Saturday, August 7, 2010

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Constructed : Early/Mid 12th century, 1113-1150
Religion : Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II ★ 1113 - 1150 ★
Location : On the small circuit.



Comment : There are few places anywhere on earth to match the splendor of Angkor Wat that is one of the largest monuments to religion ever built and is truly one the wonders of the world.

Believed to have been constructed as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples. As with other Angkorean temples and walled cities such as Angkor Thom, the central theme of Khmer architecture revolved around the idea of the temple-mountain. By the time building on Angkor Wat was begun early in the 12th century, this had been elaborated to a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. The central monument represents the mythical Mount Meru, the holy mountain at the centre of the universe, which was home to the Hindu god Vishnu. The five towers symbolise Mount Meru's five peaks.

It is difficult to express in words the enormous scale of Angkor Wat, but it can be explained in part by a look at the dimensions of the complex. The temple is surrounded by a moat which makes the one around the Tower of London, built at roughly the same time, look like nothing more than a garden trench. At 190 metres wide and forming a rectangle measuring 1.5 km by 1.3 km, it is hard to imagine any attacking force overwhelming the defences. But the moat was more than just a defensive bulwark, in line with the temple's Hindu origins it represented the oceans of the world. A rectangular wall measuring 1025 metres by 800 metres borders the inner edge of the moat.

There is a gate in each side of the wall, but unusually for the mainly Hindu-influenced Angkorian temples, the main entrance faces west. This entrance is a richly decorated portico, 235 m wide with three gates. However, the temple's greatest sculptural treasure is its 2 km-long bas-reliefs around the walls of the outer gallery and the hundred figures of devatas and apsaras. This intricately carved gallery tells stories of the god Vishnu and of Suryavarman II's successes on the battlefield. The whole complex covers 81 hectares.

P.S: If you want to visit Angkor Wat temple, don't forget to bring a long a nice camera to capture the beautiful view of this wonder like we are in the haven. And if you want to shoot photo of the whole temple you need to have a nice drone camera to shoot from the top of temple that has 213 meters height. And when you have a nice drone camera you can capture a beautiful area around the temple and the other temples around there as well. If you don't have one we recommend you to choose one from this site: https://10techy.com/best-drone-cameras/. I'm sure you will love all the pictures from your drone camera. Let see the example image below.




Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom

Constructed : Late 12th/Early 13th century
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Just to 1.7 km in the North of Angkor Wat, a gigantic unit that one cannot miss, would not be this that because of the gate of entry and the bridge which precedes it. In the order, Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom Kel, Phnom Bakheng, Baksei Chamkrong, Prasat Bei and South Gate of Angkor Thom.



Comment : Angkor Thom (large Angkor ) is a royal city of 10 Km² surrounded by walls and ditches. There still, a book would not be enough to describe all the richness of this unit. The tourists in a hurry will cross the site in less than one hour, but those which are interested a little in this style of construction can largely envisage a half day on the spot! When Jayavarman VII started the construction of Large Angkor, Baphuon and Phimeanakas existed already but had been devastated by Chams.

Five majestic doors, whose stones sometimes mix with the roots of splendid trees, crowned giant heads, decorate the four cardinal points of the city and the access road to the Royal Palace. The construction of Large Angkor was the celebration of a victory (from where probably the door of this name) for Jayavarman VII after it drove out the Cham enemy at the end of the 12° century.
Angkor Thom is enormous temple which is protected in the rampart and the ring moat. As for the rampart around to be made accurately with the laterite, height approximately 8 meters. As for ring moat around 100 meters in width, as for depth 5 or 6 meters. Angkor Thom the north east which keeps reducing altitude - is located with respect to pivot southwest. Because of that, north east angle to be high southwest angle is low. The vertical separation presently approximately 10 meters. It took in the water of the ring moat from north east angle making use of this vertical separation, inside the castle flowed and accumulated in Angkor Thom in southwest angle, from here was discharged in the ring moat.

There is a Bayon temple on the Angkor thom center. You say that there were five ports, there was a door of the wood product in those and was closed in the night. There being a court of the woodwork inside, the king lived, in addition was a many temple and a reservoir. By the way, Angkor Thom (big capital) with being afterwards, it is the name which is accustomed.

Bakong

Bakong

Constructed : Late 9th century - 881
Religion: Hindu (Shivaism)
Style : Preah Ko
King : Indravarman I ★ 877 - 889 ★
Location : Roluos Group. Located at Au Luok village, Ba Korng Commune, Prasat Bakong District in 15-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Siem Reap by the National Road No. 6. Then turning right.



Comment : They are first ones as the large-sized mountain type temple which was made with the sandstone in the process of evolution of the temple construction in Angkor period. Also the constitution where you can feel the central hall small lightly the stylobate (especially) in comparison with heavy appearance more, it probably will be considered as one process of evolution. View helix from near the central hall it seems, calls the artificial mountain it is suitable.

