Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

This is the last part of Angkor Wat - the heritage building in Siem Reap, Cambodia



















The first level of the heritage building is the most artistically interesting. Most visitors begin their exploration with the bas-reliefs counterclockwise around the temple.

Bas-relief highlights include the mythological Battle of Kuru on the west wall, the historical march of the army of Suryavarman II, builder of Angkor Wat, against the Cham, followed by scenes from Heaven and Hell on the south wall and the classic ' Churning of the Ocean Milk' on the east wall.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

This is part III of the heritage building in the heritage site in Siem Reap, Cambodia, THE ANGKOR WAT



















The visual impact of Angkor Wat is tremendous to us. As you pass through the outer gate and get your first glimpse, its size and architecture make it appear two dimensional, like a giant postcard photos against the sky.

The temple interior is not as densely carved as the first level exterior, but still sports hundreds of fine carvings of apsaras and scenes from the Hindu mythology.You can find the various chambers, statues and architectural forms in the interior. The central tower on the third level houses four Buddha images, each facing a different cardinal point, highlighting the fact that though Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple, it has served as a Buddhist temple since Buddhism became Cambodia's dominant religion in the 14th century.

ANGKOR WAT - Siem Reap, Cambodia

This is the 2nd part posting on Angkor Wat.

The temple itself is 1 km square and consists of three levels surmounted by a central tower. The walls of the temple are covered inside and out with bas-reliefs and carvings.









































Nearly 2000 distinctively rendered apsara carvings adorn the walls throughout the temple and represent some of the finest examples of apsara carvings in Angkorian era art. But it is the exterior walls of the lower level that display the most extraordinary bas-reliefs, depicting stories and characters from Hindu mythology and the historical wars of Suryavarman II. It is in the viewing of the basreliefs that a tour guide can be very helpful.

The northern reflecting pool in front is the most popular sunrise location. The sun will rise behind Angkor Wat providing a silhouette of Angkor's distinctively shaped towers against a colored sunrise sky.

Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

ANGKOR WAT is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three-tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level.

Angkor Wat is the center piece of any visit to the temples of Angkor.

We have the opportunity to visit this heritage building during our visit to Siem Reap recently in the evening and admired it during sunset.

































At the apex of Khmer political and military dominance in the region, Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat in the form of a massive 'temple-mountain' dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu.

It served as his state temple, though the temple's uncommon westward orientation has led some to suggest that it was constructed as Suryavarman II's funerary temple.

Other temple of the same style and period include Thommanon, Banteay Samre, Wat Atwea and Beng Melea, which may have served a prototype to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and an exterior wall measuring 1300 meters x 1500 meters.

We are really impressed by the huge heritage jewel, Angkor Wat. (To be continued).