Cambodia: Siem Reap “Touring Angkor Wat”

When I was informed that I will be going to Cambodia the first thing that came into my mind was to visit Angkor Wat. 

However, I had to be in Phnom Penh and not in Siem Reap for an official business. So after I was done with what I needed to do in Phnom Penh I booked myself a hotel, arranged a tour and boarded a bus for a 6 hour travel to Siem Reap. I got 1.5 day in Siem Reap to do all the tours so I made sure I maximized my time. So first on my list  the famous Angkor Wat.

 

Angkor Wat???

"Angkor Wat (Khmer) is the largest Khmer temple complex in the world. The temple was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura (Khmer:, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. 

As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country’s prime attraction for visitors.

 Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. 

Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “City Temple” in Khmer; Angkor, meaning “city” or “capital city”, is a vernacular form of the word nokor , which comes from the Sanskrit word nagar. Wat is the Khmer word for “temple grounds”, derived from the Pali word “vatta”. Prior to this time the temple was known as Preah Pisnulok (Vara Vishnuloka in Sanskrit), after the posthumous title of its founder." - WIKIPEDIA 

I had to come to the rescue of Wikipedia in defining/describing Angkor Wat. Honestly I don’t know how to put into words how grand this structure is in ways that I wont be missing an important detail. Before my actual tour to Angkor Wat I made some readings so that I’ll have a simple understanding of how and why such an amazing structure came into reality. You can never fully appreciate it if you just went there without prior information. I strongly suggest that you try to watch National Geographic’s Mega Structure feature of Angkor Wat.

 

Our tour guide arrived at our hotel very early on our first day in Siem Reap. He said we had to be ready by 4 am so we can witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat.

There were many tourist outside Angkor Wat when we arrived.

We waited, but Mr. Sun never really appeared. This was the best we’ve got after almost an hour of waiting:-) 

 This will greet you at the entrance of Angkor Wat

What’s really very impressive about Angkor Wat is the fact that the whole structure is made of stone - blocks and blocks of stones (sandstones and laterite) and the wide gallery of bas-relief. 

 Pile of stones 

Angkor Wat estimated use of sandstone and laterite is approximately 300,000 million tons and took 35 years to build.

Angkor Wat’s foundation is made of laterite - a red porous soil that has high iron content. Builders dug up the laterite and formed it into blocks or bricks, which dried when exposed to air. They also used laterite in building the temple’s outer walls.

Sandstone is the main building material for Angkor Wat’s walls and towers. Workers cut sandstone from a nearby quarry, floated the blocks down the Siem Reap River and then dragged them ashore with ropes, rollers, winches. Workers smoothed the sandstone blocks and fitted them in place. In some areas of Angkor Wat, the stones are fitted so precisely that workers did not need mortar or fastenings.  

 Look at the ceiling, made of stones… imagine if there’s an earthquake and you are there standing. :-)  On the right side of the photo is a wall covered with bas-relief. 

Bas-relief is a form of sculpture in which a solid piece of material is carved so that objects project from a background, almost as though they are trapped in the stone, metal, wood, or other materials used to make the bas-relief.  

 Sketch 

They said Angkor Wat is an unfinished temple. 

Workers would first make a sketch on the wall of the actual design to be carved before they'll start working on it. There’s no room for mistake. Above you will see an unfinished bas-relief:-) 

While visiting the immense and intriguing complex of Angkor Wat you will be welcomed by the beautiful dancing girls depicted on the temple walls and reliefs. These are Apsaras, figures of Hindu mythology - beautiful dancing girls.  In Angkor Wat temple alone there are around 1,800 dancing goddesses carvings. 

 At the Angkor Wat Complex there are two types of females represented, the Apsaras and the Devatas. The former are always dancing or poised ready to dance and the latter are standing still and facing forward in their role as temple guardians. 

It is said that during the Angkor period the King would take different goddesses to bed each night and thousands of them lived around the temples and performed temple rites and rituals.  

Angkor Wat is a majestic work of art.

 Krishna with eight arms and many heads. 

 The king fighting. 

 Intricate carving on the temple’s post. 

 Headless Statues - heads were stolen. 

I've spent half day in Angkor Wat - which was definitely not enough time to fully appreciate such a magnificent man-made structure. But I am happy I was able to witness and appreciate its grandeur in person. I hope I was able to give you a good glimpse of Angkor Wat.

 

All photos were taken and own by the writer.  Also previously posted on my other blog account.

Please visit my other post:

Peace in solitude: https://steemit.com/photography/@flordy/peace-in-solitude

Tokyo Tower: https://steemit.com/travel/@flordy/tokyo-tower

City Streaks: https://steemit.com/photography/@flordy/city-streaks

Foot-tography: https://steemit.com/photography/@flordy/foot-tography