The ring moat of Bankong, presently being covered in the grass, has become like the swamp land. The ring moat was possible with the laterite, there was a stairway which it is possible with the sandstone which lap it is low is surrounded in the wall, in addition descends to underwater, but the part of that remains on east side participating road both sides. Lap there is a wall in the place which crosses the ring moat, furthermore lap there is a wall mark even in the inner part. In the halfway right side the Buddhism temple, is elementary school in the left hand. Foreward reaching to the stylobate section, the building which it is possible to left and right, with the sandstone systematically has lined up.

Furthermore when it advances, in the front the stylobate of five layer which is heavy-looking increases in pyramid type, the central hall of thinness one stands on that. In order from under and under one of the first section for the tower hall whose 12 is small to surround the central hall in fourth layer, it is arranged.

The stylobate section and the central hall are covered with the sandstone, but in order to surround around the central stylobate, eight hall groups which stand are the brick making. In addition, in order the small hall group of the brick and the sandstone where each one has specific name, to surround the central hall completely, it stands even in the forest outside the ring moat.

Among these it seems that the hall which remains on south side state is best. Also verifying the extent of such temple limits, probably will be useful to the scale of Bakong and knowing constitution.

Baksei Chamkrong

Baksei Chamkrong

Constructed : Early/Mid 10th century - 910-947
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Harshavarman I ★ 910 - 923 ★
Location : With less than 200 meters of Phnom Bakheng, on the left, right
before arriving at the Southern gate of Angkor Thom.



Description : Baksei Chamkrong is a 12-meter tall brick and laterite pyramid. Combine with a visit to the South Gate and Phnom Bakheng. Lighting is best in the morning. Harshavarman I began construction or perhaps dedicated statues at the site. The temple was later improved/restored by Rajendravarman II shortly after the capital was returned to Angkor from Koh Ker. According to inscriptions on the doorway Rajendravarman consecrated the temple with the installation of golden Shiva image in 947AD. It may have also served as funerary temple.

Banteay Chhmar

Banteay Chhmar

Constructed : Late 12th century
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : 23Km from Sisophon and to the north-west of Angkor, this was one of the capitals of Jayavarman II. It was rebuilt during the reign of king Jayavarman VII and dedicated to his son, who was killed in battle.



Comment : Banteay Chhmar is not popular to tourists but very interesting temple located near by Thai border. Temple itself is mostly destroyed and Lost almost all of it's devatas and other bas-reliefs but some good curvings are still on the wall of galleries and gopuras.

Banteay Chhmar is the enormous plane surface development temple of the Bayon style. East west 800 meter north and south 600 meters. Inside the ruins collapse is terrible, but you can see the motif which is similar to the Bayon in the relief which barely remains.

Temple Detail : The temple complex of Banteay Chhmar was constructed by Jayavarman VII. There is debate over its origins, with some scholars suggesting it was built in tribute to Jayavarman VII’s son Indravarman and the Cambodian generals responsible for defeating the Chams, while others propose it was intended as a funerary temple for the king’s grandmother.

Originally enclosed by a 9km-long wall, the temple housed one of the largest and most impressive Buddhist monasteries of the Angkorian period. Today, it is one of the few temples to feature the enigmatic, Bayon-style visages of Avalokiteshvara, with their mysterious - and world famous - smiles. On the temple’s east side, a huge bas-relief on a partly-toppled wall dramatically depicts naval warfare between the Khmers (on the left) and the Chams (on the right), with the dead - some being devoured by crocodiles - at the bottom. Further south (to the left) are scenes of land warfare with infantry and elephants. There are more martial bas-reliefs along the exterior of the temple’s south walls.

The once-grand entry gallery is now a jumble of fallen sandstone blocks, though elsewhere a few intersecting galleries have withstood the ravages of time, as have some almost-hidden 12th-century inscriptions. All the remaining apsaras (nymphs) have been decapitated by looters. Banteay Chhmar was deservedly renowned for its intricate carvings, including scenes of daily life in the Angkorian period similar to those at Bayon.

Unique to Banteay Chhmar was a sequence of eight multi-armed Avalokiteshvaras on the outside of the southern section of the temple’s western ramparts, but six of these were hacked out and trucked into Thailand in a brazen act of looting in 1998. Still, the two that remain - one with 22 arms, the other with 32 - are spectacular.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Bat Chum

Bat Chum

Constructed : Mid 10 th century - ???-960
Religion : Buddhism
Style : Pre Rup
King : Rajendravarman II ★ 944 - 968 ★
Location : At the end of the road of the circuits, between Banteay Kdei and Prasat Kravan, at the end of a road of a few hundreds of meters, on the left, little bit away from the road.



