I saw an excellent aerial panorama of the world-famous Cambodian temple, was impressed, and decided to tell you more. But first, be sure to fly over this ancient structure. Absorb the spirit of an ancient civilization. The huge temple with pointed towers is a miracle of symmetry. Symbolizes the sacred mountain from Indian mythology. Around the temple there are moats that symbolize the oceans washing the foot of the divine mountain. Angkor Wat - the largest temple complex in the world. It is interesting for its galleries, towers, pavilions and gates, richly decorated with stone carvings, but all of them are inferior in grandeur to the central temple.

In 1150, the giant Angkor Wat complex was erected in Cambodia. Most likely, construction took about 30 years, so we can assume that Angkor Wat began to be built somewhere in 1110. The ruins of Angkor lie approximately 240 km northwest of the capital of Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) - the city of Phnom Penh, near the large Tonle Sap lake. Although, in theory, the temples of Angkor Wat belong in India, since they are a typical example of Hindu architecture.
Clickable 3000 px Angkor Wat is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and serves as both a sanctuary and tomb for Suryavarman himself. Angkor Wat for the Khmers, who ruled from the 9th to the 15th centuries in Cambodia, is something like a heavenly palace in which the spirit of kings can reside. In front of the temple there is a ditch 200 meters wide. During the rainy season, which in Cambodia can last up to 4 months, the moat fills with water. In addition, several more lakes have been dug within the city. You can only get inside through main portal in the wall that surrounds Angkor Wat over an area of ​​260 square kilometers.
The temple itself is built from several platforms, one after the other. The first platform (180 by 180 meters) is 3.5 meters high, the second platform (110 by 115 meters) rises 7 meters, and the third (75 by 75 meters) is 13 meters above the ground. All three terraces are surrounded by galleries with gable roofs. The towers are connected to each other by absolutely symmetrical galleries. All buildings are symmetrically located. This is strange, because in ancient times the Khmers were not familiar with the laws of balance. All buildings in Angkor Wat are distinguished by strict lines and clarity. Lush jewelry does not correspond to this. Each stone of the temple is covered with carvings or bas-reliefs. Just look at the gallery of the first platform, which is 600 meters long. There are 8 panels with a total area of ​​more than 1000 square meters. Most often, scenes from the life of the gods are depicted. Lots of erotic motives. The most popular figure found here is the dancing goddess Apsara. In the center of the complex, the Bayon Temple depicts the face of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the main characters of Buddhist mythology. In addition to images of gods, there are historical paintings in the temples. For example, those that depict local rulers and warriors going to battle.
There are a total of 5 main shrines in the temple. The first is located in a 60-meter tower, which can only be entered through gates, stairs and open courtyards. Around this tower there are four more, where the remaining shrines are kept. There are more than 200 small temples in Angkor Wat.
Tourists usually begin their journey through Angkor Wat from the western entrance. Climbing the short flight of stairs The first cross-shaped terrace, guarded by giant stone lions, leads to a long sidewalk leading to the center of your journey. The gaze falls on the gopura (gopura - entrance, entrance in Hindu terminology) with three towers, the upper part of which is dilapidated. The shape of this gopura is so developed and elongated that it almost looks like a separate building. A long closed gallery, through which you have to pass, extends along the moat in both directions. This is the main facade of Angkor Wat. In the middle there is a passage narrow enough for the main entrance, and along the edges of the gallery you can pass through huge arches located at ground level. The arches used to serve as passages for elephants, horses and carts.
From the main entrance, guides lead tourists to the right and lead them to the end of the gallery, paying attention to the windows with turned columns and skillfully carved bas-reliefs on the walls. At the end of the gallery you can see all five towers of Angkor.
In the courtyard to the left and right there are two small buildings - these are libraries. They, like all the buildings of Angkor Wat, have the shape of a cross. Behind the libraries there are two swimming pools (65x50 meters). The left one is always filled with rainwater, and the right one is usually dry. Standing in front of the left pool you can clearly see the 10 towers of Angkor (five of them are reflected in the water).
Between the first and second levels of the complex there are cruciform transition galleries with square columns dividing the courtyard into four parts. Some columns are decorated with inscriptions in Khmer and Sanskrit. All the remaining free space is given over to elegant rosettes, cornices and bas-reliefs. In fact, there is no place that the carver's hand does not touch. Further up the stairs you can get to the second level gallery (100x115 meters). Her main feature is an image of more than 1,500 sculptures of beautiful goddesses.
The next third and final level was only allowed to be visited by the king and the monks. Twelve staircases with 40 steps each - one in the center of each side and 2 at the corners - rise at a 70-degree angle to the most important level. The steps are very narrow, so you need to go up sideways and go down with your back, that is, facing the steps.
Angkor Wat might not have reached us. There were too many people who wanted to destroy it, even after Angkor Wat was opened. Today, traces of shooting are visible on the walls of the temple. According to the political beliefs of the Khmer Rouge, the country needed to be freed from religious dependence, so numerous figures of the gods were beheaded. Now, after two decades, restoration work begins. Oddly enough, they learned about this powerful complex relatively recently - about 100 years ago. Lost in the Cambodian jungle near Lake Tonle Sap, the French traveler Charles Emile Buivot wandered for a long time among dense thickets, giant trees, frightened by predators and tormented by clouds of mosquitoes, but suddenly came across an ancient city. Before this, no one even knew about the existence of this complex. This is how Angkor Wat (“Capital Pagoda”), the pearl of the craftsmanship of the ancient Khmers, the world’s largest religious building, erected in the middle of the 12th century, during the reign of King Suryavarman II, was “recovered from oblivion.”

The history of the Angkor period dates back to 800 BC, when the Khmer king Jayawaman II declared the independence of Kampuchea (Cambodia) from Java and founded the capital of the new state - the city of Hariharalaya, located in the north of Lake Tonle Sap. From this moment on, Jayavaman II was actively involved in seizing the territories of neighboring states and by 802 BC Kampuchea owned lands that now belong to China and Vietnam. In the same 802, he declared himself a full-fledged ruler and created a cult of worship of the god Shiva.

In 889, Yasovarman I ascended the throne and decided to begin construction of a new capital - Yasodharmapura, which is translated from Sanskrit as “holy city”. Preserving tradition, he, like his predecessors, builds a huge reservoir. The construction of reservoirs was connected not only with the everyday life and needs of the city, but also with the observance of tradition, the roots of which go back to the myth of the sacred Mount Meru, surrounded by the great ocean. Mount Meru in religious construction was symbolized by a temple surrounded by water, and the linga* located inside the temple symbolized the ruler, who was the viceroy of God on earth. Yasovarman I built his temple on the Phnom Bokeng hill and surrounded it with a moat, which was filled with water from the reservoir he created. During his reign, Yasovarman I built many temples and carried out no less reforms.

Over the next 300 years, the great rulers of the Khmer Empire built many temple complexes, which, after many centuries, brought to us the story of the life of a great civilization. The last temple was built during the reign of Jayavaman VII. After his death, centuries-old construction ceased.

