the earth to witness” pose, made of stone blocks. The statue reaches a height of 6 meters and is located on a lined pedestal 1 meter high. Constructed from reused stones, the statue has a rough-hewn appearance, with the Buddha's head "crowned with flames" clearly dating from a later period. The statue itself dates back to the 16th century and was restored in 1950. Nearby is another restored statue of a standing Buddha in the rarely seen “no-fear” pose. Nearby there is a small monastery where Buddhist nuns live.

This small Buddhist shrine in the forest north of the Leper King's Terrace at Angkor Thom is attractive enough to warrant some attention when visiting the other monuments on the west side of King's Square. Interestingly, above one gate one can find the Hindu god Indra on his three-headed elephant Airavata, and above the other is the “temptation of Mara with her army of demons” attacking the Buddha, who himself has not survived. This neighborhood is quite unusual for the Khmers - it is assumed that the Buddhist images of Preah Pallilai (Preah Pallilay) managed to escape destruction by the staunch Hindu successors of Jayavarman VII due to its proximity to Tep Pranam and the Saugatashrama monastery, whose official status and proximity to the Royal Palace may have saved the precious images and given them sanctity.

Exit Angkor Thom through the south gate. Ahead, a few hundred meters away, stands the 67-meter hill of Phnom Bakheng (Phnom Bakheng), with the construction of the temple on top of which the entire development of Angkor began. Crowds of tourists used to flock here at sunset to photograph Angkor Wat in the setting sun. The views remain the same, but now only 300 people are allowed up at sunset, so if you want to enjoy the sunset from above, arrive early. The staircase leading to the top is closed for repairs; you can climb to the top along a winding path on the south side of the hill. For $15 you can ride an elephant to the top, but you usually need to reserve a spot in advance.

Construction of Ta-Keo (Ta Keo) was started in 975 by Jayavarman V (968-1001) . This is the first Angkor temple built from sandstone. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. For unknown reasons, probably due to the death of the king, it remained unfinished and undecorated - it seems that it burst out of an underground cave, pushing aside the jungle surrounding it. It is known that the temple was originally called Hemasringagiri - “Mountain of Golden Peaks”, possibly prasats (towers) The temple was planned to be covered with gold. Ta-Keo is the modern name meaning "tower of crystal".

According to tradition, the main temples were built in the center of the royal city, Jayavarman V broke the tradition by building Ta-Keo not in the center of his capital, but to the north - near the East Baray. With barai (body of water) The temple is connected by a procession alley with two rows of columns. The temple itself is a 22-meter rectangular pyramid. Conceived as the embodiment of the five peaks of Mount Meru, Ta Keo has five prasats located in the center of its main tier, and is surrounded by a now dry moat, symbolizing the ocean.

On the first level, on a high plinth, there is a fence measuring 120x105 meters and a blank wall with axial gopuras (gate towers), the main one facing east. The two rectangular buildings are preceded by porticoes parallel to the east wall.

The second level rises to a height of 5.6 meters - there is a continuous gallery measuring 79x73 meters with a false stepped brick vault, blind windows covered with columns on the outside and open windows with columns on the outside. The gopuras are built into the walls with corner towers. It is impossible to enter the gallery formed by more ancient rectangular buildings, which indicates its purely symbolic purpose. Inside the enclosure, two rectangular buildings are located along the eastern wall, two “libraries” are located on either side of the access road. To ensure there was enough space for these buildings, the eastern side of the terrace was made wider than all the others. The libraries have an interesting structure: inside they have only one room, but outside, thanks to two lowered semi-cylindrical vaults resting on the walls along the perimeter, a semblance of a nave and two aisles are formed. Compared to other ornate Angkor temples, Ta Kaew may look spartan, but this does not detract from its unique atmosphere. There are steps leading up to the very top of the temple pyramid. Each step is about 40 cm high and about 10 cm wide, so you can only place your foot sideways, holding onto the upper steps. And so 22 meters - the climb is not for the faint of heart, but we highly recommend climbing to the top. It is not known whether the Cambodians chose any energy nodes to build their temples, but the feeling of the amazing atmosphere and closeness to the sky here is indescribable. At some point it becomes unclear whether it is necessary to descend from here back to earth...

Ta-Prom

Kipling described some abandoned temple in India, but this description is simply perfect for the Ta Prohm temple (Ta Prohm)- a huge temple-monastery, swallowed up by the jungle. Of all the temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm is the most poetic, with the most amazing atmosphere created by the huge trees that wrap around the walls, grow through the stones and hang over the towers. Over the centuries, the roots have fused with the walls to such an extent that it is impossible to remove the trees without the buildings collapsing. Ta Prohm was built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist temple. The territory of Ta Prohm is very large, like the territory of Angkor Wat, but in terms of architecture the temple is completely different from other temples of Angkor. It consists of a chain of one-story long buildings connected to each other by through passages and galleries. In fact, this temple-monastery is a series of concentric galleries with towers and many additional buildings, surrounded by powerful walls. It is known from various sources that the temple had 39 prasats, 566 stone and 288 brick structures, in which there were 260 statues of gods.

Many passages are blocked with stones and are inaccessible. The uniqueness of Ta Prohm lies in the fact that there are many ancient inscriptions carved into the stones here - more than in any other Angkorian temple. On a stone stele now in the Angkor National Museum, it is written that in its heyday the temple belonged to 3,140 villages and employed 79,365 people, including 18 high priests, 2,800 clerks and 615 dancers. More than 12,000 people lived permanently inside the temple. The forest that surrounds the temple today was once a large, bustling city, and the temple's treasuries contained many treasures. Now all this is hard to believe, because most of the buildings have turned into ruins. Stones and trees are so intertwined, forming a common ensemble, that sometimes you begin to doubt whether the stone or the tree served as the basis in this complex. There are two types of trees: a large one - banyan (Ceibapentandra) distinguished by thick, pale brown roots with a knotty structure, and the smaller ones are the strangler fig tree (Ficus gibbosa) with a large number of thin, smooth and gray roots. Typically, a tree seed falls into a gap in the masonry of a building and the roots grow down towards the ground. The roots work their way between the masonry and, becoming thicker, actually become the frame of the building. When a tree dies or falls in a thunderstorm, the building collapses with it.

French Far Eastern School (Ecole Frangaise d'Extreme-Orient), which is restoring Angkor, decided to leave the temple in its “natural state” as an example of what most Angkor temples looked like when they opened in the 19th century. Still, it was necessary to clear Ta Prohm of the jungle quite thoroughly in order to prevent further destruction and make visiting the temple possible. To see a truly jungle-conquered temple, visit Beng Mealea Temple (Beng Mealea).

One of the interesting mysteries of Ta Prom is the image of a stegosaurus carved on the wall, which the guides like to take you to. Few people know that there is another image of a dinosaur here; it is almost impossible to find it without a guide, and only experienced guides can show it. Where the ancient Khmers could have seen the dinosaur and how it ended up on the wall, no one can explain. The most popular place among tourists in Ta Prohm is the courtyard with fig tree roots, where the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was filmed. At this point, the main character picks a jasmine flower and falls underground. It would be ideal to walk around Ta Prohm when there are no dense masses of tourists around. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible. The only chance is to come here right at dawn and be the first, or to be here just before closing, when most tourists are busy contemplating the sunset.

Kipling about the Ta-Prohm Temple

The Monkey People in the Cold Dens did not think at all about Mowgli's friends. They dragged the boy to the abandoned city and were now very pleased with themselves. Mowgli had never seen an Indian city before, and although this city lay all in ruins, it seemed to the boy magnificent and full of wonders. One sovereign prince built it a long time ago on a low hill. Still visible were the remains of stone-paved roads leading to the destroyed gates, where the last fragments of rotten wood still hung on rust-eaten hinges. The trees had grown their roots into the walls and towered over them; the battlements on the walls collapsed and crumbled to dust; creeping plants escaped from the loopholes and spread along the walls of the towers in hanging, shaggy vines. A large roofless palace stood on top of a hill. The marble of its fountains and courtyards was all covered with cracks and brown spots of lichen, the very slabs of the courtyard, where the princely elephants had previously stood, were raised and parted by grasses and young trees. Behind the palace one could see row after row of roofless houses and the whole city, like an empty honeycomb filled only with darkness; a shapeless stone block, which had previously been an idol, now lay in the square where four roads intersected; only holes and potholes remained on the street corners where wells once stood, and the dilapidated domes of temples, on the sides of which wild fig trees sprouted.

R. Kipling. The jungle book

Preah Kan

One of Jayavarman VII's largest projects, Preah Kan (Preah Khan), was much more than just a temple - it was a Buddhist university with over a thousand teachers, surrounded by a large city. As at Ta Prohm, a stele with information about the temple was discovered here: the inscriptions reveal the history of its foundation and purpose. The Royal Palace of Yasovarman II previously stood on this site, and the inscription on the stele about the “lake of blood” recalls that the temple was built on the site of a major battle with the Cham, which prevented the capture of Angkor - in that battle the Cham king was killed. The city was named Nagara Jayasri in honor of King Jayasri, who became famous in this battle. (Nagara means "city" in Sanskrit), and the modern name Preah-Kan - “Sacred Sword” - is a translation of the name Jayasri from Sanskrit.

If Ta Prohm was dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII, then Preah Kan five years later, in 1191, was dedicated to the king's father, Dharanin-dravarman. A statue of the bodhisattva Lokeshvara was created from it. There were 430 minor deities in other chapels in the city. Following the entrance alley with pillars is a naga bridge, exactly the same as the one that crosses the moat of Angkor Thom - the bodies of two giant naga snakes on both sides of the dam are held by a row of devatas (demigods) left and asuras (demons) on right. Unfortunately, the relatively remote location of the temple allowed treasure hunters to steal their heads. Overall, this type of giant figures is reminiscent of the famous scene on the Angkor Wat bas-relief, “The Churning of the Ocean of Milk.” As in Angkor Thom, the nagas lead us across the moat - it is likely that here too they symbolize the bridge between the world of people and gods.

