To visit the archaeological complex of Angkor, I flew to Cambodia, to Siem Reap, where Angkor Wat and other ancient temples are located. From the capital of Malaysia, where I spent three days after 4 months independent travel in India, got on a morning flight, and despite a sleepless night spent at the airport, set foot on the land of Cambodia in a great mood. Well, finally, I will see the ancient temple sights in this completely unfamiliar country. The weather was wonderful.

Arrival in Siem Reap

The city of Siem Reap, also known as Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Simrep and there are still options, depending on the translation and pronunciation, is a small, but one of the most visited by tourists city in Asia. The airport in Siem Reap is small and quiet. You get a visa upon arrival, it is advisable to have a small photo with you, but this was in 2012, maybe something has changed since then. I changed 30 dollars so that I had something to pay for transport to the city, and that was enough for the first expenses. It turned out that there were no scheduled buses from the airport, and the cheapest one left was only a motorbike taxi, i.e. motorcycle with driver.

Advice- it was better not to change dollars, especially at the airport, where the exchange rate is much lower. In Cambodia, everyone is happy to accept dollars, it is even more profitable to pay with American currency.
While I was digging through my backpack, there were no more people left. Then an employee of the transport desk asks me: “What are you going to take, a taxi?” - He arranged a taxi for a nearby Chinese and probably thought that I would want to go there too.
- “No, I'm on something cheaper. I’ll ride a motorcycle, ”I answered, raising my head, while continuing to squat and rummage through my backpack. He was surprised, because all the motorcyclists, as well as the passengers who could hire them, had already left. Then this Chinese man offered me to go with him.

- "Do I need to divide the price by two?"
"No, don't worry," he replied with a smile. “Oh, great, then I’ll go,” I was delighted.

We got into a very decent car and drove into the city. We met along the way. I had a hard time understanding his accent. He asked me which hotel to take me to. Haha - I already forgot that I once stayed in hotels, and now I travel on my own and cheaply, so I don’t book anything, but just find food and find it on the spot. Said to stop at tourist place near an inexpensive guesthouse, no more than 10 dollars per room.
The Chinese was a little stunned, because he booked for $ 60, but I explained that I was traveling myself and had already visited India and drove it myself from north to south. He was surprised 🙂
We arrived in the city. He said that he would just check into the hotel and go to see the temples. Literally 5 minutes later he returned to the car, the driver turned the corner and showed me the guesthouse. They said they would wait for me in the car. I bargained for a room for $8, took a quick shower, changed into my yellow skirt, and ran back out.

We immediately went to see Top attractions in Cambodia.

Angkor temple complex

located in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The archaeological complex of Angkor, a UNESCO heritage site, includes several temples with ruins preserved from the time of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The complex of structures that displays the sky on earth and includes many temples, the main ones are the temple of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm (1186), Banteay Kidei (which is considered the earliest of the temples), Neak Pean, Ta -Som, Sra Srang, Pra Khan (1191), Bayon Temple, completed 1219

A ticket to visit the complex of ancient temples cost $20 for one day or $40 for 2-3 days. A ticket for 7 days costs $60. They take a photo so that no one else passes on this ticket and clearly monitor this.

Opening hours: The visit is open from 5:00 am to 6:00 pm. Angkor Wat closes at 6:00 AM, Banteay Srei closes at 5:00 PM, Kbalspean at 3:00 PM. Always carry your ticket with you, it is checked at every entrance. To visit Phnom Kulen, Koh Ker or Beng Melea, you need to buy a separate ticket for $ 20, $ 10 and $ 5, respectively, this one is not needed there.

Angkor Map

This map shows that the temple of Angkor Wat, which is on everyone's lips, is just part of a large complex of Angkor attractions, where everyone ancient temple interesting in its own way.

Looking ahead, I’ll say right away that having a car, you can see the main three temples in one day, so I was incredibly lucky to meet this kind Chinese. In general, there are a lot of temples and they are scattered over a vast territory, some are located 30 km from the city and even further.

angkor wat temple

It is located about 5 km from the city of Siem Reap. angkor wat- This is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, is the most important and visited in Cambodia. Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150). After the capital of the state moved to in 1432, Buddhist monks supported the care of the temple. Abandoned in the 15th century, it was rediscovered for Europeans in 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muo, who discovered it on January 22, although the Frenchman was not the only one who visited there, but managed to convey his impressions to society.