It is known that by the year 1000, during the period of its greatest prosperity, the city occupied an area of ​​190 square meters. km, which meant that it was the largest city in the medieval world. The city of Angkor was the size of modern Manhattan. 600,000 people lived in the vast expanse of its streets, squares, terraces and temples, and at least a million more in the vicinity of the city. The inhabitants of Angkor were the Khmers, who professed Hinduism, brought to Southeast Asia in the 1st century AD. e. The earliest mentions of Angkor in Cambodian chronicles date back only to the 15th century. Unfortunately, documents from the most ancient people there are none left. They used very fragile material as recording material that did not stand up to time. But the inscriptions carved in stone are of great historical significance; there are more than a thousand of them, most of them are made in the Khmer language and Sanskrit. It is not known how the complex was built - not a single source has survived, except for the legend that speaks of the divine origin of the city. According to this legend, Prince Preah Ket Mealea visited the god Indra in heaven. He lived there in a beautiful palace. However, the heavenly dancers did not like the prince, and they begged God to return him to earth. In order not to offend Preah Ket Mealea, Indra ordered the heavenly architect Preah Pushnuk to build a palace-temple on earth exactly repeating the one in which the prince was staying. This is how, according to legend, Angkor Wat came into being.
It is absolutely certain that Angkor Wat was a prosperous city. The reason is completely unclear - why did it turn into an abandoned city, where did all its inhabitants go? After all fertile soil produced three rice crops a year, the Tonle Sap lake abounded in fish, and the dense forests were rich in various game. There are currently two main theories. According to the first, in 1171 the city was defeated by the Chams, neighbors of the Khmers. And in 1431, the Thais finally finished off the already weakened people. But then it is completely unclear why the invaders did not occupy the conquered lands...
There is a second theory, which is denied by the scientific world, as it is completely fantastic. It is based on a Buddhist legend: the emperor was so offended by the son of one of the priests that he ordered the boy to be drowned in the waters of Lake Tonle Sap. In response, the angry god brought the lake out of its banks and crushed Angkor along with all its inhabitants.
Angkor Wat is perhaps the largest religious building ever built by man. It is much larger than any Muslim mosque, European cathedral, any pagoda or pyramid. However, despite all the historical and cultural value, the complex is threatened by a serious problem. Unfortunately, they do not want to seriously undertake the reconstruction of Angkor Wat, since it requires very high costs. But this historical monument ancient culture is in very poor condition. The war waged here for two years had very disastrous consequences for the monuments. last decades, as well as the looting of temples by thieves. But, in addition, the inexorably advancing jungle vegetation destroys the Angkorian complexes, its stone structures are covered with mosses and lichens.

Today, the Angkor temple complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Interesting fact: all Angkor temples were built without the use of cement or any other binding materials. When constructing temples, blocks of sandstone stone were most often used, which were interlocked like a castle, and the fortress walls were laid out of tuff.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a 190 m wide moat. In the old days, crocodiles were bred in it. On the western side, the ditch is crossed by a stone dam, which is the entrance to the temple territory. The territory of Angkor Wat is surrounded by a wall 1025 m by 800 m long. A long and wide road leads from the gate to the temple, laid along an embankment rising almost one and a half meters above the ground.

Angkor Wat has been preserved much better than many other structures of the Angkor complex, which is explained by the fact that after the last settlements left these places, Buddhist monks lived in Angkor Wat. They live here and now.

The complex was discovered on January 22, 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muot. In the 1970s, some of the complex's buildings and sculptures were vandalized by Pol Pot's soldiers. In 1922, along with other buildings of the city, Angkor was taken under the auspices of UNESCO.

A bicycle is a good idea for visiting the temples. Of course, only if you plan to stay in Siem Reap for more than a day.

Most of the local population prefer this type of transport when visiting Angkor, which means you have the opportunity to be closer to to the local population, which entails not only joy and pleasure, but more low prices for food and drinks on the territory of the temple complexes.

White Bicycles is a fairly large local company that rents out bikes. They are supported by many hotels and guest houses, since the main percentage of their income goes to charitable needs, in support of educational programs for children from low-income families.

Taxi is a fairly common option for traveling to temples. It is convenient for those who want to “touch” the treasures of Angkor, but prefer such trips in an air-conditioned car cabin. The downside of such walks is probably that you are isolated from sounds, smells and many other delights.

The cost of one day of taxi rental ranges from $25 to $35. Basically, the price depends on what time you plan to start walking around the temple complexes. If you prefer to watch the sunrise on one of the wonderful terraces of Angkor Wat, then the cost of renting a taxi will be higher.

Renting mopeds by foreigners in Siem Reap is prohibited by law. However, some manage to bring a moped from Phnom Penh. If you find a way to rent a moped, we strongly recommend leaving it in paid parking lots, because... there is a huge possibility of theft or theft.

For those who want to get a bird's eye view of Angkor Wat, Angkor Balloon can offer you a trip in a hot air balloon basket. The route is fixed and there is no possibility to change the course, the flight altitude is about 200 meters above the ground. The cost of the experience is $11 per person (up to 30 people can be placed in the basket). Unfortunately, this type of travel is not always available due to weather conditions.
Elephant travel was at its peak in popularity in the early 20th century. It was on elephants that the first routes through the temples of Angkor were laid out. Now, of course, everything is more civilized and put into the rut of organized tourism. You can ride an elephant from the Angkor Thom gate to the Bayon Temple. The cost of such a trip will cost you approximately $10. But in a place called Angkor Village, you can not only book an elephant ride, but even get a real lesson from professional mahouts. They will teach you how to sit confidently on an elephant and you will learn some commands to control the elephant. The cost of such a course is approximately $50. Popular among groups traveling. The cost of renting a minibus with a driver (for 12 people) is approximately $50 per day.
Perhaps the most popular transport for moving around the Angkor complex. The cabins of rickshaws can be quite comfortable and an important bonus is that they can protect you from the rain. If you are lucky with a driver, he may turn out to be a good guide, and also, knowing the temporary flows of tourists on the main routes in the complexes, he can help you avoid the crowds of people taking pictures and shouting. The cost of renting a motorized rickshaw ranges from $10 to $20 per day.
As we said earlier, walking is not the best convenient option travel and for good reason. Firstly, Angkor Thom is located 8 km from Siem Reap. Secondly, many picturesque temples are located at a distance of 15-10 km from Angkor Thom. It is also important to take into account the fact that after 11 o’clock in the morning the sun is at its zenith and long walks can be a very serious burden on the body. However, if the facts described above do not scare you away and you decide to walk, then discover the road that runs behind the wall of Angkor Thom. This route will not only reveal to you little-known temples hidden in the thickets of tropical trees, but will also give you the opportunity to enjoy the singing of birds and the music of the jungle.













By the way, literally in August 2014

Why the most big temple have people left the world? What is the connection between the Angkor Wat complex and the spiral of the constellation Draco? Why was a dinosaur depicted on the Angkor Wat bas-relief? The article reflects the point of view of official history and chronology.

The Angkor Wat temple complex is the largest Hindu temple not only in Cambodia, but also in the world, the largest religious building of humanity, created according to the traditional version by the Khmer king Suryavarman II about a thousand years ago. (1113-1150 AD)

The construction of the Angkor Wat temple lasted 30 years, it became the largest temple in the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. The area of ​​Angkor Wat is 2.5 sq. km. (This is almost 3 times larger than the area of ​​the Vatican), and the size of the entire ancient Khmer capital of Angkor with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants exceeded 200 sq. km. For comparison, for example, the second largest known city of the same ancient era was the city of Tikal - the largest city of the Mayan civilization, located in modern Guatemala. Its size was about 100 sq. km, that is, 10 times smaller, and its population was only 100 to 200 thousand people.

Tourist map of the main temples of Angkor

Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the ancient capital, but far from the only one. The city of Angkor - being the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries, included many Hindu and Buddhist temples, many of which have survived quite well to this day. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and characterizes different periods of the heyday of the power of the Khmer Empire. Later historians would call this period of Khmer history Angkorian.

Main entrance to Angkor Wat from the west side

The construction of Angkor lasted about 400 years. It was started by the founder of the Angkorian dynasty, the Hindu prince Jayavarman II, who declared himself the “universal ruler” and “Sun King” of Cambodia in 802. The last temple complexes were built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. After his death in 1218, construction stopped. The reason for this, according to one version, was that the Khmer Empire simply ran out of sandstone deposits; according to another, the empire found itself in conditions of a brutal war and it was impossible to continue construction. The Angkorian period of Khmer history ended in 1431, when Thai invaders finally captured and sacked the Khmer capital and forced the population to flee south to the Phnom Penh region, which became the new Khmer capital. However, historians are still looking for evidence of the true reasons for the fall of the Khmer Empire.

Water moat 190 meters wide around Angkor Wat

In Angkor, the largest temple complexes stand out - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (which includes several temples, the largest of which is Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Preah Kan. The most notable temple was and remains Angkor Wat, which is still the largest religious building in the world. Its height is 65 meters. The temple is surrounded by a giant moat 190 meters wide, measuring 1300 meters by 1500 meters. Constructed over 30 years during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113–1150), Angkor Wat became the largest sacred building in the world. After the death of King Suryavarman II, the temple accepted him into its walls and became a tomb-mausoleum.

Angkor Wat - The story of the discovery of the lost city of Angkor

Ankor Wat became widely known in the modern world after the publication in 1861 of the diaries and reports of the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muot about his expeditions in Indochina. In his diary you can find the following lines:

“The monuments of building art that I saw are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are examples of the highest level compared to any monuments preserved from ancient times. I have never felt as happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never exchange this life for the pleasures and conveniences of the civilized world."