The eastern tower of the outer enclosure has three entrances, the central entrance being the largest; a cart could pass through it. On the walls there are magnificent stone sculptures of giant garudas holding in their hands the tail of a naga serpent - their traditional enemy. These 5-meter-tall figures are located at 50-meter intervals around the entire perimeter of the fourth encirclement - there are 72 of them in total, with the largest garudas located at the corners. The gopura of the third enclosure is the largest in Angkor. In front of it is a large cruciform terrace with balustrades of nagas and lions. On the right is the so-called House of Fire, one of 121 chapels built by Jayavarman VII along the main roads of the empire. All chapels are built in the same way, oriented west to east, with towers on the western exits and windows only on the southern sides. From their names on the engravings it can be understood that they were related to the arks with the sacred flame and, perhaps, served as transit points on a ritual journey. The gopura of the third enclosure is the richest of all. Its three widely spaced towers and small pavilions at either end are connected by columned galleries on the outer sides. The length of the gopura is 100 meters, there are five entrances in total, as well as a gallery on the left side. The entrance was guarded by two demon guards, today only one of them remains - only the surviving pedestal reminds of the second. Between the central and southern towers grow two giant beautiful trees, their trunks are located at an angle to each other. The trees are very old - there is a great danger that they will fall and seriously damage the stonework.

Immediately behind the gopura, just like in Ta-Prom, there is a large building - the Hall of Dancers (now it is without a roof). The building consists of four small courtyards, each surrounded by 24 columns, and together they form a gallery. The building got its name from the bas-reliefs of apsaras depicted in dance. Note the empty niches above the bas-reliefs of the dancers. Carved figurines of Buddhas once stood here; they were destroyed during the reign of Jayavarman VIII, the restorer of Hinduism, along with thousands of others throughout Angkor. Inside the galleries of the second enclosure, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness and admire the exquisitely carved garudas. In the vestibule to the west of the sanctuary there is a linga - a symbol of Shiva, installed here, probably in the second half of the 13th century.

Immediately behind the gopura of the second enclosure there is a small temple of Vishnu with a long pedestal at the eastern entrance, on the pedestal there are holes for three statues and a spout for the ritual of blessing water, like on a linga. An inscription on the doorframe states that the missing statues were of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, and the side of the same doorway is decorated with carvings. The western pediment depicts the scene of Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana. Next, three small rectangular temples surround the Buddha temple: the northern one is dedicated to Shiva, the southern one is dedicated to deceased kings and queens, and the western one is dedicated to Vishnu.

The central sanctuary, as usual, is shifted to the west. The internal walls here are dotted with small holes, which served for fastening bronze facing sheets. The engraved inscriptions of the temple claim that more than 1,500 tons were used. In the center is a small stupa, added around the 16th century. In the morning, from a certain angle, you can achieve the illusion that the top of the stupa is dazzlingly glowing. Originally there was a statue made of Jayavarman VII's father, Jayavarmeshwar; it was probably destroyed by Jayavarman VIII during the restoration of Hinduism in Angkor. As in Ta Prohm, huge trees grow here right on the walls; it is impossible to remove them without damaging the stonework. However, Preah Kan is much more cleared of jungle than Ta Prohm.

2.5 km to the east a narrow path leads to the Neak Pean Temple (Neak Pean), translated as “Coiled snakes”. It was built by the same Jayavarman VII in the 12th century. This unusual architectural monument, small by Angkorian standards, with a cross-shaped arrangement of reservoirs and a sanctuary tower on a round island in the middle, is very symbolic. The base of this building, laid out in the shape of lotus petals, makes it look like a huge flower that has floated to the surface: however, this can only be seen for a short time - during the rainy season, when the pools are filled with water. At this time, the temple is reflected in the water and is unlike any other. Neak Pean is undoubtedly one of the gems of Khmer art.

A stone stele in the Preah Kan Temple mentions this temple, calling it "The Happiness of the Kingdom", and tells that King Jayavarman VII built the "North Lake" "like a mirror, decorated with stones, gold and garlands." The pond sparkled, illuminated by the light of the golden temple and decorated with red lotus flowers. Inside is a towering island made especially beautiful by the waters surrounding it. An inscription on one of the walls found during the clearing of Preah Kan mentions Neak Pean "as a famous island, attracting with its pools - they wash away the dirt of sins from those who come there." The temple was a place of pilgrimage: people came here to bathe, and “the sick returned healed.” In the 13th century, the Chinese Zhou Daguang described the temple as follows: “The North Lake lies a quarter of a mile north of the Walled City. At its center stands a square tower of gold with several dozen stone rooms. If you are looking for golden lions, bronze elephants, bronze oxen, bronze horses, here you will find them." Two naga circle the base of the round island, hence the name Neak Pean. Their heads spread out to the east to give passage, and are designed in the style of the head of the serpent king Mucalinda, who protected the Buddha in meditation when a thunderstorm was approaching. The upper platform appears like a huge corolla of a blooming lotus. The Buddhist sanctuary lacks a statue, but the entire surroundings are preserved - two tiers with lotuses and pediments decorated with bas-reliefs from the life of the Buddha: “Cutting of Hair” in the east, “Great Departure” in the north and “Buddha Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree” in the west. On the outer walls of the temple there are bas-reliefs in the form of three beautiful groups with large images of Lokeshvara, a compassionate bodhisattva.

Within the steps of the central pond are four identical chapels. They served to purify pilgrims who, as can be judged by the bas-reliefs on the pediments, came here in the hope of being cured of illnesses or getting rid of misfortunes. The bas-reliefs on the walls of the chapels depict scenes where the deity, the savior Avalokiteshvara, stands in the center: on one side of him, a weak patient crawls with difficulty on the ground, and on the other, the same person straightens up and regains the ability to walk. A number of lings can be found in the south (symbols of Shiva), no doubt part of the "thousand lings" described in the Preah Kan inscriptions.

In the east, the sculptural group, unfortunately badly damaged, represents a horse carrying small people hanging on it. This image is associated with a legend taken from a Sanskrit text: the merchant Simhala, along with his companions, went in search of precious stones. A terrible storm sank his ship off the coast of Tamradvipa (Island of Ceylon), and the merchants became prey to terrible cannibals who threatened to eat them. And then the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara turned into a horse, found himself on the island, and then rose into the air and carried the merchants to the Buddha, saving them from death.

East Mebon

Huge Eastern Baray (reservoir), which surrounds East Mebon (Eastern Mebon), now dry. The reservoir was built by King Yasovarman I almost half a century earlier than the temple to regularly supply water to the new city of Yasodharapura and was 7.5 km long and 1830 meters wide. In each corner of the barai there were steles engraved with verses in Sanskrit, they proclaim the patronage of Ganga, the goddess of the sacred river Ganges in India. The baray was filled with water from the nearby Roluos River. The rather non-standard construction method is interesting - the reservoir was not dug into the ground, instead walls were poured in - this is how a huge “pool” turned out.

King Rajendravarman decided to build a temple on the island. East Mebon is not actually a "mountain temple", despite its similarity. The appearance of height is due to the fact that the water has left the reservoir that previously surrounded it, exposing a powerful five-meter foundation. The temple ends with a rather modest platform with five towers. Standing in pairs around the enclosure are eight small brick towers with interesting foliate lintels and octagonal stone columns. Built by the king's architect Kavindrarimathan (only the Khmers left us the names of their architects), the main deity of the temple, Rajendreshvara, was consecrated on Friday, January 28, 953 at about 11 a.m., as evidenced by the corresponding inscription. Since the temple stood on an island, there was no need for fences, ditches and dam passages; instead, four piers were built on the foundation at the cardinal points. The outer surround, 108x104 meters, is walled with a cutout in the middle of each side to provide ample space between the jetties and the four gopuras. The fence is surrounded by a series of long galleries. The next level of internal fencing features a 2.4-meter laterite terrace. Its low walls also have cutouts to provide space for the northern, eastern and southern gopuras. In the open space between the inner encirclement wall and the central platform, eight small brick towers and five laterite buildings stand in pairs, facing the cardinal directions, three facing west and two facing east. The central platform, 3 meters high, is lined with sandstone and carries east-facing brick sanctuary towers. The central tower, as usual, is larger than the others and stands on a two-meter platform.

Behind the eastern gopura, made of laterite and stone, there are remains of a series of long galleries on either side, the best preserved gallery being on the south side. All galleries were built of laterite with windows protected by a balustrade and tiled roofs. On the next terrace there are two elephants in the corners, looking out - they are made of monolithic stone. Eight almost identical elephants stand just outside the walls, at the corners of both fences. To reach them, you need to climb the stairs leading to the inner circle gopura, turn left along the cornice to the door and walk along the elephant in the southeast corner.

The buildings on the east side have all the signs of “libraries” - this is evidenced by their position in the corners, orientation to the west and size. They appear to have originally had brick vaults. The western doorposts of the building in the north-eastern corner are decorated with two elephants sprinkling water from their trunks on Lakshmi. On the lintel of the eastern door of the western gopura there is an image of Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu in the form of a lion tearing apart the king of the asuras. Of particular interest in the towers are the lintels and false doors in the north, west and south. On the central tower, the eastern lintel depicts Indra on the three-headed elephant Airavata, and on the western lintel Varuna, the guardian of the West, along with figures holding lotuses. The southern lintel depicts the god of death Yama on a buffalo. On the southeastern tower, in which there is a statue of Brahma, on the northern lintel, a monster devours an elephant. On the eastern edge of the northwestern tower there is an image of Ganesha. Not far from East Mebon there is a similar temple called Pre-Rup. The structure itself is not that interesting, but from the top it offers wonderful views and is a great place to watch the sunset.

Rulos Temple Group

The Rulos complex is located southeast of the main Angkor complex. Several centuries before Angkor, King Jayavarman II (802-850) founded the first capital of the Khmer Empire, Hariharalaya, on this site.

Indratataki construction ("pool of Indra") in Hariharalaya, around the Lolei temple, where the waters of the Rulos River flowed, made it possible to constantly provide water to the rice fields and various temple complexes adjacent to the settlements, where, according to rough estimates, at least 15,000 people lived. The waters of Indratataka were channeled into canals around the temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, Preah Monty, near the latter temple the palace of Jayavarman II's successor, Indravarman I, was possibly built. The monuments of Roulos are among the earliest large permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of the era of classical Khmer art. Before the construction of Rulos, even for the construction of religious buildings, only light ones were used (and short-lived) Construction Materials.