Comment : The small road which passes through rice plantations is very pleasant, especially with the lighting of end of day. One arrives then on three small brick towers under restoration but of which large-thing should not be awaited. The surprise comes from this built Buddhist temple in the 10 century, whereas the Hinduism was still very present among Khmers.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Ba Phnom

Ba Phnom

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : Located at Chheu Kach commune, Ba Phnom District, Prey Veng Province in the distance of 78 Kilometers from Phnom Penh.



Comment : Ba Phnom is the place where it assumes that there was a king capital Vyadapura. But whether or not really capital existed is here, as for those which become evidence there is no at all. It has several tops, there being a low hill, there is a Buddhism temple in the top vicinity. The road which from the hill extends to the straight line on north probably at one time kingcraft.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Baphuon

Baphuon

Constructed : Mid 11th century , ????-1060
Religion : Hindu
Style : Baphuon
King : Udayadityavarman II ★ 1050 - 1066 ★
Location : Angkor Thom, by leaving Bayon,
on the left before arriving at the terrace of the elephants.



Description : Baphuon temple built by Udayadityarvarman II was the most poorly constructed of all the temples in Angkor. From the remaining ruins, it is possible to see how imposing it was. This temple hill was dedicated to Shiva, but in its reliefs many motives from the Vishnu epic can be seen. Restoration work continues to be carried out on the Baphuon.

Baphuon is a little frustrating to pass in front of such a monument and not to be able to visit it. One of the center pieces of Angkor Thom, Baphuon is currently closed with the public for restoration and surely still for a long time. You can just make the turn of it. It is about an enormous work: a puzzle of more than 300.000 stones scattered on several hectares and of which some weigh several tons! Each stone is numbered and recorded in files burned during the war! The work which was stopped in 1970 consists today with all to reconstitute and the result should be equal to the challenge to be judged some by what is already visible.

It will thus be necessary to wait a certain time to have to be able to admire gigantic Buddha lying which is inside. This temple-mountain of which the sight in its top is, appears it, exceptional, was to be the central temple of second Angkor , intermediate stage between Phnom Bakheng and Bayon. What is presented today as an immense building site should become a major temple to visit after the end of work.

Temple Detail : The big temple where the court is located immediately on south side. Presently, France undertaking restoration, the large-sized crane is moving. As for being possible to visit, entering from Toumon, to the point of the aerial going/participating road ending. The inner part from that, it has become off limit. Because of that, walking outer circle generally, the back (west side) it turns, it means to return looking at the sleeping form of the explanation/releasing.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Banteay Torp

Banteay Torp

Constructed : Late 12th/Early 13th century
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : 9km South of Banteay Chhmar.


Comment : Banteay Torp (Fortress of the Army) is another sandstone temple with five towers located south of Banteay Chhmar. Not so big but the shape is impressive. Banteay Torp constructed around the same time as Banteay Chhmar, it may be a tribute to the army of Jayavarman VII, which confirmed Khmer dominance over the region by conclusively defeating the Chams.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Banteay Thom

Banteay Thom

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : North of Angkor Thom.


Comment : Coming out of the Angkor Thom north gate, the road divides into two groups directly. The pavement turning right, but when it chooses the road which advances straight, furthermore turns left directly and advances straight for a while, eventually in the left hand the top of the hall of temple is visible on the other side of the forest.

Furthermore it advances straight, the small handwritten plate (Banteay Thom is written on the wood of the road right hand in the Khmer language) being about it has been attached, the thin road it keeps going the right. It is easy to overlook this turning point.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Bayon

Bayon

Constructed : Late 12 th century
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Detail : Only the gallery circumference 1,200m total height 43m 54 towers.
Location : Center of Angkor Thom, 1500m in the north of the Southern Gate.



Comment : In the heart of Angkor Thom lies the beautiful Bayon temple. Bayon was built about a century after Angkor Wat. Bayon is unlike most of the other temples; no walls surround the terrain, and the style is Buddhist. The more than 200 large faces carved on the 54 towers are believed to depict the god Loki, or Avalokitesvara, or the Buddha King, or a mixture of the portrait of the Buddha and the King Jayavarman VII, but opinions differ. For many architectural and symbolic details a fitting explanation still has to be found. There are also some significant changes in style which leads archeologists to believe that the Bayon was built over a long period of time. The third level with the towers was changed later; the central part may have resembled the Indian temple mount Meru in an earlier stage, similar to temples like Angkor Wat.

Visit the Bayon in the early morning. The sight of the rising sun slowly revealing the many faces with their eerie smile is a sight not to be missed. Come back during the afternoon to have a look at the galleries with their many bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life as well as great battles and military processions. Some of the reliefs were re-carved when the temple later became Hindu. View the reliefs from left to right, as opposed to Angkor Wat.