View of Angkor Wat from the northwest side (reflection in the water)

Henri Mouhot was born in 1826 in France, and from the age of 18 he taught French and Greek languages at the Russian Military Academy in St. Petersburg. After returning to his homeland, he married the daughter of a famous English explorer and moved to Scotland. And already in 1857, Henri Muo decided to travel to Southeast Asia (Indochina) to collect zoological samples. During his stay in Asia, he traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Perhaps he had a premonition of something, a few months after his last visit to Angkor Wat, in 1861 he died of malaria, on his fourth expedition to Laos. He was buried there, near the capital Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang), the location of his tomb is still known. The diaries of Henri Muot are kept in London, in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society, London.

The grave of the French explorer Henri Muot (1826-1861) in Laos

The grandeur of the Angkor Wat temple he first saw shocked Henri Muo; in his notes he wrote the following about Ankor Wat:

“The temple is incomprehensible to the mind and beyond all imagination. You look in embarrassment and bewilderment, admire and, overwhelmed with reverence, freeze in reverent silence... How sublime the genius of this Michelangelo of the East must have been, the genius of the creator of such a wondrous creation! He managed to connect various parts into a single whole with such skill that one can only marvel at it. He saw to the fulfillment of his dreams and achieved, both in general and in particular, such completeness of details, worthy of the whole, which only the most gifted can do.”

The majestic central tower of Angkor Wat

Etymology of the name of the temple Angkor Wat

"Angkor Wat" is not the original name of the temple, as neither the temple's foundation steles nor any inscriptions regarding the name at that time have been found. What the ancient temple city was called then is unknown, and it is likely that it was called “Vrah Vishnulok” (literally “Place of Saint Vishnu”), in honor of the god to whom it was dedicated.

View of Angkor Wat from the northeast side of the building

Most likely, the name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara", meaning "city". In Khmer it is pronounced "noko" ("kingdom, country, city"), but in common parlance, Khmers are much more comfortable pronouncing "ongko". The latter is very consonant with the concept of harvest, close to the peasants, and can, literally, be translated as “harvested grains of rice.”

Young descendants of the almighty demigod king Suryavarman II

Over the centuries, the reduced common "ongko" acquired the meaning of a proper name, which was fixed in the name of the ancient capital region of Angkor (or Ongkor), the former capital of the Angkorian Empire, Angkor Thom, as well as the Angkor Wat temple.

Everything in this world is subject to nature - even the walls of the great Angkor

The word “Wat” comes from the Pali expression “watthu-arama” (“the place where the temple is built”), which denoted the sacred ground of a monastic monastery, but in many countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) it has long had a broader meaning , referring to any Buddhist monastery, temple or pagoda. In Khmer, "voat" can mean both "temple" and "veneration, admiration." Indeed, Angkor Wat, the largest temple of the city of the gods of Angkor, is a symbol of Khmer national pride.

Sculptures of seven-headed snakes on the road to the temple

In Khmer, the name of the Angkor Wat temple is pronounced "Ongkovoat". In the vast majority of sources it is interpreted as a “temple city”. Since the name “Angkor” has been used in the meaning of a proper name since the 15th-16th centuries, a more accurate translation can be assumed - “Angkor Temple”.

In the backyard of Angkor Wat

Why did people leave the largest temple in the world?

The reason why the Khmers, about 500 years ago, left the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat, to the mercy of the jungle and left Angkor to develop the new capital of their kingdom, Phnom Penh, is still the subject of debate among historians and archaeologists. For more than 100 years, hundreds of archaeological specialists from all over the world have been trying to lift the veil of secrecy over the ancient Khmer capital - the city of the gods, Angkor. The fact is that the past has left us a negligible amount of written evidence related to the history of the construction of temples in Angkor. Painstaking many years of work researchers are gradually revealing to us the secrets of the sacred temple of Angkor Wat, introducing new adjustments to various historical theories related to its origin and purpose.

A rare shot of the temple wall when there are no tourists and the sky is contrasting

Khmer temples were never intended for gatherings of believers, they were built as a habitat for the gods. Access to the central buildings of the complexes was open only to priests and monarchs. The largest temple in the city of the gods, Angkor Wat also had an additional function: it was originally planned as a burial place for kings.

Top view of Angkor Wat (Height 200 meters)

It is noteworthy that Jayavarman II's successors followed his principles of construction. Each new ruler completed the construction of the city in such a way that its core was constantly moving: the center of the old city ended up on the outskirts of the new one. This is how this giant city gradually grew. Each time, a five-tower temple was erected in the center, symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the world. As a result, Angkor turned into a whole city of temples. The splendor of the Khmer Empire faded somewhat during the difficult and prolonged wars with the Chams and Tais. In 1431, Thai (Siamese) troops completely captured Angkor: the city was depopulated, as if a merciless epidemic had swept through it. Over time, the humid climate and lush vegetation turned the capital into ruins and the jungle completely swallowed it.

The entire territory of Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, only the area around the temples was cleared

Hard times (external and internal wars) in the history of Cambodia (Kampuchea) did not allow foreigners to visit the brilliant masterpiece of Asian architecture. For a long time, the temples of Angkor were difficult to access for a wide range of researchers, archaeologists and historians. The situation changed in December 1992, when the temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, which deservedly joined the list of one of the largest temples in the world, were included in the list of world monuments cultural heritage UNESCO, and a year later the International Coordination Committee was created in Tokyo, which set as its goal to revive the former splendor of Angkor. Sources of financing for the project were found and active restoration work began. Huge trees that destroy walls are cut down, entrances, ceilings, walls, and paths are restored. Scientists from different countries. There will be enough work for everyone for many decades.

The internal passages in different Angkor temples are very similar

The mysterious connection of Angkor with the spiral of the constellation Draco

In 1996, British archaeologist and historian John Grigsby, studying Angkor, came to the conclusion that the Angkor temple complex is an earthly projection of a certain section of the Milky Way, and the main structures of Angkor model the wavy spiral of the northern constellation Draco. He was prompted to begin research in the search for correlations between heaven and earth in relation to Angkor by a mysterious inscription from the time of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer king during whose time Angkor Thom and Bayon were built in the 12th century. On a stele excavated on the territory of the Bayon Temple, it was inscribed - “the land of Kambu is similar to the sky.”

Constellation Draco and Ursa Minor in our time

A certain connection with the stars was also indicated by an inscription made by the builders of the large pyramidal temple of Phnom Bakheng, built during the time of King Yasovarman I (889-900 AD). The inscription says that the purpose of the temple is to symbolize “with its stones the celestial movements of the stars.” The question arose whether there was a correlation between heaven and earth similar to the Egyptian one (the connection between the pyramids of Giza and the constellation Orion) in Cambodia?

The exact location of the main temples of Angkor

The fact is that the projection of the dragon constellation by the main temples of Angkor on Earth turned out to be not entirely accurate. The distances between the temples are proportional to the distances between the stars, but the relative position of the temples, that is, the angles between the segments connecting the temples, does not exactly repeat the picture in the sky. In addition, it should be noted that Angkor is not a projection of the constellation Draco onto the earth's surface, but a projection of an entire section of the sky around Draco, including several stars from the Northern Crown, Minor and Ursa Major, Deneb of the Swan. All sacred places on Earth they reproduce one or another part of the sky along the Milky Way.

Constellation Draco 10500 BC.

In the same 1996, another British amateur researcher, John Grigsby, joined the scientific and historical work on Angkor. Having set out to establish the exact date when the sky pattern corresponded to a given location of the temples in Angkor, they, using computer technology did a lot of research. The results of their research shook the global archaeological community. Computer research has shown that the main temples of Angkor are indeed earthly reflections of the stars of the Draco constellation and that this is exactly the position of the stars on the day spring equinox in 10500 BC e.

Comparisons of the layout of the temples of Angkor and the stars of the constellation Draco

Nowadays, few people doubt the fact that Angkor was really built between the 9th and 13th centuries. AD, however, how could the subjects of the Cambodian kings know the picture of the sky more than 10,000 years ago, because by their time precession had already hidden part of the projected picture behind the horizon. It has been hypothesized that all the main temples of Angkor were built on older structures, as evidenced by the huge slabs of lining artificial canals made of megaliths, the presence of polygonal masonry, high skill in stone processing, stone castles, but it is not known when they were built. However, if they were already projecting the Draco constellation then...