Build the Hindu Bakong Temple (Bakong) King Jayavarman III began, but he did not have time to finish it during his lifetime. The temple was completed and consecrated by his successor Indravarman I in 881. The five tiers of the temple pyramid and other elements symbolize the sacred Mount Meru, and the temple itself was dedicated to the god Shiva. A stela placed at the base of the temple records the consecration in 881 of its linga, Sri Indreshrava. Although Ak Yem Temple on the south bank of West Baray was built earlier, Bakong is considered the first true "mountain temple" - partly because it is the first such structure made of sandstone, and also because it is larger and more complex structurally. respect. Bakong is the largest and most interesting temple in the Rulos group. Its dimensions are quite significant: 900x700 meters, inside there are two ditches and three concentric fences. The outer ditch, on average 3 meters deep, is the boundary of the outer, third enclosure without a gopura, but with the remains of two sidewalks, one leading to the east, the other to the north. Between the outer and inner moats there are 22 evenly spaced brick towers, not all of them finished. The second fence, of which only laterite ruins have survived to this day, formed the border of a site about 25 meters wide - servants lived here. Currently, there is a Buddhist monastery in the northeast corner of this site. The entire complex is surrounded by a moat 59 meters wide, forming a rectangle measuring 315x345 meters. From east to west, the ditch is crossed by two causeways, an extension of two of the four Hariharalaya axial roads. The roads run between rows of giant stone nagas - forerunners of the magnificent balustrades of the classical era.

At the corners of the inner enclosure there remain eight small square brick buildings, one each at the north-west and south-west corners with entrances to the east, and two each at the north-east and south-east corners with an entrance facing west. The ventilation holes in them have led some researchers to believe that cremations were carried out in these prasaths. The remaining two are later, long “libraries” made of stone, oriented from east to west. Here, just beyond the eastern entrance, are the remains of two other long laterite "libraries", oriented north-south, and traces of another, oriented east-west in the south-east corner.

The pyramid itself, almost square in plan, has a clear profile. Each of the five tiers represents the kingdoms of mythical creatures, from bottom to top: nagas, garudas, rakshasas (demons), Yaksha (tree deities) and finally devat (demigods). The pyramid is 67x65 meters at the bottom and 20x18 meters at the top, decreasing at each step. Four gopuras lead to four staircases, on each landing the next flight is preceded by an elegant semicircular threshold, on both sides there are statues of lions. To correct visual perception, the height and width of the stairs imperceptibly decrease as they rise - the craftsmen applied the law of proportional reduction, which until then had been used only when constructing prasat roofs. Each terrace of the pyramid is slightly recessed to the west, again to correct perspective.

The elephant statues at the corners of the first three steps of the pyramid are reminiscent of the legendary animals that support the earth. They are designed to convey their power and stability to the building. In addition, the elephant was the mount of the god Indra, as well as earthly rulers. The fourth terrace contains 12 sandstone towers, each of which probably contained a linga. On the wall of the fifth and last terrace, the remains of bas-reliefs are still visible.

The pyramid is crowned by a tower from a much later period (XII century), similar in style to the towers of Angkor Wat, with three false doors and one real one. The goddesses carved into the niches on both sides of the doors are badly damaged, since this tower was almost completely destroyed and restored only in 1941, but in some places they are still well preserved. The entrance to the sanctuary is guarded by lions in traditional Khmer style. The tower is crowned with a dome in the shape of a lotus.

Bakong exactly corresponds to Hindu cosmic symbolism: the temple depicts Mount Meru, the first ditch is the cosmic sea from which this mountain arose, and the dry patches of land represent the land inhabited by people, which, in turn, is surrounded by mountain ranges (city walls) and another sea (second ditch).

This elegant small brick temple with six towers, decorated with mortar stucco, was the first sanctuary built by Indravarman I in the 9th-century Angkor capital of Hariharalaya. Its surrounding moat is so large in relation to the temple that there is a version according to which it was part of the royal palace, traces of which have not yet been found.

(Preah Ko)- the modern name of the temple, meaning "sacred bull", in honor of Nandin, the flying mount of Shiva. The temple got its name because of the three large bull statues installed on its premises, indicating that the temple is dedicated to Shiva.

On a superbly preserved stele at the base of the temple, after the traditional eulogy of Shiva, a brief genealogy of Indravarman I is given, followed by a eulogy in Sanskrit for the “right hand of the prince”, describing how “long, strong and fearsome in battle, his shining sword falls upon his enemies, defeating kings in all directions. Invincible, he calmed down only when his two enemies showed their backs and, valuing their lives, submitted themselves to his protection.” The inscription is accompanied by a reference to the cult of Devaraja, or "god-king" on Mount Mahendra (Phnom Kulen) and ends with a mention of the installation in 879 of three statues of Shiva and Devi. The other side, written in Khmer, dates back to 893 and describes offerings to the deities Parameshvara and Prithivindreshvara. The temple begins in the west with a laterite pavement that divides the surrounding moat. Once upon a time there were two parallel galleries on both sides, but to this day only the foundation has survived from them. A small terrace leads to the gopura of the second environment.

The sandstone-clad plinth forms a common platform for the six towers. On the eastern side it is cut by three staircases, the side walls of which are richly decorated with guards (dvarapalas) and dancers (apsaras) and are guarded by sitting lions. In front of every staircase lies Nandin. There is one central staircase on the west side. The brick towers of the sanctuaries are arranged in two rows and vary in size. In the eastern, first row, the middle tower is taller than the others and shifted slightly back. As usual, all six towers of the sanctuary are open to the east. Each tower has four tiers. The towers are covered with lime plaster with sculptural bas-reliefs - it is amazing how, after 11 centuries of existence, they have survived to this day. Note the sandstone false doors with superb octagonal columns on the east side - they are undoubtedly some of the finest examples of Khmer art.

Three prasats (towers) in the background are similar to the towers of the first row, but slightly lower and intended for female deities. They are made entirely of brick, with the exception of the sandstone door frames. In the niches in the recesses of the walls of the prasat of male ancestors there are statues of young armed dvarapalas (guards) and statues of devatas (demigods), guarding the prasats of female ancestors.

The sanctuary was intended for male deities. The corner walls are richly decorated, guards stand in blind arches (dvarapalas). Here, unlike those in Bakong, they are unique in style - made of sandstone and inserted into brickwork. The northern prasat contains the Rudreshvara linga, the emblem of Rudravarman, the maternal grandfather of Indravarman I, and the southern one contains the Prithivindreshvara linga, the emblem of Indravarman I's father. Their wives Narendradevi, Dharanindradevi and Prithvindradevi were worshiped in their deified form (devi means "goddess"). Like Bakong, Preah Ko has only a few surviving sculptures. Of these, only Shiva in the south-eastern corner tower and the headless goddess in the rear central tower were retained in the temple. Both of these statues date from the period of the temple's creation.

Loley

Another small temple in the Rulos group, Lolei (Lolei), was built by Indravarman I's successor, Yasovarman I (889-910) on a small island in the Indratataki reservoir - today there are rice fields in this place. All that remains of the temple are four towers, repeating the design of the towers of Preah Ko. On the doorways, inscriptions in Sanskrit state that the king dedicated the temple to his parents and royal maternal ancestors.

(Banteay Srei)- the modern name of the temple, it means "Citadel of Women", or perhaps "Citadel of Beauty", the latter reflecting the size and beauty of its decoration. The actual name of the temple, inscribed on its central linga, is Tribhuvanamahesvara, which means "Great God of the Triple World". The monument is built of red sandstone and is unusual in that there is no monumentality characteristic of other temples. Its buildings are miniature by local standards and very beautifully decorated with intricate patterns and carvings. For the first time in the history of Khmer architecture, the pediments of the sanctuary depict not individual elements, but entire mythological scenes. Banteay Srei is deservedly called the “pearl of Khmer art”.

The temple buildings are divided along a central axis oriented from east to west. The buildings south of the axis were dedicated to Shiva and those north of the axis to Vishnu. Later, in the 12th century, Banteay Srei was “rededicated” to Shiva, as reported by a found tablet made by one of the priests.

Unlike the main temples at Angkor, Banteay Srei was not royal. It was built by one of the advisors of King Rajendravarman II, Yajnavaraha, on land donated to him by the king on the banks of the Siem Reap River. As always happened, a settlement of ordinary people surrounded this temple, and thus a small city called Iswarapura was formed. Discovered by the French only in 1914, Banteay Srei gained fame when the writer André Malraux, who later became Minister of Culture under de Gaulle's government, stole four apsaras from it in 1923. He was immediately caught and the stolen parts were returned to the temple. It was this temple that was first restored in 1931-1936 using the anastylosis method. The method, developed by Dutch restorers in Java, involves the restoration of destroyed objects using exclusively original materials. Thanks to the success of this method at Banteay Srei, the French archaeological service involved in the restoration of Angkor began to widely use it in the restoration of other treasures of the ancient city. On the one hand, the task at Banteay Srei was made easier by the small size of the buildings, small blocks of stone cut from durable sandstone that retained their clear carvings with profusion of decoration. On the other hand, the restoration process was complicated by the remoteness of the temple, minimal funds and the inexperience of the workers who learned while working.

To eliminate the threat of damage to the temple due to flooding, a drainage system was built under a joint Cambodian-Swiss project in 2000-2003. Measures have also been taken to prevent trees from damaging the temple walls. Unfortunately, the temple was and is still subject to theft and vandalism. By the end of the 20th century, the authorities replaced the original statues with exact copies, but this did not stop thieves from stealing copies. An attempt was made to steal a statue of Shiva, placed in the National Museum in Phnom Penh for safekeeping, directly from the museum itself.

After the discovery of the temple foundation stele in the eastern gopura in 1936, it became clear that Banteay Srei was designed as a whole, this is also confirmed by the uniformity of style. Engraved in 968, the first year of the reign of Jayavarman V, the inscription gives the date of the start of construction of the temple: April-May 967, along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets. This was the last year of the reign of Rajendravarman II. After the traditional prayer to Shiva, the text of the stele contains a eulogy for the ruler Jayavarman V and his guru Yajnavarah, who founded Banteay Srei along with his younger brother, installing a Shiva linga in the central sanctum. Other inscriptions engraved on the door frames mention the placement of another linga in the southern sanctum and a statue of Vishnu in the northern one. The temple is greeted from the east by a cross-shaped gopura made of laterite with sandstone columns and beautiful decorations.