Before becoming the temple of state of Jayavarman VII, Bayon had been devastated by Chams, which partly explains this architectural confusion which makes of it also its charm! Bas-reliefs of the lower levels, and the sight on the stone heads of the higher level are among most interesting and more impressive things to be seen in Angkor! The reconditioning of the unit of the temple was a colossal work, the more so as certain stones were completely hidden in a very dense vegetation which asked for large work of releases until the anastylose of the towers and the central solid mass in the Forties.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea - "Lotus Pond"

Constructed : Early 11th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II ★ 1113 - 1150 ★
Location : About 50 km to the East of Siem Reap.


Comment : "The excursion of Beng Malea which, with requests one whole day can be combined with a shooting party, the area being rich in small and big game and even in deer. Tigers, panthers and elephants, herds of beefs and buffaloes wild until Prah Khan in Kompong Svay in the east" wrote Maurice Glaize in 1944! If these remarks are not any more of topicality, the visit of the site of Beng Malea which has just been opened to the public remains nevertheless a small forwarding but the access roads are now excellent if one agrees to make a small turning.

This visit can combine with that of Banteay Srey, or Phnom Khulen, of Chau Srey Vibol and the Roluos group! A very beautiful day in view for those which want to see all in only once. The temple in itself mainly is dilapidated in invaded by the vegetation, but the visit is facilitated by a wooden way which traverses part of the temple. Some places nevertheless remain enough sportsmen when it is a question of climbing the many falls. Built little before Angkor Wat, of which it would have been a kind of prototype, this temple is at the cross of several main roads of the time. A visit which gives the impression of a beautiful adventure and, now so rare, where very few visitors are crossed.


Thursday, June 10, 2010

Beng Thom

Beng Thom

Constructed : 12th century
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Angkor Thom.


Comment : Angkor Thom is enormous religion which is protected in the rampart and the ring moat. 12 century latter halves, which controls Angkor. One side in square of 3 kilometers, as for the rampart around to be made with the laterite, as for the height approximately 7.5 meters. The ring moat around is width 100 meters.

As for the vertical separation there are approximately 5 meters. At one time making use of this vertical separation, the water of the ring moat was taken in inside the castle from north east angle. The water which it takes in inside the castle flowing, accumulated in the pond which is called Beng Thom in southwest angle, from here had discharged in the ring moat near southwest angle. Beng Thom exists with the rectangular pond, presently, but as for the water surface being covered in the water plant, almost it cannot see. Being quiet it is in the deep forest, it is the place of strange atmosphere. After the Angkor Thom south gate entering, when it traces the lane in the forest west side, it reaches to Beng Thom, but the road has become complicated.

Beng Thom

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Chau Say Tevoda

Chau Say Tevoda

Constructed : Early 12th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II ★ 1113 - 1150 ★
Location : On the small circuit, on the right side while leaving Angkor Thom by Victory Gate, opposite Thomanom.


Comment : Chau Say Tevoda is currently very interesting to be able to observe the enormous work that requires: the method used, the anastylose, consists in dismounting the monument item by item then to rebuild it by reconstituting the missing elements. This very hard method applies perfectly to the Khmer monuments and makes it possible to return to them an aspect nearest possible to that of origin contrary to the methods of restorations traditional.

The restoration is illustrated and commented in a small building located near the temple, it is a unique opportunity to understand the vastness of work in progress or to come on the site of Angkor!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

East Baray

East Baray

Constructed : Late 9th century - 889
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : East of Angkor Thom.


Comment : With the enormous reservoir which has the size of 7 kilometers by 1.8 kilometers, on the center there is east Mebon. Being maximum, it is the farmland of 7 ten thousand hectares, with the pondage of 30 million cubic meters of water, but presently as for the water it is dried up.


It cuts the pre-loop of the making a big detour route and between east Mebon, it passes the part of the earth quantity like the sequence, but this is at one time dike. By the way, turning right foreward east Mebon.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Khleang

Khleang

Constructed : Late 10th/ Early 11th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kleang
King : Jayavarman V ★ 968 - 1001 ★
Location : Angkor Thom, at the east end of the Royal plain, opposite the Terrace of the elephants.


Comment : Kleang can be translated by store, but it appears not very probable that these two sandstone buildings are only stores. Several versions circulate about the use of these two constructions which undoubtedly are not temples.

Some affirm that they were Palaces intended to receive noble visitors. Others say that the judges made use of it to imprison supposed guilty and that their culpability was or not confirmed by the divinities who made them accept various ill treatments, but a version much more romantic comes us from a local child who affirmed us than these two buildings, located opposite the royal platform of the Terrace of the elephants, behind Prasat Suro Prat and at each east end of the Royal Plain, were intended to the musicians of the King who could thus hear the music in stereophony during his spectacles!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Kapilapura

Kapilapura

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : In North East of Angkor Wat, in the forest.