Covered with kilometers of fine carvings, the huge stones of the temples are perfectly fitted to each other, not fastened by anything and supported only by their own weight. There are temples where it is impossible to insert a blade between the stones; moreover, they irregular shape and convexities, like puzzles, where none of the modern technologies is not able to recreate the former beauty of these temples.

Magnificent bas-reliefs on the outer walls of Angkor Wat Apsaras - Heavenly Dancers

Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could the Khmers have seen dinosaurs?

The hypothesis of the creation of Angkor in the 11th century BC. does not contradict the fact that the temples as we see them today were built between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. e. famous Khmer monarchs, but not everything is so simple. For example, the Ta Prohm Temple is full of intricately carved statues and stone columns with bas-reliefs carved on them. Along with images of gods and goddesses from mythological subjects of ancient Hinduism, hundreds of bas-reliefs depict real animals (elephants, snakes, fish, monkeys). Almost every inch of gray sandstone is covered with decorative carvings. What was the amazement of the scientists who discovered an image on one of the columns in Ta-Prom Stegosaurus- a herbivorous dinosaur that existed 155-145 million years ago.

Researchers have proven that this bas-relief is not a fake. One can only guess where the Khmers saw the stegosaurus? How to explain this?

Bas-relief depicting a Stegosaurus on one of the columns of Angkor Wat

Sacred numerology of Angkor - coincidence or prophecy?

What is this mysterious date - the Vernal Equinox of 10500 BC? It was on this day that the stars of the dragon constellation were in the projection that the Angkor temple complex reproduces on earth, if you look at it from above. This date is associated with the process of precession of celestial bodies. The Earth is like a giant top, under the influence of the gravity of the Sun and Moon, it makes a slow circular rotation. The Moon and the Sun, by their attraction, tend to rotate the Earth's axis, resulting in the phenomenon of precession.

The projection of the earth's axis, as it were, outlines a giant circle in the North of the celestial sphere, covering the constellations Draco and Ursa Minor. At the edge of the circle are Vega, Alpha Draconis and Polaris. This movement of the earth's axis along a circular line, a kind of swaying of the axis of rotation, is called precession.

Schematic representation of the precession of the earth's axis

Astrologers believe that the precession cycle is 25,920 years, the so-called Great Year (the period during which the pole of the celestial equator describes a complete circle around the pole of the ecliptic). During this time, the earth's axis travels a full circle around the Zodiac. Moreover, one astrological era is equal to 1/12 of a cycle (25920:12=2160) and is 2160 years. One month of the Great Year, lasting 2160 Earth years, is astrological era. Each cosmic epoch (2160 earth years) represents a whole stage in the development of humanity, associated with the sign of the Zodiac through which the earth’s axis passes. This period was somehow mystically known to the famous Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that this (25,920 years) was the period of existence of earthly civilization. Therefore, the period of precession is also called the Great Platonic Year (Great Year of Plato). One day of the Great Year is theoretically equal to 72 of our years (25920:360 = 72 years - the earth's axis passes 1 ecliptic).

Movement along the sidereal spiral of time - Everything returns to normal...

Nowadays, the North Pole of the world is, as we know, the North Star, but this was not always the case, and in the 3rd millennium BC. The North Pole of the world was where the star α (Alpha) - Draco - is located. The precession of the Earth's axis is known to cause an apparent change in the position of stars with a period of 25,920 years, that is, 1 degree is 72 years. In 10,500 B.C. at the lowest point of the trajectory was the constellation Orion, and at the highest point was the constellation Draco. There is a kind of “Orion-Dragon pendulum”. Since then, the precessional process has managed to rotate the celestial pole by half a circle relative to the ecliptic pole, and today Draco is near the lowest point, and Orion is near the highest. MIT history professor Giorgio de Santillana and his colleague Dr. Herta von Dehechend, based on their research, concluded that the entire Angkor is a huge precession pattern. The following facts speak in its favor:

Angkor Wat depicts 108 nagas pulling a huge top in two directions (54 by 54);

On both sides of the 5 bridges leading to the gates to the Angkor Thom Temple, there are huge sculptures in parallel rows - 54 Devas and 54 Asuras. 108x5 = 540 statues x 48 = 25920;

The Bayon Temple is surrounded by 54 massive stone towers, each of which is carved with four giant faces of Lokeshvara, oriented north, south, east and west, making a total of 216 faces - (216:3=72), (216:2=108 ). 216 - 10 times less than the duration of one precessional era (2160 years); 108 is 216 divided by two;

The central sanctuary of Phnom Bakheng is surrounded by 108 turrets. The number 108, one of the most sacred in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is equal to the sum of 72 and 36 (that is, 72 plus half of 72);

A regular pentagon has an angle of 108 degrees, and the sum of its 5 angles will be 540 degrees;

The distance between the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, where the sages ruled who walked the astronomical “road of Horus,” and the sacred temples of Angkor in Cambodia, is, with slight rounding, an important geodetic value - 72 degrees of longitude. From the ancient Egyptian language, “Ankh-Hor” is literally translated as “the god Horus lives”;

There are a total of 72 major stone and brick temples and monuments in Angkor.

The length of the sections of the main roads in Angkor Wat reflects the duration of the four yugas (great world eras of Hindu philosophy and cosmology) - Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Their duration is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. And in Angkor Wat, the length of the main sections of the road is 1728, 1296, 864 and 432 hats.

They look at us from the walls of temples through millennia and... smile)))

The cosmic meaning of the number 72 and its power over humanity

Let us dwell in more detail on the sacred number - 72, because there are too many coincidences associated with it in our lives:

The number 72 is considered a sacred number in all religions.

The Khmer alphabet has 72 letters and the same number of sounds.

The ancient Indian language “Sanskrit” (the language of classical Indian literature, sacred texts, mantras and rituals of Hinduism, Jainism, and partly Buddhism) uses the Devanagari alphabet. Devanagari means “writing of the Gods” or “Urban language” and in Devanagari of classical Sanskrit there are 36 letter-phonemes (72:2=36). Devanagari uses 72 main ligatures (combinations of consonant letters represented by an independent symbol).

The most ancient runic system, the so-called “Elder Futhark” consists of 24 runes, each rune can represent a letter, syllable, word or image. Moreover, the image has priority. But one rune can hide up to three images, depending on the context (24x3=72). Moreover, all these images will be connected in one way or another. The ancient runic alphabet became the root alphabet for almost all currently existing Indo-European alphabets. Those 24 runes that are known today are the third part of the real language, because if you multiply 24 by three, you get exactly 72 runes. Because the ancients taught that the world is three-component. One of them is the earthly world of Getig, the second is the intermediate world of Ritag, and the third is upper world Menog. Here are the three forms of runes.

In the ancient Avestan language (the language of the Avesta, the holy book of Zoroastrianism) there were 72 letters to represent all possible pronunciations of sounds;

The most significant book of the Avesta is Yasna, which is a text read in the main Zoroastrian liturgy “Yasna”, contains 72 chapters;

The number 72, both in Sanskrit and in the original Avesta, found its manifestation in the 72 threads of the sacred Kushti belt, which every Zoroastrian has, as a symbolic accession to religion, or rather, as an umbilical cord connecting a person with the Lord God.

In Judaism, the number 72 is considered sacred and inextricably linked with the name of God, the forbidden name to which the universe is subject. These are 72 sequences of letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each corresponding to a specific sound, which have the amazing power to overcome the laws of nature in all forms, including human nature. According to legend, the name of God contains everything that exists, which means that anyone who can pronounce it correctly will be able to ask the Creator for everything they want.

The unpronounceable name of God is the main subject of study by medieval kabbalists. It was believed that this name contains all the forces of nature; it contains the very essence of the universe. The name of God is also depicted by the tetragrammaton - a triangle with letters inscribed in it. If you add up the numerical values ​​of the letters placed in the Tetragrammaton, you get 72.

In the legend about the Tabernacle (Temple), the ancient Jews mention 72 almond buds with which they decorated a candlestick used in a sacred rite; it is a combination of 12 and 6 (that is, half of 12) and personifies realized harmony. The mystical root of the number 72 is also the legendary nine.