The pediment on this gopura depicts Indra on a three-headed elephant and in addition to the beautiful pink shade of the stone, gives a rich artistic design to the temple. Banteay Srei is surrounded by three walls measuring 95x110 meters, 38x42 meters and 24x24 meters respectively. From the gate to the third fence there is a wide sidewalk, decorated on both sides with pillars - in former times they were destroyed every year by wild elephants. On the left side of the pavement on the pediment of the "library" is a scene known as "Umamaheshvara", in which Shiva holds a trident and rides the bull Nandina with his wife Uma. On the right side is a “library” with a superb pediment where Vishnu, appearing as the lion Narasimha, tears into pieces the asura king Hiranyahasipu at the moment when he was about to kill his son, a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

On the pediment of the eastern tower of the second enclosure, under a garuda holding a branch with leaves, two elephants pour water from pots on Lakshmi - the goddess of beauty and fertility, the wife of the god Vishnu. Inside the third, very last, central enclosure, on the “library” to the right of the entrance, the famous bas-relief of the pediment depicts the no less famous story from the Ramayana, how the multi-armed and multi-headed rakshasa Ravana is depicted trying to shake Mount Kailasa, where Shiva lives. The mountain itself is depicted as a multi-tiered pyramid against a stylized forest background. At the top sits Shiva with his wife Uma, crouched beside him in a delightful pose. Shiva presses the mountain with his right foot to stop the shaking. The second row depicts visibly alarmed priests and pilgrims pointing at Ravana. On the right is a praying female figure. On the third row are worshipers with the heads of elephants, lions, birds and horses. On both sides there are monkeys wearing elaborate headdresses. The lower tier is occupied by animals who are running in horror from Ravana.

On the pediment of the “library” on the left is another famous bas-relief, this time a plot from another epic, the Mahabharata. Krishna and Arjuna, who were resting on the banks of the Yamuna River near the Khandava forest, were approached by a brahman who turned into the god Agni (God of fire). Further, the options diverge: either Agni said that he wanted to burn the Khandava forest in order to eat its vegetation and animals, or he wanted to destroy the serpent Takshaka, or Krishna and Arjuna wanted this forest to be burned to found the city of Indraprastha. One way or another, Indra, on the three-headed elephant Airavata, prevents the fire, releasing torrents of rain to protect his friend, the serpent Takshaka, who lives in the forest. Krishna and Arjuna, in turn, counteract Indra by blocking the rain with a hail of magical arrows, and blocking the exit from the forest for its inhabitants on both sides.

On the western side of the same “library” - Krishna kills King Kamsa. This scene is taken from the holy book Srimad Bhagavatam and takes place in a palace - its image gives us an idea of ​​​​what beautiful wooden palaces there were in Angkor. The two large figures are presented in perspective, which is rare in Angkor bas-reliefs. Krishna holds Kamsa by the hair and is about to kill him. At the corners, in horse-drawn chariots, Krishna and Arjuna, armed with bow and arrows, apparently arrived at the palace. The rest of the rooms show excited women watching what is happening.

The western pediment depicts a scene from the Ramayana: the battle of Valin and Sugriva. Valin, son of Indra, took from Sugriva, son of Surya (sun god), the kingdom of the monkeys. Rama promised to help Sugriva regain the kingdom in exchange for helping the army of monkeys led by Hanuman against the army of Ravana in order to free his wife, Sita. During the duel, Sugriva won, but Valin resorted to cunning - he pretended to be dead and was ready to deal a fatal blow to Sugriva, and then Rama (right with bow) pierced him with his arrow. Behind Rama is his brother Lakshman. A magnificently expressive bas-relief of the dying Sugriva in the arms of his wife Rati is depicted at Angkor Wat. Inside, closer to the southern wall, in the doorway with three geese, stands the most beautiful apsara, one might say, a symbol of the beauty of Banteay Srei and partly of the whole of Angkor.

Beng Melea

Beng Melea (Beng Melea) It is interesting primarily because it was not cleared, like almost all the temples of Angkor, but was left in the condition in which it was found. The jungle has completely taken over the temple. Here you can climb roofs, ride vines and feel like an inhabitant of the jungle (which one, choose for yourself). Beng Melea was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150) . Created in the same style, but slightly earlier than Angkor Wat, Beng Melea may have served as its prototype. Although there are many carved vaults and doorways, there are no bas-reliefs in the complex, and the carvings themselves are quite rare. When the temple was active, the walls may have been covered with frescoes. At that time, Beng Melea stood at the crossroads of several important roads to Angkor, Koh Ker and North Vietnam. The temple occupies an area of ​​one square kilometer, it is entirely covered with jungle and is visited very little - this creates the feeling of a “lost world”. The trees here grow straight from the destroyed towers and galleries, these are probably the most impressive types of “trees in the temple”. A large ditch has been dug around the Beng Melea Temple, overgrown with lotuses like burdocks...

Ko-Ker

Temple complex Koh Ker (Koh Ker)- the most distant temple from Angkor in this region. From Siem Reap it is located approximately 100 km on the same road as Beng Melea. The temple represents the remains of one of the capitals of the Khmer Empire from the Angkorian period. In 928, King Jayavarman IV, who usurped the throne, founded a new capital, Koh Ker, 100 km from Angkor. The king was rich and powerful, he erected the impressive royal city of Ko-Ker, Brahmin monuments, temples and towers, built a huge barai (reservoir pool) Rahal. Jayavarman IV ruled in Ko Ker until his death in 941. His son Harshavarman II remained here for three more years before returning the capital to Angkor. The Ko-Ker complex has not been restored. There are no crowds of tourists here, and therefore you can try to imagine what such structures were like before the jungle that swallowed them was cleared.

The main ruins of the complex are Prasat Thom, an impressive 7-tiered pyramid and temple complex, towers and small temples along the road and numerous lingas. An interesting part of Koh Ker is the Shiva sanctuary. Here stands a gigantic, human-sized lingam - the largest in Cambodia. By the way, the linga can be used as a compass: the open channel of the linga always points to the north.

The main structure of the complex is the large seven-tiered pyramid Prasat Tom. There are many legends surrounding it. The Khmers believe that the shaft in the center of the pyramid is the link between the earth and the underworld. By order of the king, guilty subjects were thrown into it. It is said that a Khmer peasant who fell into a mine in 1996 somehow emerged with a ten kilogram gold bar. After this incident, the peasant lost his mind and could not explain where he got the gold from, nor how he got out. Later, in 2004, two archaeologists again tried to penetrate this mine, and, judging by the legend, one of them was found dead a few hours later with completely gray hair, and the other completely disappeared. Also, according to local residents, marked coconuts thrown into this well float up the next day in the Andomprey River basin, 3 km away. But no one can hear the sound of such a nut falling, no matter how much you listen. Entrance to the pyramid is prohibited; the dilapidated staircase leading to it is closed. However, if you really want to try your luck, give the guard $5 and he will look the other way. However, without special equipment it will still not be possible to go down into the mine.

When walking around Koh Ker Sanctuary, exploring the ruins and off-the-beaten paths, be extremely careful. A proven path leads past all the main objects; it is better not to go deep into the thickets - although no one has been blown up by a mine for a very long time, it is believed that the complex has not been completely cleared of mines after Pol Pot’s terror. Entry to Koh Ker costs $10.

Surroundings of Angkor

Phnom Kulen

Phnom Kulen (Phnom Kulen)- a small mountain range 50 km north of Siem Reap and 25 km from Banteay Srei. Its highest point is 487 m. If you are planning a trip to Phnom Kulen, keep in mind that the mountain road is so narrow that two cars cannot pass each other, so all transport goes up before 11 am, and back after 11. Taxi to Phnom A round trip will cost $30-40.

During the construction of Angkor, stones were mined here in quarries for the construction of temples and floated on rafts along the river. Phnom Kulen is considered a holy mountain in Cambodia, the top of the mountain is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists who come here as pilgrims. It is also significant to Cambodians as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire, and it was on Phnom Kulen that King Jayavarman II declared independence in 804. There is some disagreement about who exactly independence was declared from. Most believe that Cambodia was a vassal state of Java, while other scholars believe that Cambodia was under Laotian rule at the time. Jayavarman II did not limit himself to the proclamation of freedom, at the same time introducing a new cult of the “god-king,” also called the cult of the linga, which existed for many centuries even after his death.

An interesting attraction of Phnom Kulen is the stream of a thousand Lingams, where more than a thousand small religious images are carved into stone. The uniqueness lies in the fact that the images are located under water, 5 cm below the surface. This is not an accident, but the artist’s original idea: by order of the king, the river bed was diverted to the side so that the craftsmen could cut out the figures, and then returned to their original place. Among the particularly interesting figures is Vishnu reclining on his serpent Ananta with his wife Lakshmi at his feet, from Vishnu's navel growing a lotus flower with the supreme deity Brahma.

Phnom Kulen is a national natural park with beautiful waterfalls, the largest of which allows you to take a break from the Cambodian heat and take a swim. Phnom Kulen also played its role in modern history. It was here that the last battles between the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese took place in 1979. Near the mountain is Preah Ang Thom, a 16th-century Buddhist monastery with the largest reclining Buddha statue in Cambodia.

Siem Reap is one of the largest cities in Cambodia. This is a calm, cozy city, located on the shady banks of the river of the same name. Most tourists come to Siem Reap to visit Angkor, which is only 5 km away from here. But if Siem Reap was once a quiet sleeping pad for travelers, today the city has grown and offers tourists a choice of numerous hotels and restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. The name Siem Reap means "Defeated Siam". The city is named after the Khmer defeat of the Siamese (Thai) capital of Ayutthaya in the 17th century.

There are few attractions in Siem Reap. It will be interesting to coincide with a trip to Angkor with a visit to the Angkor National Museum (Angkor National Museum), which contains a remarkable collection of artifacts from the ancient city, including about a thousand Buddha images made of wood, stone and precious stones.

The French Quarter is a pleasant place to stroll, located by the river in the southern part of the city. To the south of it is the Old Market (Psar Chaa). In addition to looking at the stalls of merchants, here you can buy interesting souvenirs, for example, pencil “prints” of temples on rice paper; they are inexpensive and look very beautiful on the wall. Behind the market, by the river, are many vendors selling silk scarves and sarongs, wood carvings, silverware and more.