Comment : It went north from near Toumon of encore watt, alongside the septentrional ring moat. The fact that you have searched is Kapilapura. When it runs to north from ring moat north east angle a little, in the forest of the right hand of the road, leaving behind structure of the brick making was found. That was Kapilapura.

Our knowledge only enable us to pose assumption that it will rest to you to check, but a priori, it would seem that it acts more than one funeral monument that of a temple as well as Pre Rup of which it uses same building materials and would seem to be one close time. This very pleasant walk in the forest, where one is accompanied by songs of very varied birds, of cries of monkeys and other animals does not present any danger but is not to be advised to the tourist in a hurry who agrees only a few days of visit for such a gigantic site!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Kbal Spean

Kbal Spean

Constructed : 11th - 13th century
Religion: Hindu / Buddhism
Location : 40Km from Siem Reap.


Comment : Kbal Spean, Known under the name of "the thousand Lingas river" consists of sculptures dug in the cliff of the bed of the river on a 200 meter length between a bridge and a waterfall. These sculptures to sanctify the water of the river, date between XI and XIIIth century.

To go to Kbal Spean, after having seen Bantey Srei's magnificent sculptures, there's at first a road mad of a dozen km, and then approximately 40 minutes of walking in the jungle by a small fitted out path. Several hundreds of "lingas" (representation of the sex of the god Shiva in the Hinduism) are sculptured by important groups in the river with spaces sculptured by Hanuman (the monkey god), of Ram and Lakshmi as well as that of slept Vishnou meditating in a cosmic sleep on the essential ocean. Kbal Spean's water is going to join rivers Sieam Reap and Puok by way of Angkor Wat's temple.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

East Mebon

East Mebon

Constructed : Mid 10th century, 944 - 952
Religion : Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II ★ 944 - 968 ★
Location : On the small circuit, in the medium of the Eastern baray.


Comment : In perfect alignment with the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, Victory Gate and exactly in the East, in the middle of a gigantic baray of 7 km by 1.8 km, is Mebon Oriental. The baray, formerly supplied with Tonle Sap and which was used to feed the neighbouring cultures is entirely covered today with ground and sand so that you reache Mebon by the road. But formerly, the only manner of reaching this temple was to cross the baray in boat, which explains the presence of the four landing stages located at each cardinal point.


This temple mountain does not have a central pyramid which was replaced by a simple platform. It is supposed that they will not have wanted too much to charge this small island located at the medium with such a quantity of water. This temple was built at the time when the country had been shaken by the usurping king Jayavarman IV and Rajandravarman II had just brought back the capital from Kho Ker to Angkor. Rajaendravarman II would have built this temple in the honour of his divinized parents and to protect the country and to contribute to the continuity of the royal line. The elephants which decorate each angle of this temple are very realistic and recall us that this temple is related to a legend of a magic elephant.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Kas Ho

Kas Ho

Constructed : N/A
Religion : N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : In the South of Western Baray, in the middle Ak Yum and Ta Norey Temple.


Comment : Prasat Kas Ho is a small ruin located just south of West Baray. Almost all of the building collapsed and coverd with trees. not interesting to usual tourist. This ruin is just a mound coverd by trees.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Kuk Roka

Kuk Roka

Constructed : 12th century
Religion : N/A
Style : N/A
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Not far from Kompong Thom.



Comment :
Prasat Kuk Roka is one of "Hospital Chapel" built by Jayavarman VII. Not far from Kompong Thom.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Krol Romeas

Krol Romeas / Krol Damrei

Constructed : N/A
Religion : N/A
Style : N/A
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Coming out of the north gate of Angkor Thom, when it goes a little. Approximately 500 m before arriving at the Western entry of Preah Khan, at the end of a small road with 50 meters of the road.


Comments : This curious monument ignored by all would however gain with being examined more closely and would learn to us a little more on the life and the Khmer practices. Discovered only in 1924, it was initially described like a park for elephants, and, for this reason, interests us much. It is a kind of circus elliptic, of approximately 70m in its greater dimension, which could have been used well as model to the contemporary architect who drew the parks for elephants used today at Phnom Bakheng and in the Cultural Village, but unfortunately out of the public's eyes.

We can imagine a central court in which the elephants were showered and washed, more especially as there is a discharging trough for waste water. Every two meters, on the first enclosure, are the site of what was to be used to attach the elephants. It is easy to imagine the residences of the mahouts in a circular building located above the unit.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Krol Ko

Krol Ko

Constructed : Late 12th century
Religion : Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : On the large circuit, at the end of a small road on the left while going from Neak Pean to Ta Som.



Comment :
In a very calm place and very little visited this temple whose name means the cattle shed or the park to cow, was to be the spiritual reference mark of the neighbouring stockbreeders. Some sculptures are in good condition, and it is interesting to also look at the stones on the ground. One stops here, the time of a photograph and of a small meditation and the visit continues.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Kok Chhuk

Kok Chhuk

Constructed : N/A
Religion : N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : Southeast Angkor Wat.

