Angkor Wat is the one of the most beautiful Cambodia temples as we have already written in our relevant post, but it is not the only one!!!There a lot of hidden temples and places, beyond Angkor Wat and around the jungle that are waiting to explore them and learn their secrets. This article is written to meet the most famous of them and it is a good start point to begin your Cambodia adventure like Tomb Raider.

• Bayon temple

The Bayon temple is well known for it’s decoration, which includes multitude of serene and smiling faces on the many towers that are in the top of the temple. It is also knows as “face temple”. Bayon temple was built in the late of 12^th or early 13^th century as the official state temple of Khmer king Jayavarman VII.

Face temple – nonstoptravellers

• Ta Prohm temple

Ta Prohm temple or originally called Rajavihara (= monastery of the king), is one of the most outstanding and popular Cambodia temples. It is a combination of jungle trees and ruins and that is the reason why it is well known as Jungle temple. It was built in the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries, by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII, and was operated as monastery and university. The temple was abandoned in the 15^th century (after the fall of Khmer empire) and the restoration started in the early 21^st century. The temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider.

Jungle temple – nonstoptravellers

• Banteay Srei temple

Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a Cambondia temple unique for it’s elaborate decorative wall carvings a reason why it also known as “precious gem” or “jewel of Kjmer art”. The buildings are constructed of red sandstone and they are miniature in scale, comparing with the Angkorian construction. Banteay Srei was consecrated on the end of 10th century (967 AD) and was the only major Ankor temple that not built by monarch. The temple was rediscovered in 1914 and has been ravaged by stealing and vandalism.

• Phnom Bakheng temple

Phnom Bakheng is a Hindu and Buddhist Cambodia temple in the form of Temple Mountain, which is built in the top of a hill. It is popular for the sunset view of Angor Wat temple but it is also a unique temple, by architectural point of view. It is a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, home of the Hindu gods and it is built in a pyramid form of seven levels, representing the seven heavens. Phnom Bakheng is 65 metres high and the temple has 109 towers. It was built at the end of 9^th century by king Yasovarman. This temple is also a Tomb Raider scene. There are two wayfairs to go to the Phnom Bakheng temple on foot or with an elephant ride.

• Preah Khan temple

Preah Khan is a Cambodia temple known for numerous trees and jungle surroundings that are growing among the ruins, like Ta Prohm. It was built in the 12^th century for king Jayavarman VII to honor his father. The hole complex combined the role of city with almost 100.000 officials and servants. The first initial cleaning of the monument was conducted during 1927.

• Pre Rup temple

Pre Rup is a Hindu temple dedicated in the end of 10^th century as the state temple of Rajendaravarman. It is a temple mountain made of laterite and sandstone.

• Banteay Kdei temple

Banteay Kdei is also known as “Citadel of Monks; cells” and its’ meaning is “a citadel of chambers”. It is another beautiful jungle temple like Preah Khan and Ta Prohm but smaller and less complex. It was built in the mid 12^th to early 13^th century during the kingdom of Jayavarman VII. Banteay Kdei temple was used as o Buddhist monastery and remained neglected after Khmer reign ended for several years. It was exposed in 1920 after cleaning the overgrowth vegetation.

• Ta Keo temple

Ta Keo is another temple mountain in Cambodia, which is possibly the first that was built entirely of sandstone. It was dedicated around 10^th century, by Jayavarman V, but it remained unfinished until the reign of Suryavarman I.

• Baksei Chamkrong Temple

Baksei Chamkrong is a small and not crowded Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was completed in late of 10^th century by Rajendravaman II. Because it is not popular to tourists it is very peaceful and in the top of the temple you could enjoy very nice view!

• Angkor Thom’s South Gate

It is one of the five man gates of the ancient city of Angor Thom. It is the best preserved and most commonly visited form tourists. It was built in the late of 12^th century by king Jayavarman VII. The gate was made to protect the city but it is also a holy Buddhist gate to the city. In the causeway you could find 54 figures of gods on the left side and 54 figures of demons on the right side. Although Angkor Thom is a Buddhist city, it is said that this scene depicts the Hindu mythology of the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk“.