The number 72 is a number mother of god. She left this world at the age of 72. It’s not for nothing that Vysotsky sings in one of his songs: “girl, 72nd, don’t leave the altar!”;

The human DNA molecule is a rotating cube. When the cube is rotated sequentially by 72 degrees according to a certain model, an icosahedron is obtained, which, in turn, forms a pair with a dodecahedron. Thus, the double strand of the DNA helix is ​​built on the principle of two-way correspondence: the icosahedron is followed by the dodecahedron, then the icosahedron again, and so on. This successive 72 degree rotation through the cube creates the DNA molecule.

The intersection points of the diagonals in the pentagon are always the points of the "golden ratio"

Three-level structure of the Angkor Wat temple

The Angkor Wat temple complex has three levels. It consists of a series of concentric, rectangular enclosed spaces, including three rectangular galleries, each rising above the next with open courtyards, interconnected by cruciform galleries. In fact, Angkor Wat is a huge three-stage pyramid.

One of the views of the Angkor Wat temple

Having climbed the stairs and passed through the first two of the three successively ascending galleries, you find yourself in the third gallery, famous for its bas-reliefs, most of which are magnificent in their execution.

One of the bas-reliefs on the wall of Angkor Wat - A scene from the life of the Khmer king

Not counting the bas-reliefs in the corner pavilions, they extend for almost 700 meters, being almost 2 meters in height, being the longest bas-reliefs in the world. Thousands of figures depict scenes from the Hindu epic Bhagavad Purana, palace and military life in the days of Suryavarman II, the founder of the Angkor Wat temple.

Ancient warriors on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat

Since the perimeter of the main entrance to Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat with water 190 meters wide, forming a square-shaped island, the temple territory can only be accessed by stone bridges on the western and eastern sides of the temple. The main entrance to Angkor Wat, from the west, is a wide sidewalk built from massive sandstone blocks. Crossing the cruciform terrace, which is a later addition to the complex, we see ahead the entrance to the western gopura with the remains of three towers.

Directly the main entrance to Angkor Wat

The gopura is now entered from the right, through the sanctum beneath the southern tower, where an eight-armed statue of Vishnu fills the entire space. This statue, which clearly has little room in this room, may have originally been located in the central sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Large statue of the ten-armed god Vishnu - Angkor Wat Temple

Once through the gopura, there is a magnificent view of the main temple towers at the end of the road. At sunrise they are surrounded by the glowing silhouette of the morning sky, and at sunset they glow orange. Continuing our way inside Angkor Wat, we see on both sides of the main road - two large, so-called “libraries” with four entrances on each side of the world. They were a kind of sanctuary, and not warehouses for manuscripts, as one might imagine from the name.

Mesmerizing view of the sunrise over Angkor Wat

Closer to the temple, on both sides of the road, there are two more reservoirs, dug later, in the 16th century. Inside the temple you will be greeted by 1800 apsaras (celestial dancers).

Along with tourists, Buddhist monks are frequent visitors to Angkor Wat

Climbing to the second level of the temple, you can see a breathtaking sight - the peaks of the central towers rising from behind the courtyard. From the entrance, to all central towers, as well as to the two internal libraries of the second level, you can walk along pedestrian bridges on short round posts.

View from the second floor of the temple

Gradually climbing the stone steps to the highest, third level of the Angkor Wat temple - the heart of the complex, huge conical towers open, located in the center and corners of the square, symbolizing the five heavenly peaks of the sacred Mount Meru - the center of the universe.

One of the four large corner towers of Angkor Wat

Highest level Angkor Wat and its galleries only highlight the perfect proportions of the famous temple towers and make the overall appearance unforgettable. The central tower, or altar, was the abode of the god Vishnu, and since Angkor Wat was originally a Vaishnava temple, and only later converted to a Buddhist one, it once contained a statue of Vishnu, perhaps the one that now stands at the entrance to the western gopura. The Khmers had ancient custom, make offerings to god in the form of gold sheets or small precious stones, which were left in the recess below the statue of the god. Unfortunately, over the centuries these offerings have been looted.

One of the buddha statues inside the temple

Today, only some of the statues of the god Vishnu or Buddha are presented in the southern part of the galleries. The large reclining Buddha is still an object of worship for local and Asian visitors.

"Buddha Sleeps" - This Buddha statue, a place of special veneration for Buddhists at Angkor Wat

The entire temple capital of Angkor and the largest temple of Angkor Wat in particular are the soul and heart of the Khmer people, the people of free Kampuchea, a symbol of the prosperity of the Khmer civilization, which has had a huge influence on the cultures of all states of Southeast Asia. The image of the Angkor Wat temple adorns the national flag of Cambodia (Kampuchea) and is its symbol.

National flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Kampuchea, Cambodia)

The era of Angkor lasted seven centuries. Many believe that the founders of the city of the gods of Angkor were descendants of a previous civilization and this is a direct legacy of the great and mysterious Atlantis. The battles of historians over the officially announced dates for the construction of the temples in Angkor and Angkor Wat are still ongoing. There is more and more evidence indicating that people settled in these places long before the heyday of Khmer culture, but in the dates many sources contradict each other, and quite significantly.

Great story Angkor continues to save our souls...

However, all the figures quite accurately reflect the peak of the heyday and greatness of the Khmer Angkorian era, in which the highest cultural achievements were achieved. The history of this period, which left us no paper manuscripts, is reconstructed with the help of inscriptions in Pali, Sanskrit and Khmer found on the monuments and sculptures of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes of Angkor. Active archaeological and historical research in Angkor continue to this day, continuing to amaze the world with new discoveries of the secrets and mysteries of the great temple of Angkor Wat.

Documentary film "Angkor Wat - A House Worthy of the Gods"

“Angkor Wat - A House Worthy of the Gods” - This is a popular science documentary film from National Geographic from the “Superstructures of Antiquity” series, dedicated to the world famous Angkor-Wat temple in Cambodia (Kampuchea). The authors of the film made an attempt to show the grandeur of the city of the gods, Angkor, and reveal the secret of the construction of the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Abandoned by people under unclear circumstances more than 500 years ago, the Cambodian city of Angkor is impressive in its scale - it is a giant stone map of the universe and one of the most remarkable creations of mankind.

Angkor temple complex – the most important attraction of Cambodia. The complex is so huge that it can rightfully be included in the list of the most majestic and grandiose buildings in Southeast Asia. Thousands of people visit the temples of Angkor every year. Angkor Wat is a place that makes it worth visiting Cambodia at least once in your life. I don’t even know what impressed us more: or the Angkor temple complex in .

Angkor Wat temple complex

To avoid confusion, it is necessary to immediately clarify that the Angkor complex is called all temples, located on a vast territory, in addition there is temple Angkor Wat, built by the ruler Suryavarman II, which can be called the pearl of Angkor or the main temple.

Angkor Wat Temple - the pearl of the Angkor temple complex

I will not describe the history of the creation of Angkor, talk about the beauty of the temples and unusual bas-reliefs, I will only share practical information that will be useful to you when planning a visit to the Angkor complex.

Before the trip, I scrupulously studied the reports of people who visited Angkor, wrote down useful information, thought about the optimal route, and then tested this route in action. Today I will share this information with you. From this article you will learn:

Where is Angkor Wat and how to get there

The Angkor temple complex is located in Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. You will find all useful information about this city in the article:

You can get to Siem Reap by plane, bus and even by boat. If you are vacationing in or on, you can buy an organized excursion to Angkor at one of the travel agencies. But it’s still better to visit the temples of Angkor on your own. About how we got to Angkor from Pattaya:

If you are vacationing in Sihanoukwel, you can get to Siem Reap by bus. If your vacation takes place in Vietnam, for example in, then the best way to get to Siem Reap is by plane from. You can, of course, take a bus, but moving from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap will take quite a lot of time: 8 hours before and the same amount to Siem Reap.

Where to live in Angkor

Of course, you cannot live in the Angkor temple complex itself :) All tourists stay in the city of Siem Reap, closest to Angkor. The question often arises, Which hotel should I choose to be closer to the temples? In fact, the location of the hotel relative to the Angkor complex is not important; in any case, the temples cannot be reached on foot. To visit Angkor, you will have to hire transport or rent bicycles (but without good physical fitness, I would not advise you to do this).