Comment : The hall of the brick the small-scale ruins where you can verify the existence of the ring moat of two and around. The hall probably is perhaps 3. Top of the hall has collapsed, but phosphorus Telecom has remained.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Koh Ker Capital

Koh Ker Capital

Constructed : 10th century
Religion: Hindu (dedicated to Shiva)
Style : Koh Ker
King : Jayavarman IV ★ 928 - 941 ★
Location : 130 km in North East of Siem Reap, are approximately two hours and half of road.


Comments : In 928 years, for an unknown reason, the King Jayavarman IV moved the Khmer capital from Angkor towards Kohker. But when capital is placed at Koh Ker is short, Jayavarman IV sinks in 941, passing the reign where the child Harshavarman II is short, age of Rajendravarman II (944 years) capital means again to return to Angkor.

During twenty years, this site was the object of a very great number of constructions and Prasat Thom which one usually visits is only one very small part of immense Kohker. Prasat Thom is appeared as very large and majestic pyramid of seven levels whose only last stage is damaged. The staircases are extremely abrupt and required the addition of wooden staircases to be practicable and the immense sight on the surrounding countryside that one has at the top of this pyramid is a reward for those which will have climbed! The entrance fee is 10 $ per person.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Lolei

Lolei

Constructed : Late 9th century - 889-893
Religion : Hindu
Style : Preah Ko
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : Roluos Group.


Comment : It is one of the oldest ruins. National highway six the line it breaks into north, which is the Angkor regional first enormous reservoir (presently as for the water when it is not) in it advances, the slightly elevated forest is visible. It is the place where this is constructed Lolei. The stylobate section which in the artificial reservoir stacked the laterite in two steps was built, the temple was built on that. View of that time probably seems like the island which floats in the reservoir.

The stairway of the laterite of east side at one time was the boat arrival place. This stairway rising, when it stands on the stylobate, we have become like the open space, four halls of Lolei are visible in the left front. The hall among and northeast side the hall groups of the brick making some state is good, but pain is extreme as a whole. There is a phosphorus moth on the center of four halls, the gutter which from here is produced with the sandstone has extended to four side. Hibun is cut, on the surface of the framework of the sandstone of the entrance of the hall. With there is a Buddhism temple in the appearance, in addition the people of neighborhood to be many have gotten together in the open space and it is the place where life it is ill-smelling it is. The ruins the damage to be terrible, the rope being stretched around the hall, it has become impossible to come near.

When visiting Lolei, it is not directly to be accustomed to riding to the stylobate side of the laterite, it gets off foreward several hundred meters and it recommends that you walk.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Lovea Village

Lovea Village

Lovea is a village in Puok District and northwest of Siem Reap town. This small village is famous in its unique circular feature. Village itself is surrounded by round-shaped moat. Village was built probably before 500 A.D.

With circle of diameter approximately 300 meters it can recognize the ring moat mark around. Era it is presumed the time before even from 500, calls the similar circular village mark that the village is produced, that plural it exists near Lovea. In other things the many circular village mark remains even in the Vietnamese border, but as for this structure differs completely, (the ring moat lap is inside the wall).

(Note) leaving behind structure and the pond of the square which is visible in the lower part of the photograph above are thought those of Angkor period.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Leak Neang - Ta Keo

Leak Neang - near Ta Keo

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Near Ta Keo temple.


Comment : One of the worshipping halls which have belonged to the hospital facility which Jayavarman VII provides inside the territory. Around Angkor capital, there is Ta Prohm Kel temple near the Angkor Wat west gate in other things.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Leak Neang - Pre Rup

Prasat Leak Neang - East Side of Pre Rup

Constructed : ??? - 960
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : Rajendravarman II ★ 944 - 968 ★
Location : Front of Pre Rup temple.


Comment : The small ruins which is on east side of the Pre Rup. It is in the forest which is across the road. The hall of the brick making tilting, just one it stands. Phosphorus Telecom of the front condition is good.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Kutisvara

Kutisvara

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : East of Taprohm temple.


Comment : In the small circuit behind of Taprohm temple and near Srah Srang & Banteay Kdei temple.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng

Constructed : Late 9th/Early 10th century - 889-900
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : With a little more than one kilometre in north of the principal entry of Angkor Wat and five hundred meters before the Southern Door of Angkor Thom, on the left of the road.


Comment : On the left of the road, one perforated in the forest, opposite some small merchants. The ruins of a monumental staircase which climbs the slope of a 60 m height natural hill, it is the temple mountain of Phnom Bakheng. Every evening, a many crowd - a little too many - is pressed there to go to admire the sunset. Some choose to ride elephant to go until in top of the hill, others climb the staircases courageously. Arrived in top, the sight is with the height of the efforts made for the rise. With far, one can see the silhouettes of Phnom Krom in the South and Phnom Khulen in North. One sees there also Baray, the forest of Angkor Thom and one overhangs Angkor Wat.