An evening in Siem Reap can be spent on the bustling Pub Street (Pub Street) with a lot of restaurants, cafes and bars. Lovers of peace and romance can stroll along the river bank to the south, to the southern outskirts of the city. Intrusive taxi drivers often offer tourists trips to an art school and a silk factory. The main goal of such an excursion is to persuade travelers to buy a painting or something made of silk, and at a price much higher than that for which you can buy a similar thing on the market.

Routes

Almost all tourists, when planning a route, ask the main question: which temples to visit? There are a huge number of temples in Angkor and its surroundings, and it is impossible to see them all - and it is not necessary. You should not try to fit as many temples as possible into your trip - by the end of the day the sensations will dull, the temples will begin to merge into one and the impressions will be blurred. It's better to focus on the minimum program: Bayon , Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo inside Angkor, Banteay Srei and Phnom Bakheng, as well as Beng Melea and Koh Ker outside.

Classic routes

The traditional routes around Angkor are the “small circle” and the “big circle”. As practice shows, they are convenient from a geographical point of view, but are not entirely optimal for obtaining the greatest impressions. It’s better not to stick to classic routes, but to make your own travel plan to the most interesting temples.

To visit the distant temples of Ko Ker and Beng Melea, you can save daytime. If you arrive in Ko Ker early in the morning, you will walk around it almost alone. Then you can go towards Angkor and stop at Beng Melea on the way. Please note that Khmer taxi drivers really do not like to work at night, even if you find a driver who agrees to this, the cost of a trip at night will be at least 50% more expensive. It is also possible to spend the night in a guesthouse (tourist hotel) near Koh Ker.

Small circle

This 17km route starts from the western wall of Angkor Wat and heads north past the Ta Prohm Kel temples (Ta Prohm Kel)(Phnom Bakheng) (with a beautiful view at sunset) and Baksey-Chamkrong (Baksei Chamkrong) to the southern entrance to Angkor Thom (Angkor Thom). In the central square of Angkor Thom behind the Bayon Temple (Bayon) the path turns east to the Gate of Victory (Victory Gate) and between the surprisingly similar twin temples of Chau Sei Tewoda (Chau Say Tevoda) and Tommanon (Thommanon) goes to Ta-Keo temple (Ta Keo). At this temple the path turns to the southeast and bypasses the dry East Baray reservoir (East Baray) leads to Ta Prohm Temple (Ta Prohm). Then you need to walk between the huge Buddhist temple of Banteay Kday (Banteay Kdei), surrounded by four concentric walls, and the dry Sras-Srang basin (Sras Srang), turn southwest and past the Hindu temple Prasat Kravan (Prasat Kravan, easily recognizable by its five brick towers)

To visit the archaeological complex of Angkor, I flew to Cambodia, to Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat and other ancient temples are located. From the capital of Malaysia, where I spent three days after 4 months of independent travel in India, I took a morning flight, and despite the sleepless night spent at the airport, I set foot on Cambodian soil in a great mood. Well, finally I will see the ancient temple sights in this completely unfamiliar country. The weather was wonderful.

Arrival in Siem Reap

The city of Siem Reap, also known as Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Simrep and there are other options, depending on the translation and pronunciation - this is a small, but one of the most visited cities in Asia. The airport in Siem Reap is small and calm. You receive a visa upon arrival, it is advisable to have a small photograph with you, but this was in 2012, maybe things have changed since then. I changed 30 dollars so that I would have something to pay for transport to the city, and enough for the first expenses. It turned out that there are no regular buses from the airport and the only cheapest option left is a motorbike taxi, i.e. motorcycle with driver.

Advice— It was better not to change dollars, especially at the airport, where the exchange rate is much lower. In Cambodia, everyone gladly accepts dollars; it is even more profitable to pay in American currency.
By the time I was rummaging through my backpack, there were no more people left. Then the worker at the transport desk asks me: “What are you going to take, a taxi?” “He arranged a taxi for a Chinese man standing next to him and probably thought that I would want to go there too.”
- “No, I’m looking for something cheaper. “I’ll go on a motorcycle,” I answered, raising my head, while continuing to squat and rummage through my backpack. He was surprised, because all the motorcyclists, as well as the passengers who could hire them, had already left. Then this Chinese man invited me to go with him.

- “Do I need to split the price between two people?”
“No, don’t worry,” he answered smiling. “Oh, great, then I’ll go,” I was happy.

We got into a very decent car and drove into the city. We met along the way. I had difficulty understanding his accent. He asked me which hotel to take me to. Haha - I already forgot that I once stayed in hotels, and now I travel independently and cheaply, so I don’t book anything, I just find food and find it on the spot. She told us to stay in a tourist place near an inexpensive guesthouse, no more than $10 per room.
The Chinese man was a little stunned, because he booked for $60, but I explained that I was traveling on my own and had already been to India and traveled through it myself from north to south. He was surprised :)
We arrived in the city. He said that he would just check into the hotel and go see the temples. Literally 5 minutes later he returned to the car, the driver turned the corner and showed me the guesthouse. They said they would wait for me in the car. I bargained for a room for $8, took a quick shower, changed into my yellow skirt and ran back out.

We immediately went to look main attractions of Cambodia.

Angkor temple complex

located in Siem Reap city in Cambodia. The archaeological complex of Angkor, a UNESCO heritage site, includes several temples with ruins from the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The complex of buildings reflects the sky on earth and includes many temples, the main ones being Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm (1186), Banteay Kidei (which is considered the earliest of the temples), Neak Pean, Ta -Som, Sra-Srang, Pra-Khan (1191), Bayon Temple, completed 1219.

A ticket to visit the complex of ancient temples cost 20 dollars for one day or 40 dollars for 2-3 days. A 7-day ticket costs $60. They take a photo so that no one else can use this ticket and clearly monitor this.

Opening hours: Visiting is open from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00, Banteay Srei closes at 5:00 pm, Kbalspean at 3:00 pm. Always carry your ticket with you; it will be checked at every entrance. To visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, you need to buy a separate ticket costing $20, $10 and $5 respectively, this one is not needed there.

Angkor Map

This map shows that the Angkor Wat temple, which everyone knows, is just part of a large complex of Angkor attractions, where each ancient temple is interesting in its own way.

Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that if you have a car, you can see the main three temples in one day, so I was incredibly lucky to meet this kind Chinese man. In general, there are a lot of temples and they are scattered over a vast territory, some are located 30 km from the city and even further.

Angkor Wat Temple

Located approximately 5 km from Siem Reap city. Angkor Wat- This Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu is the most important and most visited in Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113 - 1150). After the capital of the state moved to , in 1432, Buddhist monks supported the care of the temple. Abandoned in the 15th century, it was “discovered” again for Europeans in 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muot, who discovered it on January 22, although the Frenchman was not the only one who visited there, but managed to convey his impressions to society.

The temple occupies approximately 2 km2, includes a moat 190 meters wide, a courtyard surrounded by stone walls, where three concentric buildings - terraces - are located, as if on a platform, each with a gallery around the perimeter, through the entrances of which you can get inside the temple. The main entrance to the territory is located on the west side. The temple has five towers, all five of which can be seen from certain angles. And usually only three towers appear to the eye. The highest is the central one, 213 meters high from the ground. In order not to bore you with long stories and architectural details, which, if you are really interested, you can read on the official website in English, let’s look at the photo of Angkor Wat and see what it’s like. In the morning everything was hazy.

We arrived at a place where we still had to walk and walk to the temple. I really liked the long snake-like sculptures, which seemed mysterious and unusual. And the temple itself is surrounded by a 190m wide moat filled with water.

The structure and appearance of the temple was supposed to symbolize the mythical sacred Mount Meru, repeating its outlines, respectively, the temple towers are its top, the walls are rocks, and the moat is the ocean surrounding the center of the Universe!

First we walked through the inner galleries, where on the walls there are many beautiful drawings engraved on stone - epics from the Ramayana and images similar to lace

Having reached the center, we saw a queue to go upstairs. We had to wait, people had already gathered, although it was still about 10 in the morning. True, the line moved quickly - they started in batches.

For 2 people in front of us, the passage was closed after the start of the next group. Then the worker tells me that my blouse is not suitable for the temple, that it needs to have sleeves, at least with short ones. I looked around at the tourists standing behind me; they were already offering scarves and scarves from the queue, but the worker said that all this was no good, that I needed a sweater or jacket. I started to get a little worried, to put it mildly, because I was about to go in soon. Here a guy about 15 years old, also Chinese, who was standing with his mother, followed us, took off, as they say, his last shirt, or rather some kind of jacket, and gave it to me. He just said that he would wait on the way out. I was amazed by the tourist solidarity of part of the queue and even more so by the friendly gesture of the next Chinese person. That’s why in the photo I’m wearing this sweater, which doesn’t fit into the style of my clothes, but which really helped me out at the right moment. There is something to remember again.
The climb takes about 700 steps and offers good views. Even balloons were visible in the distance.

We saw this inside, apparently a trace of the care of Buddhist monks about the temple during periods of its oblivion.

And now there's a steep descent ahead

It happens that at the most inopportune moment my camera is completely discharged, but fortunately, my companion helped me out and let me photograph his brand new, just released Samsung Note. So I have the rest of the photos of the Angkor temple and others thanks to my friend and his then new phone.

Bayon Temple

Another very interesting temple is Bayon, which is also part of the Angkor complex. This temple is no longer Hindu, like the previous one, but Buddhist. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, who made Buddhism the state religion in Cambodia. The three-level temple is surrounded by three rows of walls and has many huge stone images. The temple was built without the use of cement mortar to join the stones. I really liked it.

The temple also served as a tomb for emperors and noble people.

Ta Prohm Temple

Towards evening we went to the most unusual and fabulous temple of Ta Prohm, which is also part of the Angkor archaeological complex. I really liked it. In this temple, the trees and stone walls of the temple are so intertwined that it is no longer clear who is supporting whom. If you remove a tree, the walls will collapse; if you remove stones, the tree will die. This is such a symbiosis.

I was most amazed by these giant tree roots, so much so that I forgot to take enough photos. They say they filmed a movie here starring Angelina Jolie, I think it's called Lara Croft.

