Siem Reap

Angkor Wat (world heritage temple)

+ Constructed: Early – Mid 12th century C.E.
+ Religion: Hinduism
+ King/Patron: Suryavarman II
+Style: Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple was built by king Suryavarman II in the early-mid twelfth century. it is a massive three tiered pyramid crowned by 5 lotus like towers rising 65 m from ground level. Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple and in the form of massive “temple-mountain” dedicated to Hindu god,Vishnu.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres long with three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next, it is designed to represent Mount Meru where is the home of devas (god) in Hindu. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture. The extensive bas-reliefs and the numerous guardian spirits adorning its walls serve as evidence of the strong Khmer religious beliefs.

Bayon 

+Constructed: Late 12th century C.E.
+Religion: Buddhist
+King/Patron: Jayavarman VII
+Style: Bayon

Bayon was the king Jayavarman VII’s state temple and a richly decorated Khmer temple built in the late twelfth century or early thirteenth century. There are 54 standing towers represented the 54 Khmer  provinces in the reign of king Jayavarman VII was called the Greatest Khmer Empire. Bayon was the last state temple to be built at Angkor, and the only Angkorian state temple to be built primarily as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Buddha. After king Jayavarman’s death, it was modified by later Hindu kings in accordance to their religious preferences.
The Bayon’s most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers that jut from the upper terrace and cluster around its center peak. The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces are representations of the king Jayavarman VII. Others believe that the faces belong to Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
The temple is also popular for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. This is one of the many ‘must visit’ temples.

Ta Prohm

+Constructed: Mid 12th - Early 13th century C.E.
+Religion: Buddhist
+King/Patron: Jayavarman VII
+Style: Bayon

Ta Prohm is a Bayon style temple was built in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. by King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and dedicated to his mother. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm is surrounded by the jungle and the trees grow from the towers that has made it the one of Angkor’s most popular temples for visitors.

Banteay Srey

 

+Constructed: Late 10th century C.E. 

+Religion: Hindu (Shiva)
+King/Patron: Rajendravarman
+Style: Banteay Srey

Banteay Srey loosely translate to ‘citadel of the women’ but probably refers to the beauty of carving. it was built by Brahmin counselor named Yajnavaraha under a powerful king Rajendravarman and later under king Jayavarman V. The walls are densely covered with some of the most beautiful, deep and intricate carvings of any Angkorian temple. The temple relative small size, pink sandstone construction and ornate design give it a fairyland ambiance.

Kulen Mountain

+Constructed:9th century C.E.
+Religion:Hindu
+King/Patron:Jayavarman II
+Style:Kulen

This is where the 500 year long ‘Age of Angkor’ began. The Kulen Mountain or Phnom Kulen is the mountain on which king Jayavarman II initiated the royal ‘god of the king’ linga cult in 802 AD and declared a unified and independent Khmer Empire under a single ruler and beginning what would later become known as the Angkor Period. It is located in Svay Leu District, 48km from Siem Reap. Its highest point is 487 m.
During the constructional period of the ancient temples in the ninth century, sand stones were brought from this sacred mountain to Angkor.

The site is known for its carvings representing fertility and its waters hold special significance to the people of Cambodia. Just a few inches under the surface of the water, over 1000 carvings of Yoni and Linga are etched into the sandstone riverbed. The waters are regarded as holy, given the sacred carvings which also include a stone representation of the Hindu god Vishnu lying on his serpent Ananta, with his wife Lakshmi at his feet. A lotus flower protrudes from Vishnu’s navel bearing the god Brahma. The river then ends with a beautiful waterfall. Phnom Kulen is regarded highly by Cambodian people as a sacred location and has developed into a great tour destination.

FloatingVillage

A floating village is an amazing place to see how humans are able to modify themselves to live in this lovely planet. At floating village, you come across nearly 200-300 houses built on wooden platform and some on old boats, tied up at the bottom of the lake. The villagers had created their own employment opportunities by means of showing how they live in their amazing floating houses. Every day hundreds of boats carry thousands of tourists to show their floating village. Tourist can see their houses closely as well they can see
daily livings in their village depending upon what time of their visit. The village has its own floating school, visiting clinic, visiting shop, restaurant, club. The village is completely self-contained, with a school, church, basketball court, and alligator farm. 

Kampong Phluk

Kampong Phluk is a cluster of three villages of stilted houses built within the floodplain of the Tonle Sap about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. During the dry season when the lake is low, the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6-meter stilts exposed by the lack of water. At this time of year many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary stilted houses. In the wet season when water level rises again, the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water. Kampong Phluk's economy is, as one might expect, based in fishing, primary in shrimp harvesting.