There are many hotels in the city of Siem Reap to suit every taste and budget. I can recommend a good inexpensive hotel with a swimming pool, where we stayed for almost a whole week Bou Savy Guesthouse, I talked about it in detail in photos and videos.

When is the best time to visit Angkor Wat?

1. It is better not to visit Angkor Wat during major holidays , especially during the Khmer holidays, when entry to the complex is free for local residents.

On weekends and holidays there are a lot of tourists to Angkor Wat

2. It is not very pleasant to explore the Angkor temple complex and during hot or rainy season. The hottest month in Cambodia is April; the rainy season begins in mid-May and lasts until November.

In summer, umbrellas from the rain, and at other times of the year - from the sun

3. The optimal time to visit Angkor is autumn-winter. And when you arrive in Siem Reap in November, you will still find bright tropical vegetation around and see temples hidden in the green jungle. In February, we found the Angkor complex no longer so green and nature resembled our autumn :)

Angkor landscape in February. Ta Prohm Temple

In mid-February, the morning was cloudy, and the sun appeared around lunchtime. On the one hand, in cloudy weather it is not so hot and it is more comfortable to explore the temples, but on the other hand, without the sun, all the photographs turned out gray and not bright.

Near and far temples of Angkor. Small and large circle of Angkor

The temples that are included in the standard Angkor ticket are called nearby churches, but temples that are located at a decent distance from Siem Reap are called distant temples.

Nearby temples of Angkor

Nearby temples are usually visited along two routes: small circle And Great Circle of Angkor. There are several more temples that are located on a branch of these two circles - these are the Bantaey Srei and Banteay Samre temples.

Banteay Samre Temple

What is the small and large circle of Angkor?

Small and large circles of Angkor These are two routes for visiting temples, each lasting one day. The length of the small circle is approximately 17 km. The length of the large circle is 26 km. Diagram of the location of the Angkor temples, in which the small circle is indicated by a red line, and the large circle is indicated by a green line.

Map of the location of Siem Reap and the Ankor temple complex

What temples are included in the small circle of Angkor?

• Angkor Wat
• Phnom Bakheng
• Baksei Chamkrong
• Angkor Thom: Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas and east to Victory Gate, Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King
• Chau Say Tevoda
• Thommanon
• Ta Keo
• Ta Prohm
• Banteay Kdei
• Prasat Kravan
• Several small temples

Majestic Bayonne
Bayon Temple






Ta Keo Temple - currently undergoing large-scale restoration, cranes and workers are spoiling the whole atmosphere
Jungle-covered Ta Prohm

What temples are included in the great circle of Angkor?

Big circle it also starts from the Angkor Wat temple and until the Bayon temple coincides with the small one, and then goes north to north gate Angkor Thom and temples:

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

Neak Pean Temple



Elephants at East Mebon Temple

Distant temples of Angkor

The furthest temple from Siem Reap is the pyramid temple of Koh Ker. It is located about 120 km from the city, almost near the border with Thailand. Another distant temple is Beng Melea, located about 65 km from Siem Reap on the road to Koh Ker.

Also in Angkor you can visit:

• Temples of the Roluos Group
• Phnom Kulen National Park: sacred mountain with waterfall, river of 1000 lingas and Buddhist temple
• Tonle Sap lake with floating village

Sunrises and sunsets in Angkor

Sunrises in Angkor everyone is met near the lake in the Angkor Wat temple. There are a lot of people gathering, the earlier you arrive, the greater your chances of getting the best seats.

That's how many people want to watch the sunrise on the lake in front of Angkor!
Everyone is waiting for dawn, but it’s still not there :)))

They say that sunrises in Angkor are a magnificent sight. We did not catch beautiful sunrises; on the days of our visit to Angkor, in February, there were clouds in the sky in the morning, the sun appeared from behind the clouds only in the afternoon. On the one hand, this is good - it’s not so hot to climb the temples, but on the other hand, it’s a pity that we didn’t see all the beauty of Angkor Wat in the rays of the rising sun.

This is the only sunrise we were able to see in Angkor

The second place to meet the sun is the former royal bath Spas Srang. We tried to catch the sunrise there too, but we weren’t lucky with the sun that day either :)

It's still a little dawn, but it's already about 7 am, the sun is already high

Sunset at Angkor Basically everyone meets at Phnom Bakheng. Having heard enough about the wild crowds of people there at sunset and the difficult ascent and descent, we decided not to go.

You can also try watching the sunset from the Pre Rup or Ta Keo temples or look for other pyramid temples that you can climb and be higher than the jungle around you :)

To watch the sunset you need to climb somewhere higher. For example, at the Pre Rup Temple Or on Ta Keo

I think that the sunset will be clearly visible from a hot air balloon ( important: You must book in advance for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset!).

We tried to watch the sunset near the Angkor Wat temple. That's what came out of it

Sunset near Angkor
Sunset near Angkor
Sunset near Angkor

Dawn in February was around 6 am and sunset around 6 pm. Due to cloudy weather, we did not see beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Angkor. Maybe you'll have better luck.

Cost of visiting Angkor

To visit nearby Angkor temples, you can buy tickets for 1, 3 and 7 days.

Ticket prices to nearby Angkor temples

• Ticket price for 1 day – 37 dollars
• 3-day ticket price: $62 (valid on any 3 days during the week)
• The cost of a ticket to Angkor for 7 days is $72 (valid for any 7 days within a month)

Three and seven day tickets with photo. Take photos immediately when purchasing a ticket. The ticket office for one-day and multi-day tickets is different. There is a line in the morning (especially for one-day tickets), but it moves quickly.

Line at the box office at 5:15 a.m.
Queue for 3 and 7 day tickets

Visits to the following places are paid separately at other ticket offices

• The cost of visiting the Koh Ker Temple is $10.
• Entrance fee to Beng Melia Temple: $5
• Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre – with general Angkor tickets
• Phnom Kulen – $20
• Boat on Lake Tondesap – 20 dollars per person
• Hot air balloon ride over Angkor – $20

Opening hours of the temple complex

All Ankor temples (except Ankor Wat itself) can be visited from 7:30 to 17:30. The box office opens at 5:00. People start entering Ankor Wat to watch the sunrise from 5:30.

People are no longer allowed into the temple grounds after 17:00 (except for Phnom Bakheng, where they watch the sunset). I read in reviews that even after 18:00 people are not kicked out of churches. I don’t know, maybe this is true in small, inconspicuous temples, but they started kicking us out of the Angkor Wat temple almost immediately after 17:30. And by 18:00 they kicked us out very persistently. I don’t understand why they won’t allow people to stay in the temples until sunset?

You can go to the main temple of Angkor Wat (to the top) from 7:40 to 17:00.

Visiting hours for all temples except Ankor Wat itself are from 7:30 to 17:30
Main tower of Angkor Wat

Cost of renting a vehicle in Angkor

Travel between the temples of Angkor by taxi, tuk-tuk, bicycle or motorbike. Yes, ride a bike into the area of ​​​​the nearby temples of Angkor now allowed!

In principle, with good physical fitness, you can go around a small circle on a bicycle. But keep in mind that it is very hot in Angkor from 9 am, so you need to leave before dawn, around 5 am. Bicycles can be rented at any hotel. Cost from 2 dollars per day.

The main transport around Angkor is here and there, which can accommodate up to 4 people. By tuk-tuk you can explore almost all the temples of the complex, except for the distant Koh Ker temple and Phnom Kulen National Park (there a tuk-tuk simply cannot go up the mountain). It is also better to go to Beng Melia by car, but some people also go by tuk-tuk.

You can rent a tuk-tuk either at your hotel or on the street. Don’t worry, there are so many tuk-tuks in Siem Reap that you will definitely not be left without transport :)

Our tuk-tuker :)

Cost of a tuk-tuk in Angkor

• Small Circle of Angkor – 10-12 dollars
• Great Circle of Angkor - $15-18
• Additional for sunset or sunrise (early departure) – 5 dollars
• Additionally for the Bantaey Srei and Banteay Samre temples – 5-10 dollars
• Beng Melia - they told us the cost was 35 dollars, I read on Vinsky that people went there by tuk-tuk for 20 dollars

For a small circle of Angkor + sunrise (departure at 5 am from the hotel and return back to the hotel at 16:00) we paid 15 dollars.