So we managed to see three temples in one day, having a car - a taxi.

Traditional national dish of Cambodia

During the break between visits, I was invited to a nice restaurant for lunch, where they served national coconut soup Amok amok- the soup is prepared based on coconut milk, with the addition of curry, meat or seafood and some vegetables - very tasty. I was thrilled with pleasure. I think Amok soup is the most popular dish among tourists. I recommend trying it. I ate it with seafood. The tables have white tablecloths and cutlery, as expected, and of course good service. The restaurant is located near the temples.

I'm so lucky!

This was not the end of a series of unexpected surprises, probably prepared for me by God, who sent me this Chinese. After lunch, we traveled around the city - my new friend decided to change plane tickets, thought that he managed to see the main attractions in one day, and they took me to a jewelry store along the way so that it wouldn’t be boring... on the way back they picked me up.

In the evening we met again to walk around the city and try the local cuisine - it turned out to be very tasty, at least after 4 months of Indian terrible and spicy food, I liked it. And they went home. He gave me two tickets for breakfast at his hotel, which was located next to my guesthouse.
So the next morning I had breakfast at the Hotel. Like a real white man. I never tired of thanking God for this gift, sitting at a table covered with a white tablecloth and drinking coffee from normal dishes. Outside the window there was a small pool, the water was gurgling and the birds were singing - it was some kind of Paradise after 4 months of traveling through dirty India. (you have already read my adventures in India - you understand me)

Returning after breakfast, I met my Chinese friend in the lobby. He had his things and was about to leave. I thanked him for giving me breakfast. He asked to wait until he checked out of the hotel. I moved to the other end of the foyer so as not to disturb.

- “Do you have your passport with you?” - he shouted, turning around. -"Certainly!" — I answered in surprise. “Come on,” he asked and... He transferred the number to me, because he had paid for 2 days, and he changed the ticket and flew earlier. This is a gift from fate! I couldn’t contain my joy and I was glowing with happiness and an unexpected surprise. We said goodbye and I ran to get my things. So I spent another night and two days in this kind and surprising city towards me. Enjoying the delights of hotel life and, oh happiness! The pool was a real salvation in the terrible heat.

Happy and content, I went for a walk around the city. It’s better to do this in the morning, otherwise then the terrible heat begins.

I liked this small park with beautiful gates, sculptures and a tower inside.

I really like this sculpture of a snake with several heads, which is pulled by many sitting people - also sculptures. The head of such a snake monument is beautifully decorated, like a crown. Such sculptures can often be found in Siem Reap near temples. I took photos of such snakes at Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, but they turned out poorly.

In general, I walked around the city all day, went to the supermarket - then everything there was produced in neighboring countries.

I bought a night bus ticket for $19 to go to the capital of Cambodia, and from there to Vietnam, which you can read about in the next article about.

The main attraction of Cambodia are the ancient temples. There are a great many temples in Cambodia, but I will write about the most interesting, majestic and beautiful, which amaze with their bas-reliefs and interesting masonry. The Angkor Temples in Cambodia are a whole complex of temples, which includes the well-known Angkor Wat temple. All these temple complexes are spread over an area of ​​more than 210 km² and many of them are still under exploration.

Cambodia attracts attention with its originality - it is not Thailand at all, all emasculated, sleek, comfortable and touristy. I still remember the amazing feeling of crossing the Thai-Cambodian border during my trip in February 2015. Beauty, culture, smart people in uniform are almost immediately replaced by rustic simplicity, helpers, traders and a pot-bellied topless customs officer. I was impressed by the wild lands through which we drove for an endlessly long time, the free inhabitants who were able to sleep in a polyethylene hut and still enjoy life, but most of all I was struck by the temples of Cambodia.

I tried to tell about our first impressions of visiting Cambodia and Thailand in a separate article, which turned out to be moderately emotional and, I hope, interesting. For comparison, I suggest reading an article about a similar trip within Vietnam - the differences are obvious

• How to get from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City on your own

These are amazing temple ensembles that even Hollywood could not ignore, having repeatedly chosen them as decorations for their films. Tourists have noticed features associated with sightseeing in Cambodia, which everyone should be aware of before planning a trip to the temples:

• each temple is beautiful at different times of the day: some at dawn, some during the day
• You can get wonderful photos at any time of the day
• visiting the temple complexes of Cambodia takes a lot of time, so you should devote at least 2-3 days to this activity in order to have time to visit the most worthy places. These days you can find a hotel in the nearby town of Siem Reap.

Read the article about how to find cheap accommodation abroad when traveling on your own; in addition, I suggest using a hotel card to select a suitable place for the first days of your stay in Cambodia:

In addition, to explore the entire Angkor complex, you should think about renting a vehicle, because... many temples are located at a fairly large distance from each other. I have previously written about renting the main types of transport, as well as about public transport in Cambodia. However, tourists who gather to visit the temples of Cambodia are given an expanded option, so I will summarize here.

All types of transport in Cambodia for 2015

• A bicycle is an interesting offer if you stay a few days in Siem Reap (this is the closest place to the Temples). About $2 per bike for the day.
• Moped - renting mopeds ($8-10 per day) by foreigners in Siem Reap is prohibited by law. However, if you come from another city, be sure to leave your vehicle in paid parking lots.
• Taxi - can be rented for one day for $30-40.
• Elephant – You can ride an elephant from the gates of Angkor Thom to the Bayon Temple. Cost $10. And in Angkor Village you can not only ride an elephant, but also take a lesson from professional mahouts. The mahout will help you learn how to confidently sit on an elephant and even with him you can learn several commands for the elephant. Costs approximately $50.
• Balloon - this amazing transport can be used for $11 per person (cart includes up to 30 people). You will only be able to see Angkor Wat from the air and capture it on camera. But the balloon rises only in good weather.
• Minibus - The cost of renting a minibus with a driver (for 12 people) is approximately $50 per day.
• A motor rickshaw (tuk-tuk) is, I think, the most popular transport for moving around the Angkor complex. The cost of renting a tuk-tuk varies from $10 to $20 per day.

On how to avoid getting into trouble when renting bikes or motorbikes in Cambodia, be sure to read this important article; remember, failure to follow the rules can cost you a lot of money for repairs or theft of the motorcycle. You can also read information about transport in Cambodia:

Entrance fee to the Angkor Temples:

• for one day is 20$,
• for 3 days – $40 (can be visited during the week)
• for a week – $60 (you can use it for a month).

Visiting hours for Cambodia's most famous temple, Angkor Wat, are from 5 am to 6 pm. Don’t even think about losing your main (entrance) ticket, because... On the territory of the temple complex there is its own sisuritl, whose employees will very quickly notice the absence of a ticket and issue a fine.

Angkor Wat Temple

One of the main buildings today, which is national pride and is depicted on the flag of Cambodia.

Angkor Wat was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1112 - 1152). During his reign, Cambodia became a great power. Ankgor Wat is an amazing architectural structure, which was created without any mixtures (fastening materials), the stone blocks are adjusted so that they stick to each other very precisely. The temple was built over 89 years; the builders who participated in the construction numbered about 150 million people.

The heart of the temple is five towers - one in the center (this is the mythical Mount Meru, where all the gods and goddesses live) and four towers (temples) around it, and the whole place is in the middle of the moat (ocean), and the sun and moon revolve around the mountain . Angkor Wat can be considered the largest religious building in the world, because... it is built on faith in gods and goddesses. Therefore, it is divided into three worlds: the lower world, the world of people, and the world of gods. The vision of these worlds is visible not only in the building itself, but also in the bas-reliefs and sculptures that decorate all the walls of the temple.

Many tons of stone were used to build the temple, and the weight of one block could reach up to 500 kg, so the Khmers were helped by elephants during construction to move especially heavy blocks. During excavations and study of the area, scientists did not find the buildings of ordinary Khmer builders who built ancient structures, so a theory was put forward that these buildings were not built by people at all, but that’s another story….

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat, and in ancient times it was inhabited by crocodiles. The temple is well preserved compared to other buildings in Angkor, because... Buddhist monks still live here.

In 1992, along with other buildings of the city, Angkor was taken under the auspices of UNESCO. Angkor Wat Temple is the main tourist attraction in Cambodia.

There are also many beautiful temples in this complex that are also worth seeing; I’ll tell you briefly about them in:

• Angkor Thom
• Bayon Temple
• Bapuon
• Royal Corps and Pimanakas
• Pre Palilay
• Thep Pranam
• Terrace of the Leper King
• Elephant Terrace
• Klings and Prasat Sor Prat
• Ta Prohm Temple is the most breathtaking temple in Angkor and everyone who comes to see Cambodia should see it. It is interesting because it is abandoned and left to be torn to pieces by the jungle and the trees that permeate it.

• Banteay Kdei and Sra Srang
• Ta Keo
• Pre Kan Temple
• Pre Neck Pian
• Ta Som
• Preah Vihear

As you can see, there is a lot to see, so when you decide to get acquainted with ancient architecture, stock up not only with patience, but also with strength. Since you will have to walk a lot, listen even more if you hire a good guide, but you will also get plenty of impressions. All you need now is to choose the best moment to fly to Cambodia and plan a vacation, and life in this country is quite affordable, even for selective travelers. Good luck in the study of ancient buildings.

Read the continuation of the story in the following article:

And remember that you don’t have to fly to Cambodia on a direct flight, both Thailand and Vietnam are quite suitable for you, and then by cheap buses the journey will take 7-8 hours, during which you can enjoy the flavors of this amazing country. Do not be afraid . You just need to take a small step.

Angkor Wat is a huge Hindu temple complex in Cambodia, often called the "eighth wonder of the world." This is the largest religious building in the world dedicated to the god Vishnu. The silhouette of Angkor Wat is the national symbol of Cambodia and adorns the flag and coat of arms of the state. This bright and expressive example of the architecture of the Khmer Empire attracts many tourists to the country.

The temple complex of Angkor Wat symbolizes the universe, and its five towers in the shape of lotus buds symbolically represent the heavenly abode of the gods - Mount Meru with its five peaks.

Inside the central tower, rising 65 m above ground level, is hidden the Shiva linga, a symbol of life-giving divine power. Around there are 4 lower towers with their own courtyards and galleries enclosing them. From any vantage point, only three of the five towers of Angkor Wat can be seen.