The construction of Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill) is an important event insofar as it marks the displacement of the Khmer capital of Roluos towards Angkor. Moreover, Phnom Bakheng is largely inspired by Bakhong in its architecture but using materials and more elaborate methods of construction. It should be noted that this temple mountain is built directly on the rock whereas the other temples mountain are built on embankments.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Phimeanakas

Phimeanakas

Constructed : Late 10th/Early 11th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kleang
King : Jayavarman V ★ 968 - 1001 ★
Location : Angkor Thom, in the centre of the royal city, behind the Terrace of the elephants.





Comment : The small stairway pyramid type temple which is inside the court of Angkor Thom. It is the small temple because the king does the ceremony, it is located on the center of the court. The fact that Pimeanakas is not aligned perfectly compared to Victory Gate lets suppose that it would have been initially built at the time of Phnom Bakheng with which it is aligned, then rebuilt then.
Unfortunately, this Royal temple presents only very few sculptures having survived and is not very interesting from this point of view. On the other hand, of the top, the sight on Angkor Thom is particularly interesting. But to reach it, you will have to use with many precautions the western staircase, on our photograph, only staircase practicable but nevertheless very abrupt, which makes the descent rather perilous.

This temple is associated with a curious legend according to which it was inhabited by the spirit of a giant snake with nine heads which appeared every evening under the features of beautiful young woman with which the King was to couple himself under sorrow that a serious misfortune does not occur with its people or himself. The scandalmongers claim that the King would have imagined this legend to give himself more freedom.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Neak Pean

Neak Pean

Constructed : Late 12th century
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : In the north of the large circuit, between Preah Khan and Ta som.

Comment : Neak Pean is single in its kind. In the middle of a low-size baray today completely invisible, this small island temple is made of five swimming pools laid out in the shape of flower of lotus: A central swimming pool (70 metres) in the middle of which the temple is itself and four other swimming pools (20 metres) which form the petals of the flower. 4 overflows symbolize 4 rivers which took their source on the same lake meadows of the Kailash Mountain in the Tibet.

A complex hydraulic system was used to purify water and appears it gave him beneficial virtues. The temple in itself is of small size but its particular configuration is worth largely a visit. The modern name of Neak Pean (rolled up snakes) comes from a great number of snakes which proliferated in the neighbourhoods of the temple.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Western Prasat Top

Western Prasat Top - Monument 486

Constructed : 9th-17th century
Religion : Theravada Buddhism
Style : Post-Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : Angkor Thom, in the south of the Carpeaux road. Between Bayon and the Western Gate.


Comment : There does not remain unfortunately large thing of this small temple which has as a name only one simple number! It is however about one of the oldest elements of Angkor Thom, in a sad state, which you will be able nevertheless to admire some elements reconstituted on the ground. The amateurs of beautiful walks will see it while going to the Western Gate, they will go then along the ramparts of Angkor Thom, visit Prasat Chrung and will ask their driver to await them at the South Gate.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Mangalartha

Mangalartha

Constructed : N/A
Religion : N/A
Style : N/A
King : N/A
Location : N/A


Comment : It is called the temple where Angkor period is constructed lastly.
Approach: From the open space before the court it faces to the gate of victory. Near front several hundred meters of gate, there is a stand bill of the wood which is called to the right side EASTERN PRASAT TOP. The thin road entering, several hundred meters it advances straight.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Prasat Chrung

Prasat Chrung

Constructed : N/A
Religion: N/A
King : N/A
Style : Bayon
Location : In the four corners on the rampart of Angkor Thom.


Comment : There is a hall of the small sandstone in the four corners on the rampart of Angkor Thom. These are faced with the name, Prasat Chrung, in each case east. To Prasat Chrung, it keeps walking on the rampart from the port.

On the rampart there is no part which has collapsed almost, rather it is to be a width and there is no danger. Distance from the port is about 1.5 kilometers. Because there is an angle of the rampart, the view from every Prasat Chrung is very good. State of the building those in southeast angle is best.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Prasat Bei

Prasat Bei

Constructed : 10 th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : Just after Baksei Chamkrong and right before the bridge of the Southern Door of Angkor Thom. The whole of these three monuments can be done by walking.


Comment : This whole of three small brick towers close to Baksei Chamkrong does not miss a charm, and the proximity of ditch of Angkor Thom gives him much freshness but the visitors in a hurry will not be delayed there. The three towers are aligned in the North-South axis, facing the East. Only the tower of the medium is completed, the two others are truncated. The representation of Indra on a three heads elephant is the remarkable part of this building. There is an Angkor Thom ring moat side, it is quiet and also atmosphere is good. It is the ruins which can taste the beauty of the brick pattern of the Khmer construction.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Phnom Da

Phnom Da

Constructed : N/A
King : N/A
Location : Near Angkor Borei.