For the big circle + Banteay Samre + early departure (we left at 5:30, were in the center of Siem Reap at 14:30) we paid 20 dollars.

We paid 7 dollars to go to the hot air balloon, then to the Angkor Wat temple and then take us to the street of bars (from 15:30 to 19:00).

Cost of a car with driver in Angkor

• Small Circle of Angkor – 25 – 30 dollars
• Great Circle of Angkor – 25 – 35 dollars
• Beng Melia and Koh Ker – 80 – 100 dollars
• Beng Melia – 35-40 dollars
• Phnom Kulen – $40
• Phnom Kulen + Banteay Srei + Banteay Samre – $50

Prices are approximate, the cost of tuk-tuks and cars with a driver increases every year. But you can bargain; it is often more convenient to hire a driver “in bulk” for 3-4 days at once, discuss the route and bargain for the price.

Another option for moving between temples is to take an organized excursion at any of the tour agencies in the city. But even if you come to Siem Rim alone, it is still more profitable to hire a tuk-tuk and explore the temples at your own pace.

For example, a tour of Angkor with a visit to four temples: Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Bayon will cost $11 per person for half a day and $13 for a whole day, with an additional entrance fee.

But it is more profitable to go on a tour to the distant temples of Koh Ker and Beng Melia if you are traveling alone. The tour will cost 45 dollars. The price includes entrance fees to these two temples. An independent trip there will cost at least $10+$5+$80 = $95.

Prices for organized tours to the temples of Angkor and other nearby attractions
Prices for organized tours to the temples of Angkor and other nearby attractions

Important: when you negotiate with tuk-tuk and car drivers clearly state your action plan: What time do you leave the hotel, what temples do you visit, do you stop at a cafe for lunch, do you return to the hotel for breakfast after dawn, etc. and so on. Khmers are generally lazy people, so if you don’t clearly indicate which temples you want to see, they will take you to 2-3 temples and say that’s all, it’s time to go home.

But sometimes tuk-tukers are smart and can tell you in what order it is best to explore the temples, what is worth visiting, and what, given limited time, can be skipped. It’s good when a tuk-tuk drives up to one entrance to the temple and waits for you from the opposite entrance. This is especially true for long temples, so that after inspection, you don’t have to go back in the heat.

Remember what your tuk-tuk looks like, sometimes it is not very easy to find your driver and vehicle in a crowd. The right tuk-tuker will look for you and meet you at the exit of their temple, but he will only receive payment for his work after returning you to the hotel :)

Guides in Angkor

Do you need a guide in Angkor? If finances allow, then I would advise taking a guide to Angkor. We toured the complex ourselves, but beforehand I read a lot on the Internet about the temples and we had an audio guide to some of the temples. But all the same, I think that we missed a lot and many questions remained unclear for us.

A good guide will tell you everything, show you where to take an interesting shot, and take a photo of you against the backdrop of the temples.

I believe that a guide is needed in Angkor (especially if you come on a long-awaited vacation, and not since we are traveling on a budget in Asia). But need a good guide. Bad things won't do any good. But I can’t tell you how to choose a good guide 🙁 Previously, on Vinsk, people shared the coordinates of guides, but the guides became impudent and raised their prices, so this shop was closed. The guide Virak was once praised. I don’t know if he’s working in Angkor now, or maybe he’s already gotten so rich from Russian tourists that he lives happily ever after :)

I would take a guide to the main temples for one day. And then she would have walked on her own.

Approximate prices for a guide in Angkor

• English speaking guides – $25 – $35 per day
• Russian-speaking guides – $40-60 per day

You can order a guide or transport in advance, contact us and discuss all your questions.

The Angkor temple complex is huge, do not think that you will be able to see all the temples in a few days. Yes, this is not necessary, by the end of the second day all the temples I saw merged in my head into one big stone :)

Somewhere in the temples of Angkor. On the second day, all the temples in my head merged into one big stone :)

Look at photos of temples before your trip and decide for yourself which ones you definitely want to see. The most popular temples are:

They are always crowded and you have to try hard to walk through these temples without crowds of tourists!

In addition to the main temples, I also really liked:

In small churches, crowds of people appear in influxes: they brought a group of organized tourists - noise, hubbub, inability to take proper photographs, and after 10-15 minutes the crowd subsided and you wander alone again. This is the beauty of an individual visit to the Angkor temple complex.

Determine for yourself what you want: explore as many temples as possible or simply enjoy the walk and the atmosphere of ancient Angkor.

We explored the temples of Angkor without haste: it’s better to see less, but enjoy the walk and feel the atmosphere ancient city

If you come to Angkor for 3 days and don’t want to bother planning a route, then the easiest way is to follow the standard route.

Angkor itinerary for 3 days

1 day. Small circle (+ sunrise or sunset)

Day 2. Big circle + optional Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre

Day 3. Distant temples of Koh Ker and Beng Melia

Exist different opinions, how best to move around a small and large circle: clockwise or counterclockwise, so as to avoid interfering with crowds of tourists. We drove clockwise.

Angkor itinerary for 2 days

If you come for only 2 days, then on the first day it is quite possible to explore the main temples from the small and large circles (it is better, of course, to travel by car: it will be faster and you will rest under air conditioning while traveling), and on the second day - distant temples.

If you want to visit Phnom Kulen, you can combine it with Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre temples. When visiting Phnom Kulen, you should take into account that on the way to Mt. reverse movement. Until 13:00 all transport goes up, and after 13:00 - back down. Those. You can’t come to Phnom Kulen after lunch!

When is the best time to go to visit temples?

I believe that to explore the temples of Angkor you need to leave the hotel as soon as possible. As much as I like to sleep and getting up at 5-6 in the morning is a huge stress for me, but I advise you to move yourself and leave to explore Angkor as early as possible.

Why? Firstly, in order to have time to see at least one of the main temples before groups of organized tourists arrive to it, and secondly, after 10 am it becomes so hot that visiting the temples becomes very difficult.

This is the crowd at Bayon Temple already at 8 am

How to plan your day in Angkor?

There are different ways to plan your day in Angkor :)

Option 1. Having left early in the morning at dawn and having examined several temples, return to the hotel around 9 o'clock, have breakfast, sleep, swim in the pool, and then after lunch go further to explore.

Option 2. Leave the hotel after an early breakfast at 7-8 in the morning, return to the hotel at 12-13 for lunch and rest, and continue visiting the temples at 15:00.

Option 3. Everything is the same as in option 2, but have lunch somewhere on the territory of the temple complex and rest a little (maybe even sleep in the car or in a tuk-tuk), and not return to the hotel.

Option 4. Leave the hotel early in the morning, take with you a packed lunch and a thermos of coffee. Visit several temples, and then at 9 o’clock have breakfast somewhere on the ruins overlooking Angkor. Explore the temples before lunch, and after lunch return to the hotel to rest. This is exactly the option we acted on :)

We ordered breakfast to go at the hotel, brewed coffee in a thermos and had a great breakfast right in the ancient temple :)

Important: If you plan to return to the hotel for breakfast, for an afternoon rest, or into the city for lunch, agree on this option with the driver in advance. Most likely, you will have to pay some extra amount.

As I mentioned above, the most popular temples are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. Angkor Wat, it seems to me, is generally not really possible to explore without a crowd of people, but you can arrive at Bayon and Ta Prohm early in the morning and have time to walk around them almost completely alone.

You won't be able to see Angkor Wat without a crowd of people.