The temple complex consists of three levels with terraces and galleries, rising as you move towards the central tower. These three levels symbolize parts of the legendary Mount Meru, in the upper part of which the gods lived, in the middle part lived people, and below, under the mountain, demons lived. Angkor Wat is essentially a huge three-step pyramid surrounded by a huge moat 3.6 km long, symbolizing the world's oceans.

The Angkor Wat temple covers an area of ​​200 hectares, including a 190 m wide surrounding moat.

The walls of Angkor Wat are covered with intricate carvings, among which you can see images of deities, battle scenes and many apsaras - heavenly maidens, according to legend, delighting those who go to heaven. In Angkor Wat, you can count more than 2 thousand images of apsaras, and all of them are not repeated. The total area of ​​sculptural works of the Angkor Wat complex is about 2 thousand square kilometers.

Excursions

Many travel agencies offer themed or all-inclusive excursions to the Angkor Wat temple complex. You can also book excursion tours on the official website of the Cambodian travel agency.

If tourists arrived in the country not through the Siem Reap airport closest to the Angkor Wat complex, you can use intercity by bus by booking your ticket on the official website of the Cambodia Tourism Bureau.

Road from Siem Reap

The historical site can be reached from Siem Reap by auto rickshaw- knock-knock. This transport service can be arranged in advance with the hotel staff.

Experienced tourists note that to travel around the ancient city of Angkor, it is better to rent transport for the whole day, because the distances between the temples are quite large. The travel distance along the so-called big circle is 26 km, and along the small circle - 17 km. The car costs 2 times more than tuk-tuks, that is, 40 dollars per day, but it goes much faster and in most cases is equipped with air conditioning.

Tourists can rent automobile in a licensed company, choosing from the list of companies on the official website of the Cambodian travel agency.

The parking lot is located near the bridge along which the road to the temple complex goes.

Video of Angkor Wat temple

I’ll tell you again what everyone who is interested in antiquities and beautiful places in Southeast Asia already knows. Majestic temple complex Angkor Wat is located in the northwestern part Cambodia and this architectural marvel is one of the oldest religious monuments in the world and the finest surviving legacy of the ancient Khmer Empire. More than 250 square kilometers of the archaeological park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is visited by millions of tourists every year.

In due time, only careful preparation for the trip to Angkor Wat allowed us not to get lost in the crowds of tourists and minimize any unpleasant moments that could arise during the trip. I am sure that without preparation, most of your time and money will be wasted.

IN this article collected the most complete information on Angkor temple complex, tried not to go into small, unimportant details and not to overload report photographs. There will also be a separate post about the city Siem Reap in Cambodia- this is where it begins acquaintance with Angkor, which is located a few kilometers from the city.

Angkor one of the three coolest temples in Southeast Asia, along with Borobudur on the island of Java which we also visited and Bagan temple complex in Burma (Myanmar), the journey to which we have ahead.

Angkor- not a city, but a temple complex, which includes several dozen (hundreds) large and small temples of different ages and significance, the most significant and largest of them is the temple complex Angkor Wat. The Khmer prefix "Wat" means temple.

History of the Angkor Wat temple complex

Main temple Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II and they say that he was somehow connected with his future funeral ceremony. The facade, intricate Hindu texts, carved bas-reliefs, the central tower - a symbol of the sacred Mount Meru, the surrounding walls and moat, symbolizing the mountains and oceans at the edge of the world. The five towers of the temple are dedicated to the deity Vishnu, and the temple itself is designed to personify a copy of the universe.

How to get to the Angkor temple complex

The nearest airport is in Siem Reap city, a few kilometers from the temple complex. The airport is small but international. IN Siem Reap such large airlines fly - Delta (delta.com), VirginAustralia (virginaustralia.com), SingaporeAirlines (singaporeair.com) and KoreanAir (koreanair.com). In addition to them, there are many flights from the cities of Thailand, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City).

Obviously, it is most convenient for citizens of Ukraine, Russia and the CIS countries to fly through Bangkok (Thailand). From Bangkok V Siem Reap airlines fly Air Asia, Bangkok Air.

Visa to Cambodia You can get it upon arrival, it costs 25 US dollars. IN Siem Reap You can get there by auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) or taxi for a few dollars, tuk-tuks and taxis are located at the airport exit. Just name the hotel or area Siem Reap city eg Old Market (a popular place in the city).

When to go to Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

As soon as possible, the number of tourists wanting to see Angkor Wat V Cambodia, is growing every year. The temples, of course, will not go anywhere, but the atmosphere may be lost. In addition, some buildings of the ancient city are periodically closed for restoration.

If speak about weather in Cambodia, then the off-season in this part of Cambodia is from June to October, smaller crowds, lower prices. in autumn at the end of the rainy season everything is green and the least hot according to reviews. Best time – November-December, at the same time it falls tourism peak. Hottest month – April. From May to October is the rainy season. Popular visiting times Angkor temples It’s winter for our tourists. We were there in February, at that time there was high humidity and little cloudiness. Not the best time for photography, but there is no burning sun.

Best time to visit Angkor Wat at any time of the year - early morning, when the temple opens for visitors until lunch, during tomorrow - around 9 am and during lunch - around noon there are fewer visitors, especially organized tourist groups.

Angkor Wat, where to live

Everyone coming to Angkor Wat live in city ​​of Siem Reap. Large selection of hotels, guest houses and apartments. It is not at all necessary to choose a hotel closer to Angkor temple complex, you will still go by tuk-tuk or rented car with a driver. Maximum comfort is much more important and a swimming pool is very preferable; after a hot and humid tourist day, this is the first place you want to climb into, and a couple of minutes later the obligatory beer or cold cocktail.

Hotel location. It is better to look for housing in Siem Reap close to Old Market (Old Market), in this area the main traffic is shopping, bar street.

We had a very comfortable Central Boutique Angkor Hotel for 40 dollars per night (double) with a terrace and access to the pool and bar. We had breakfast at a restaurant in a tropical garden, lunch in the city, and dinner, usually on the terrace by the pool. Relative disadvantage- the hotel was located a bit far from the center evening life of Siem Reap, but that wasn't a problem. We love to walk, in addition, the city is full of taxis that will take you to any place in the city for a couple of dollars. Details about hotels and guest houses Siem Reap (Cambodia)you can read it on minenew websitededicated to choosing accommodation when traveling -Siem Reap, Cambodia - Hotel Recommendations

Hotel in Siem Reap, Central Boutique Angkor Hotel

There are several popular ways to get from the hotel to Angkor temple complex.

The laziest way, it is also the most comfortable - rent an air-conditioned car with a driver. There are options here. You can rent a car separately for trips around Small circle of Angkor, By Great Circle of Angkor and to distant temples. In this case, you are buying a car rental service at retail and paying for each route. In many cases this is justified. Depending on the route, each section will cost from 25 to 50 dollars, except for trips to the most distant temples, for example Koh Ker. We rented a car for three days at once and it cost us $80 per day. We were two families and the girls did not want to swallow the dust of centuries while riding a tuk-tuk. The guide was paid an additional $20 for half a day of his work.

Even I, accustomed to humid heat, would be tired of 6-8 hours of active hiking in such a climate. An air-conditioned car gives you the opportunity to rest during a break between visiting temples, leave some things there and not have to walk (on a bicycle). You can rent a car either through specialized websites - there are many Russian-speaking ones, or at the hotel reception. The price will be the same and depends on your ability and desire to bargain, if the difference is 5-10 dollars.

Second option– a tuk-tuk (motorized rickshaw) that is indispensable in Asia, the pricing principle is the same as with a car, it’s cheaper in bulk, but on certain routes it will generally be more expensive. The price of a tuk-tuk is 10-30 dollars per day. There is no point in detailing the cost of a tuk-tuk, since it changes every year and not downward, of course. You can rent a tuk-tuk right on the street or at the hotel desk. Again, don’t forget to bargain, sometimes you can reduce the price by 30%, and almost always by at least 20%. A tuk-tuk can accommodate up to 4 people.

The most budget-friendly way- bike. You can rent it at the counter of any hotel. If you want to avoid health problems, it is not difficult to explore the small circle of Angkor and see the main temples. I know several comrades who saved money and got acquainted with ancient civilization in this way. In addition to the obvious disadvantages, this method has one more - you will have to see the temples without a guide.

If you are planning to go to distant temples of Angkor (Beng Melia, Banteay Srei, Phnom Kulen, Kbal Spin, Koh Ker, Pre Vihea, Pre Kan)– this is a separate price and in this case it is better to rent a car for the whole day and travel in a group of 4 people. It will be more comfortable and much cheaper.

I heard from travelers that many drivers in Cambodia unpunctual. It’s not all that critical and depends on you. It seemed to me that the Khmers themselves determine who you can be late for, and who you shouldn’t go to, since you will be left without an order and without money - there is a lot of competition among them. They have never been late for us, not even Cambodia, neither in Indonesia. In the rest Asian countries the transport was ours. The main thing is to clearly discuss your trip plan with the driver and it’s better to even draw it up on paper, with the names of temples and stopping points By route.

Angkor- this is a huge territory, even near one temple you can lose each other, especially since it will be difficult to distinguish your tuk-tuk or car from a dozen similar strangers. Here the rule is the same for everyone - the driver will find you and recognize you in the crowd. Usually he waits not where he dropped him off (at the entrance), but opposite the exit. In general, trust him - he will not be left without money, the main thing is not to lose each other.

Do you need a guide to the temples of Angkor and where to find one?

I not a fan of guides and I never use them, because almost always what I read about this or that place is enough. Angkor – exception from this rule, especially if you came specifically to see it. We took a guide, Russian-speaking and very good, although a little lazy. I constantly reminded him that we should go see such and such a temple, in the end we drove with him all over Small circle of Angkor and We stopped at a couple of slightly remote temples. The story was interesting, but NOT Wow!

You can order a guide at the hotel reception, you should first discuss the route with him. Arrival at the hotel, dawn, return for breakfast, trips to distant temples if they are planned, break for lunch. As much detail as possible. Otherwise, he can lead you around for half a day Angkor Wat plus a couple more temples and will say that this is the most interesting, the rest is not worth visiting. It is customary to pay money to both the guide and the driver after work, that is, when you are returned back to the hotel. IN Siem Reap There are enough Russian-speaking guides, those who studied in the Union, who speak very tolerably and understandably.