Comment : Phnom Da is the hill which becomes the saint which is the vicinity of Angkor Borei that at one time there was a capital of Fu-nan.


In the hill the big hall of the laterite which was built in small ground and 11 centuries which are one of the oldest one presently, with several artificial caves, as the Khmer construction remains. Fu-nan from era time the Mekong delta excavating many canals on the center, built up the marine trade nation, controlled the Indo-Chinese peninsular southern part. Angkor Borei with the ring moat which is surrounded with the rampart, was tied Phnom Da which is that outer harbor by the canal which is about length hundred kilometers. Vicinity of Phnom Da presently has become Vietnamese territory. Fu-nan prospered with floating trade, but with the change of the trade road, it atrophies in around seven centuries.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Phnom Krom

Phnom Krom

Constructed : Late 9th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : Hill and Phnom Krom which is the north edge nearby lakeshore of Tonle Sap lake.


Comment : The plain among them is conspicuous merely very much with the height of approximately 140 meters. The Mekong river crosses the Tonle Sap lake and attacks Angkor to 12 centuries, probably is to designate this hill as the marker. The Hinduism temple which stands in that summit was built in 9 end of century by Yasovarman I, which is similar to Phnom Bakheng, almost it is construction of the same time.

The hall which can be made lap in the wall of the laterite, with the sandstone three, has lined up into north and south direction. The front is east. In each case top has collapsed, in addition as for that surface being bleached in gale and the rain of the Tonle Sap lake side, weathering and exfoliating are advanced. Foreward the hall (east side) four buildings have lined up into north and south direction, but two sandstone inside, it does with two laterite outside. In the wall surface of these buildings the small hole opens in lattice condition, is thought that role of the air hole was carried out. Lap according to inside the wall, in order the building where the laterite is long, to surround the hall group, it stands.

Looking at this ruins, it meant that as for feeling first, "the stone slowly has kept dissolving". In the severe nature of the tropical region, the extreme wind and rain repeatedly being bleached in strong solar radiation, slow the temple of the stone which keeps dissolving. Not only the temple itself, spectacle helix of Tonle Sap lake which is seen from the hill it seems. The view of Tonle Sap lake at this time is splendid. Furthermore when the stone step is climbed, it appears in the east side of the long mountaintop on east west. There is a Buddhism temple of today here. As for the ruins there is a place where the west side is highest. Phnom Bakheng, similar and the time of civil war were converted to fortress. When you look at the map around Angkor, it can recognize the trace of many dike roads, but the dike road which ties Siem Reap and Phnom Krom with the typical ones, is used presently as the trunk road.

With photograph left, part of circle the right circle of ruins and the left side inside Buddhism temple of today. Photograph left direction hits on south side.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Phnom Bok

Phnom Bok

Constructed : Late 9th/Early 10th century
Religion: Hindu (Shivaism)
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I ★ 889 - 910 ★
Location : In North East of Eastern Baray, approximately 8 kilometers.


Comment : Phnom Bok forms part of the trilogy of the Temples Mountains of Phnom Bakheng, Phnom Krom and Phnom Bok, and dates at a few years close to the same time. Far from the tourist tours, it is visited rather little what gives an additional reason of going there and have a look. There are several manners of reaching it, we recommend the way which passes by Prasat To, where you will stop only just time to take a photograph, and which skirts then a splendid lake to arrive at the foot of the mountain. After a few tens of meters of a rocky way, you find yourself vis-a-vis a gigantic staircase of 635 steps - we counted them - which it is better to tackle when the weather is still fresh, in the early morning for example.

The exceptional sight that you discover while arriving in top is with the height of the efforts made to reach it. 360° of a landscape which extends on several tens of kilometres to the round, the rice plantations as far as the eye can see the forests and even the lake Tonle Sap perfectly visible. The guards who are on the spot and who thus make the rise every day, affirmed us that it came at least a tourist each day! The temple in itself on the other hand is rather disappointing; there remain only sections of wall and immense stone heaps. The question is to know how and in how much time these thousands of stones, of which some are enormous, could be conveyed until in top of this mountain. They spoke to us about a system of pulleys.

The guns of sad memories whose carcasses are still on the spot have appear it largely contributed to the collapse of the building. With the return, you will be able to take the way which leads to Banteay Samre to return to civilisation Kampuchean. Note that the Apsara ticket is not required for the visit of these ruins.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Constructed : Early/Mid 12th century, 1113-1150 Religion : Hindu Style : Angkor Wat King : Suryavarman II ★ 1113 - 1...