Angkor Wat temple complex is one of the wonders of the world and is also a very famous tourist destination of Cambodia. Before the Covid-19 epidemic, this place every year attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world to visit and explore.
General introduction about Angkor Wat Temple complex
Located about 6 km north of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat – One of temple in Top 10 Famous Temples in the world, temple complex was built by King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century. The area of the whole complex extends over 248 square miles (400 km2), running around the temple is a deep and wide moat. With the original design built to worship Hinduism, but later due to the introduction and strong development of Buddhism, Angkor Wat Wat converted to Buddhist worship.
The Angkor Wat temple complex was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization in 1992.
The Angkor Wat temple complex has more than 1,000 temples of different sizes and shapes with Khmer architectural style. The famous temples are Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, Bayon temple with numerous sculptural decorations.
Angkor Wat complex is influenced by ancient Khmer art with a unique architecture, highlighting Khmer artistic values. The entire architectural complex stands out and features ancient sculpture. The towers, temples, reliefs and immense corridors are all made of boulders, stacked on top of each other to look very natural, even on the roof of the dome. Decorative stone motifs such as statues of Buddha, dancers, warriors and lotus images illustrating the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are very vivid and soft.
The temple architecture is modeled after the great Mount Meru of India, the 65m highest central tower represents the legendary Mount Meru, the five surrounding spiers correspond to the five peaks. The entire structure is built of sandstone and honeycomb. All those big blocks of stone were stacked on top of each other without any binders or reinforced concrete at all.
Another extremely important element of Angkor Wat is the irrigation system built over many dynasties. The area’s irrigation system relies on large reservoirs. These reservoirs not only help people in the area, but also help develop the economic infrastructure of the capital Angkor Wat.
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Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is the temple with the most monumental architecture in the entire complex, with the main entrance facing the West direction directly towards the setting sun. Angkor Wat Temple has 398 rooms, connected by 1,500m of corridors. Above, 5 towers are connected with 3 architectural floors, in which the tallest tower is up to 65m, 4 sub-towers are 40m high. The road leading to the main gate of Angkor Wat is also made of boulders 230m long, nearly 10m wide and 5m high above the lake on both sides of the temple.
The entire temple complex still retains ancient traces with many images of stone carving art such as giant reliefs, columns, doors, ceilings, walls, corridors, railings, roofs… extraordinary strength and skillful hands of the ancient Khmer.
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom is the mighty capital of the ancient Khmer. Angkor Thom owns outstanding temples and architecture such as the Bayon temple, Baphuon temple, Phnom Bakheng temple at the top of the hill, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and 5 large gates leading to Angkor Wat Thom.
In which Bayon Temple gives visitors the most impressive feeling, they are completely conquered by its exemplary and lively beauty. The temple is made up of 50 stone spiers. Its core is an architectural complex built in a terraced style with 16 medium-sized stupas and many interconnected small stupas.
Little Circuit
Little Circuit – this area has the most famous temple, the “old” temple of Ta Prohm, where the creation of nature blends with the works of man. The branches and roots of ancient trees grow intermingled, covering the temple, creating a quaint sight, attracting tourists to Cambodia.
Big Circuit
Big Circuit- this area also has a construction of Preah Khan temple similar to Ta Prohm temple: Stone walls interspersed with old tree stumps. In addition, in Big Circuit, there is also an ideal place to watch the sunset, which is Pre Rup temple, this is also a memorable experience that you should try when you arrive at Angkor Wat.
The Roluos group
The Rolous group is a complex of unique ruins belonging to the ancient city of Hariharalaya, older than Angkor Wat, in which Bakong temple with pyramid architecture is the most prominent.
Peripheral temples
Peripheral temples – this area is quite far from the center of the Angkor Wat temple complex but has the most unique and different works. Banteay Srei Temple was built primarily of red sandstone, a tint added to the intricately decorated wall sculptures that are still visible today.
The Angkor Wat temple complex is always a famous spiritual tourist destination in the world. Not only unique in architecture, the religious meanings that Angkor Wat brings are always appreciated in any period.