So we did this:

1 day:

• Dawn near Angkor Wat
• When the whole crowd ran to see Angkor Wat after dawn, we went to Bayon
• From Bayon we walked to the temples of Bapuon and Pimeanakas, where we had breakfast
• We examined the terrace of the Elephants and the Leper King and drove further along the small circle of Angkor
• We visited the temples of the small circle (except Ta Prohm) and returned to Angkor Wat
• We walked for two hours in the heat at Angkor Wat

In principle, I liked the route, but walking after 11 days was already hard and hot, so my impressions of the Angkor Wat temple remained blurry. Perhaps, before Angkor Wat, we had to return to the hotel to rest, and by 4 pm we should have moved back to inspect it. But I knew that if I returned to the hotel, I wouldn’t want to go to any other temples that day. Still, it’s very difficult to see temples because you’re not used to it, and even in the heat :) A few photos from the first day:

Day 2:

• Dawn near Srah Srang
• Handsome Ta Prom
• And further along the big circle with a stop at Banteay Samra
• We ended the day with the Hindu temple Prasat Kravan

With this plan, we were able to explore Ta Prohm without too many crowds, but we could still go straight to it instead of waiting for the sunrise near Spas Srang, the sky was still in the clouds that day. Some photos from the second day:

I don’t remember where :)

Day 3:

After lunch we went up in a hot air balloon and walked around the Angkor Wat temple for about two hours before sunset. A few photos from day three:

Hot air balloon over Angkor


Bas-reliefs in the Angkor Wat temple

All the most large and popular temples are located in a small circle. Therefore, it may be worth visiting the temples of the large circle on the first day, and leaving the temples of the small circle for the second day - for a snack :)

Despite the fact that the small circle is called small, you will have to walk in it and examine it more than in a big circle. In a large circle, it takes more time to travel by transport between temples, during which you can rest. In general, the small circle of Angkor is more difficult to visit than the large circle.

Angkor Wat Temple is best visited during afternoon, before lunch the sun shines directly into the lens.

Try to visit Ta Prohm and Bayon as soon as possible earlier in the morning or in the evening before sunset.

Take water with you. I'm very thirsty! Our first tuk-tuk driver supplied us with water, but the second tuk-tuk did not give us water. You can also buy water and fruits near the temples, but the price will be high.

Riding a tuk-tuk in the winter morning Cold, you need to wear a blouse. But walking during the day is very hot.

Dress up comfortable shoes, especially if you plan to climb the stairs to the top of the temples. It is better to choose closed shoes, there is a lot of dust and sand, your feet instantly become dirty.

And yes, be prepared to climb a lot of steps. The next day my legs just fell off :)

Be be careful when going up and down the stairs of temples. There have been fatal accidents at Angkor. Now in most churches the old staircases have been closed and the rises have been equipped with new staircases with railings. But not everywhere! Be especially careful when climbing to Ta Keo!

New staircase at Baphuon Temple

Take wet wipes with you to wipe your hands. On the descents and ascents you have to hold onto the steps with your hands, and they are all covered in red dust.

It is most convenient to climb temples in shorts or trousers, although I have met many girls in long skirts. IN short skirts it will definitely not be comfortable :)

Do not wear white and black clothes - you will have to sit on the stones: on white, all the dirt is immediately visible, and on black, dust.

You can walk around the Angkor temple complex in any clothes, but you are not allowed into the main temple of Angkor Wat in shorts and a T-shirt! A scarf on your shoulders will not save the situation, and there is nowhere to rent clothes.

If possible, set aside five days for Siem Reap and Angkor to see everything leisurely and take breaks between days in the temples. We were in Siem Reap for 6 full days, but we only allocated half of them to the temples. If you are not a historian or a super lover of antiquities, then after some time all these temples will simply get mixed up in your head and you won’t really remember which of them you were in and what you saw.

Behave yourself properly. Just like in the photo below - no need to do it!

Don't mark yourself on the ancient stones of Angkor!
Rare photo together

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The small kingdom of Cambodia is located, its interesting places never cease to amaze. Everything that may be of interest to tourists is located in southeast Asia. Founded in the first century AD, the state of Funan was built. At the beginning of the seventh century, it began to be called Cambodia or "Kampuchea" - the country of the Khmers, who made up the majority of the inhabitants. They professed mainly Hinduism and Buddhism. The state of Cambodia achieved independence only in 1953, having gone through a difficult path of political restructuring.

Today, Cambodia remains a kingdom and preserves the cultural traditions of its ancestors. The culture of this state is in great demand among tourists. Cambodia is becoming a favorite tourist destination due to its beautiful nature and architecture. Cambodia Angkor Wat is one of the interesting attractions of the town.

Angkor Wat Temple

You can get to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, in several ways, for example, by car or minibus. There are several excursions lasting several days. The temple complex is located in Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. You can get to this city by any transport, bus, plane and even by boat. If you decide to take a tour or take part in a tour, they are regularly held at Angkor Wat.

Let us draw your attention to the fact that the Angkor complex refers to all the temples located on a huge site; in addition, there is also the Angkor Wat temple, it was erected by the ruler Suryavarman II. This temple is considered the main one and is called the pearl of Angkor.

From Bangkok

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Traveling from Bangkok to Siem Reap or Siem Reap (the name is pronounced in two ways) involves several steps:

• you need to get to the border (to the town of Aranyaprathet);
• You won’t be able to cross the border without a Cambodian visa, so you should worry about its availability in advance;
• get from the border (Poipet town) to Siem Reap.

Tours from Bangkok to Angkor Wat are available both individual and group.

Where to stay in Angkor

So, we have already found out where Angkor is. The closest city to the complex is Siem Reap. There you can stay at any hotel you like, because you still have to use transport to get there. There are a large number of hotels in the city; any vacationer, if necessary, can choose a suitable hotel for themselves. It is possible to rent a bicycle (but, again, it will be difficult to get to the right place) or take a bus.

A little history

Angkor Wat, whose history is quite interesting, was founded around the 10th-12th centuries. At that time, Angkor was one of the largest cities on the planet. The temples from that time became famous even far from the Khmer Empire.

In 1431, Siamese troops almost completely defeated and plundered the city, after which all residents had to leave their homes and go in search of new ones. Since that time, Angkor and more than 100 palaces and temples that remained intact were hidden under the arches of tropical forests. Until, at the end of the 19th century, the French naturalist Anne Muot introduced sufficient quantity works that were created and painted in honor of Angkoru.

It became known that even Rudyard Kipling published his “Jungle Book” about Mowgli only after he had the good fortune of becoming a visitor to the beautiful Angkor. In 1992, the temple complex was taken under the supervision of trustees from UNESCO.

Angkor Temples

The temples included in the regular Angkor ticket are referred to by guides as near temples, and those located a little further from Siem Reap are called distant ones. The nearby temples are part of several routes designed as a tour taking place in the town square: the small circle and the large circle of Angkor. The Batni Shri and Batni Samri temples are also included in the complex, but are located a short distance from the excursion route.

Visits to the small and large circles of Angkor are designed for several separate days, as they take a very long time. large area. One small circle is about 17 km. The mileage of the big circle is 26 km.

Eat specific scheme, where you can find the desired temple. The red line indicates that you are traveling in a small circle, the green line indicates that you are traveling in a large circle. . You can choose excursions to Angkor Wat according to the route that interests you.

Detailed historical excursion, which will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!

The religious building of Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple. It is considered one of the most magnificent “pearls” of Angkor, the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.

Angkor Wat: history

More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesha) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands by bloody wars.

The empire reached its peak a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was built in honor. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, craftsmen were searched throughout Asia.

The main material used was sandstone, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. No mortar was used during installation.

In those distant times, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.

The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated; at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. There was a catastrophic shortage of water, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218), several uprisings occurred, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.

Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into disrepair. People left the city forever. Only monks remained to live in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the structures became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.

Planning a trip? That way!

We have prepared some useful gifts for you. They will help you save money while preparing for your trip.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach any importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. With his second birth ( late XIX century) ancient Angkor owes its origins to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of explorers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and traders rushed to Angkor.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the capital's former splendor. The sandstone from which the buildings were built has eroded over time due to exposure to wind, sun and water. Majority wooden buildings was burned by vandals during periods of hostilities. Tree roots and branches grew through the walls of buildings in many places.

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings in the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After graduation civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been protected by UNESCO.

Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Structure and architecture of Angkor Wat

The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat measures 1.3 km from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. By appearance somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected on all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. Central gate and front side the buildings are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the eastern side of Angkor Wat, but it is less noticeable and can be found by using the services of a guide.

You have to walk around the entire temple territory; transport is prohibited here.

Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any direction, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are connected by staircases, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. Thus formed inner space divided into numerous, square-shaped courtyards.

The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. Ceilings decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of strange animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.

The first tier is the largest and consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “subjects” are the battles of the gods, the period of the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. External wall made in the form of a double row of columns.

At the end of each gallery there are corner pavilions. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. At one time these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn away and are barely noticeable.

The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier using transitions. Between them are four patio, which during the rainy season are filled with water and serve as swimming pools. The interior walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns, through which the courtyard-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.

At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language. On both sides of the second tier there are libraries, each of which has four entrances.