Cost of visiting Angkor and opening hours of the temple complex

We already know how to get to Angkor, we have transport and, if desired, a guide. All that remains is to buy a ticket to visit the temples. This can be done at the ticket office upon entry to Angkor temple complex.

Tickets are sold for the period - 1 day, 3 days, 7 days. For tickets valid for 3 and 7 days, you need a photo, which is taken on the spot, upon purchase. For one-day tickets there is a separate ticket office. There are signs everywhere, everything is intuitive. If you have a guide with you, he can buy tickets.

Ticket price:

• 1 day – 20 US dollars (valid all day)
• 3 days – 40 US dollars (valid any three days of the week)
• 7 days – 60 US dollars (valid for any 7 days of the month)

There is always a queue, especially in the morning, don’t be afraid – they move very quickly.

Working hours Angkor temple complex: 07:30 – 17:30, Angkor Wat – open from 05:30 am for sunrise filming, you can get inside at 07:40 am.

Ticket offices open at 05:00

Sunrise and sunset at Angkore

Opening hours of the main temple - Angkor Wat– 05:30, this is the time of dawn. Unfortunately, beautiful sunrises are rare, we were unlucky. At 05:30 people gather near Angkor Wat and film the sunrise; you can go up from 07:40 to 17:00. Sunset at Angkor from approximately 18:00, but after 17:30 you will be asked to leave the temple, although you can wait until 18:00 if you do not catch the eye of the employees.

You can capture the sunset either from the upper tiers Angkor Wat, if you manage to hold out at least until 18:00, or from the top of the temple Tha Keo– it is in the form of a pyramid with high steep steps. Popular point - Phnom Bakheng.

Routes around Angkor. Nearby temples. Great and small circles of Angkor

With the ticket that we bought at the box office, regardless of its type (for 1 day, 3 days or a week), we will be able to see only nearby temples. These are the temples that are located on the territory Angkor temple complex. I believe that they are the most interesting for the ordinary tourist who is not a fan of ruins and antiquities.

For the convenience of tourists, two main routes have been invented - Great and Small Circles of Angkor. Each of these routes requires at least a whole day, and each temple on the route is unique in its own way and is not repeated even in general terms. Naturally, there are signs in the temple complex; in addition, you can take a map of the location of the temples if you decide not to use the services of a guide.

There are two more temples that are located a short distance from these routes - Bantaey Srei And Banteay Samre. I asked our guide to show them, otherwise we would not have seen them.

Both routes start from the main temple – Angkor Wat, The Small Circle is, as it were, nested in the Big Circle, part of the route is repeated.

Temples of the small circle of Angkor

• Angkor Wat
• Phnom Bakheng
• Baksei Chamkrong
• Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom- the second most important and famous temple complex after Angkor Wat and the conditional center of everything temple complex. It is dedicated to Buddhism and is translated from Khmer as “big city.” IN Angkor Thom includes more than a dozen large temples and several small ones. This complex became a “star” thanks to Bayon Temple– it is easy to recognize him by the stern faces carved in stone, which look at you with an unblinking and eerie gaze. The main temples of this complex:

Bayon

Baphuon

Phimeanakas

Royal Palace

Terrace of the Elephants

Terrace of Leper King

Tep Pranam

Preah Palilay

Preah Pithu

Prasats Suor Prat

North and South Kleang

• Chau Say Tevoda
• Thommanon
• Ta Keo Temple Ta Keo - now it is undergoing a large-scale restoration, cranes and workers are spoiling the whole atmosphere a little;
• Ta Prohm - a temple covered in jungle, several Hollywood films were filmed here
• Banteay Kdei
• Prasat Kravan

Small circle, although it is called small, the walking time is much longer Great circle. On the plus side, the coolest temples are located on the Small Circle of Angkor. On this route we walked more than we drove. In the Big Circle it's the other way around.

Small circle length– approximately 17 km.

Temples of the Great Circle of Angkor

As I already said, Great Circle of Angkor also starts at Angkor Wat, coincides with the Small Circle to the Bayon Temple. Then the path continues to the northern gate of the temple complex Angkor Thom and to the following temples:

• Preah Khan
• Neak Pean
• Ta Som
• East Mebon
• Pre Rup

After these temples, Great Circle of Angkor merges with again Small circle. We also finish at the main temple - Angkor Wat.

Big circle- this means more travel and fewer temples, and they are not so large and popular. The advantage is that you can relax along the way.

Great Circle Length– approximately 26 km.

Distant temples of Angkor

This is the name of temples that are located at a considerable distance from the city of Siem Reap. These are from several tens to hundreds of kilometers and to explore them will take at least a whole day and about a hundred dollars for transport and entrances. If you are alone, look for a couple and team up with another couple. Those interested are usually found quickly. Usually these are neighbors at the hotel or just casual acquaintances. As a last resort, you can go to distant temples on an organized tour (price 45-50 dollars per person) - it’s budget-friendly, but not sporty.

List of distant temples of Angkor and the approximate distance to them from the city of Siem Reap

• Beng Melia – 70 km. , about 2 hours on the way
• Koh Ker – 124 km, on the way you can stop at Beng Melia
• Banteay Srei – 40 km, 1 hour travel;
• Roluos (Bakong Temple) – 17 km. on the way to Phnom Penh, 25 minutes drive;
• Pre Vihear - 240 km, almost on the border with Thailand - there are practically no tourists due to its remoteness;
• Pre Can – 160 km. and almost 4 hours on the road - there are practically no tourists due to its remoteness;
• Phnom Kulen National Park - 55 km, on the way we stop at Banteay Srei - 20 km away.

How long does it take to visit Angkor?

Depends on your goals, but you need at least two days, with two overnight stays, taking into account the travel. Optimally - two full days to explore all the nearby temples of Angkor, another full day to explore the distant temples and a full day to relax and wander around Siem Reap. When planning, keep in mind that after a whole day on your feet you won’t want to look at distant temples. The total is from 3 to 5 days, after which you can go to the beaches of Thailand.

Our further route lay on Koh Chang Island, traveled by rented car, including ferry. The choice of car was justified by the fact that there were four of us. In the end, the expenses were not so high, and the comfort is difficult to overestimate, including stops in interesting places - villages, markets, lonely temples. This transfer is offered by many private agencies in Cambodia. You can find out about offers at the airport, hotel or on relevant websites on the Internet. Not knowing English is not a problem - many agencies speak Russian.

What else to do in Angkor and the surrounding Siem Reap area

There are many offers to fly in a hot air balloon, the price is $20 per person, a taxi to the launch site and back to the hotel is about $10.

Excursion to Tonle Sap Lake. There is an interesting floating village there. We didn’t go because we heard that it was mainly a production for tourists and we didn’t have enough time.

First tip- start your day in Angkor early in the morning. Get up at 4am to be at the ticket office by 5am. Take a snack with you - you can always have breakfast in the park. Coconuts helped me, which I drank two or three a day; in addition to coconuts, the park always sells some kind of food and drinks. It would be better to sacrifice lunch at the hotel in order to return at about 16:00 and relax there.

Don't start your tour from the main temple Angkor Wat– it is located at the entrance to the park, and immediately after meeting the dawn, if you are planning one, head along the Small Circle to other temples while there are few people there.

If you are planning two days Angkor, then devote the first day Small circle of Angkor, second day - Big circle. Many do the opposite, leaving the most delicious temples for the second day and starting with the Great Circle. I advise you to start with the Small Circle, because it is quite possible that this will be enough - the coolest temples are located exactly along the route Small circle - Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Ta Keo.

Cloth. IN Cambodia very humid - take this into account. No miniskirts or jeans - it will be uncomfortable. IN Angkor Wat They are only allowed in with a long skirt and a covered head (if I'm not mistaken), take it with you. You can wander around the rest of the temples in shorts and a T-shirt. Sunscreen- Necessarily. You will sunbathe by the sea. On your feet, wear non-slippery shoes with rubber or rubber soles.

Dawn time is approximately 6:00, sunset time is 18:00, you need to shoot the sunrise near the main temple - Angkor Wat, the whole crowd is there. The sunset can be captured from any high temple. I like - Ta Keo.

Safety. Many temples can be climbed, many temples have very steep steps, sometimes extremely steep, such as in Ta Keo. It was in this temple that a well-known traveler in her circles fell from the steps and died. Be careful, there are warning signs, but not everywhere. Railings are also not available everywhere. If there are no railings, temples such as Ta Keo It’s not worth climbing at all - I still remember its almost sheer steepness.

Ta Keo Temple

Take it hygiene products At a minimum, bring wet wipes with you to wipe your sweat and hands after climbing the steps.

Don't give money to beggars children, they subtly sense doubts and begin to be aggressive and intrusive. A hard no, it’s better not to speak English, then they’ll fall behind faster. Any attempt to give even a dollar will bury your freedom; the first extortionist will be followed by two dozen more - a kind of chain reaction. Figuratively, of course, but you shouldn’t give or buy postcards, no matter how pitifully they look at you. There are especially many small extortionists on duty at the exit from the park. There are also plenty of petty thieves; wrap the camera around your hand or wear it around your neck over your shoulder. Don't say later that I didn't warn you. IN Angkor Sometimes all sorts of festivals are held and many local Khmers come to them - admission is free for them on these days. You should not plan a visit at this time due to the incredible crowds of people.

Is it possible to travel to Cambodia with small children?

Traveling with small children to Southeast Asia and Cambodia, in particular, is possible and necessary. Keep in mind that there is a humid climate and tropical heat - from 30 to 36 in the shade. Travel in a rented car with air conditioning - you won’t be so tired. Shorten long treks, take more drinking water with you and a mandatory snack if you are going to spend Angkor all day. Children from 7 years old will find it interesting - I guarantee it. We traveled with a child, she was 11 years old at the time of the trip to Cambodia, then there was a long trip through Thailand with several local flights. No difficulties, she endured the trip well and is asking to go to Asia again. Because ruins, beaches, sea, fruits, warmth, comfortable conditions in hotels and guest houses, and an 11-hour flight is not a problem. A day on trains to the south, as happened before, is a much more difficult story, remember.