Angkor Thom’s South Gate – nostoptravellers

• Terrace of the elephants

Terrace of the elephants or elephant garden is the place where the king Jayavarman VII used a platform to view his returning victorious army.

Here you could find the map of the tour!!!

Cambodia Hidden Temples Map – nonstoptravellers

Enjoy and do not forget

“travel is to live”

*photo credit pickyourday.com

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A monument – wonder that impresses both because of its dimensions (take a look at the map!) and the incredible details in its architecture. Visiting Cambodia and Siem Reap, and the visit  to the World’s Heritage Temples, is a dream for every traveler, and not unfair! The Angkor temple complex, with Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument and world’s No1 in Trip Advisor for 2018, is undoubtedly one of the most amazing monuments to see and visit! It used to be a sacred place of many religions of the world, including Buddhism and Hinduism, as it was dedicated to Vishnu. This temple is a symbol for Cambodia, since it appears on the flag of the country since 1863 as well as the country’s main tourist attractions.

It is the greatest sanctuary, of any religion, in the world.

A few words about Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, the “great city”, was the ancient capital of Cambodia and was built by emperor Jayavarman VII on the ruins of an earlier city that was created by Udayadityavarman II and considered the home of the ancient gods. The Cambodian kings tried to improve the ancestors’ monuments in size, scale and symmetry, topping their efforts in Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious building. The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of wild national pride.

Unlike other Angkor monuments, it has never been abandoned and has been almost constantly in use since it was built. Angkor Wat is the top expression of the Khmer culture at the height of their empire and a perfect example of their architecture. The fortified town of Angkor Thom was the capital of the ancient Khmer state in the 12th century.

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The visit to Angjkor Wat temple

Angkor Wat’s plan and the whole cluster are difficult to see when you walk through the monument because of their vastness. Its complexity and beauty attract and distract every traveler. From a distance Angkor Wat seems to be a giant mass of stone with a long road – a 200-meter trench leading to its center, but closely its surrounded by a series of towers,  chambers, terraces and yards at different levels associated with stairwells ! Angkor Wat is famous for having over 3000 charming apsaras (celestial nymphs) engraved on its walls. Each of them is unique!

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The height of Angkor Wat from the ground to the top of the main tower is larger than  213 meters, The gallery with the columns defines the boundaries of the first and second levels. The third level supports five towers – four in the corners and one in the middle, and these are the most important architectural features of Angkor Wat. The stepped levels, one above the other, give the towers a conical shape. The total monument mimics a lotus bud, a symbol of purity !! Several architectural lines stand out on the profile of the monument. Angkor Wat’s smart design allows the view of all five towers from just some angles. They are not visible, for example, from the entrance. Many of the structures and courtyards are cross-shaped. This layout was used to link a part of the monument to another. Roofs were often laid to add height, length or dimension. A smaller copy of the central towers was repeated at the edge of two prominent areas. The great entrance road reappears on the other side of the monument! During the 20th century, there were works of conservation of this temple, which however were interrupted during the Cambodian civil war and the Khmer Rouge domination between 1970 and 1980.

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Angkor Wat’s visitor’s feeling

The general appearance of this miracle – temple leaves a sense of romance, beauty and strength! An impressive and grandiose monument, unforgettable, looks like something from outside our world has landed itself from the sky! Perhaps it is the most impressive sight in the world of monuments!

Other temples

Continuing the tour you can visit other (many many other!) temples, each of which has a special architecture and charm. Starting from Angkor Thom’s South Gate, you will see the famous Bayon temple with 54 towers with faces, the elephant garden where Emperor Jayavarman addressed to his people and the famous Ta Prohm, where huge tree roots  literally embrace the temple! Maybe most of you already know him from the movie Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie!

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