The temple occupies approximately 2 sq. km., includes a moat 190 meters wide, a courtyard surrounded by stone walls, where, as if on a platform, there are three concentric structures - terraces, each has a gallery around the perimeter, through the entrances through which you can get inside the temple. The main entrance to the territory is located on the western side. The temple has five towers, all five of which can be seen from certain angles. And usually only three towers appear before the eyes. The highest one is the central one, it has a height of 213 meters from the ground. In order not to bore you with long stories and architectural details, which, in case of close interest, you can read on the official website in English, let's already see a photo of Angkor Wat, and how it is there. Everything was hazy in the morning.

We drove up to the place from where we still had to go and go to the temple. I really liked the snake-like sculptures that seemed mysterious and unusual. And the temple itself is surrounded by a moat 190m wide, filled with water.

The structure and appearance of the temple was supposed to symbolize the mythical sacred mountain Meru, repeating its outlines, respectively, the towers of the temple are its top, the walls are rocks, and the moat is the ocean surrounding the center of the universe!

First we went through the inner galleries, where on the walls there are many beautiful drawings engraved on stone - epics from the Ramayana and images that look like lace

Having reached the center, we saw a queue to go upstairs. I had to stand, the people had already gathered, although it was still about 10 am. True, the queue moved quickly - they launched in batches.

For 2 people, the passage was closed in front of us after the launch of the next group. Here the worker informs me that I have a blouse that is not suitable for the temple, that I need it with sleeves, at least with short ones. I looked back at the tourists standing behind, they were already offering scarves and scarves from the queue, but the worker said that all this was no good, that a sweater or jacket was needed. I started to worry a little, to put it mildly, because I’m already going in soon. Here a guy of about 15 years old, also a Chinese, who was standing with his mother, after us took off, as they say, his last shirt, or rather, some kind of jacket and gave it to me. He just said he'd wait outside. I was amazed by the tourist solidarity of part of the queue and, all the more so, by the friendly gesture of another Chinese. Therefore, in the photo I am in this jacket, which does not fit into the style of my clothes, but helped me out a lot at the right time. There is something to remember again.
The ascent takes approximately 700 steps and opens from there good view. Even balloons were visible in the distance.

We saw this inside, apparently a trace of the care of Buddhist monks about the temple during periods of its oblivion.

And now there's a steep descent

It happens that at the most inopportune moment my camera is completely discharged, but fortunately, my companion helped me out and let me take pictures of his brand new, just released Samsung Note. So the rest of the photos of the temple of Angkor and others I have thanks to my friend and his then new phone.

bayon temple

Another very interesting temple is Bayon, which is also part of the Angkor complex. This temple is no longer Hindu, like the previous one, but Buddhist. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, who made Buddhism the state religion in Cambodia. The three-level temple is surrounded by three rows of walls and has many huge stone images. The temple was built without the use of cement mortar, connecting the stones. Liked it very much.

The temple also served as a tomb for emperors and noble people.

Ta Prohm Temple

Toward evening we went to the most unusual and fabulous Ta Prohm temple, which is also part of the Angkor archaeological complex. I really liked it. In this temple, the trees and the stone walls of the temple are so intertwined that it is no longer clear who is supporting whom. Remove the tree - the walls will collapse, remove the stones - the tree will die. Here is such a symbiosis.

I was most impressed by these giant tree roots, so I even forgot to take enough photos. They say that a movie starring Angelina Jolie was filmed here, it seems to be called Lara Croft.

So we managed to see three temples in one day, having a car - a taxi.

Traditional national dish of Cambodia

Between visits, I was invited to a good restaurant for lunch, where they served national soup in coconut Amok amok- a soup is prepared based on coconut milk, with the addition of curry, meat or seafood and some vegetables - very tasty. I trembled with pleasure. I think Amok soup is the most popular dish among tourists. I recommend to try. I ate seafood. There are white tablecloths and cutlery on the tables, as expected and of course good service. The restaurant is located near the temples.

That's lucky for me!

This was not the end of a series of unexpected surprises prepared for me, probably by God, who sent me this Chinese. After lunch, we drove around the city - my new friend decided to change plane tickets, considered that he managed to see the main sights in one day, and they brought me to a jewelry store on the way so that it wouldn’t be boring ... they picked me up on the way back.

In the evening we met again to walk around the city and try the local cuisine - it turned out to be very tasty, at least after 4 months of Indian terrible and spicy food, I liked it. And they went home. He gave me two coupons for breakfast at his hotel, which was next to my guesthouse.
So the next morning I had breakfast at the Hotel. Like a real white man. I did not get tired of thanking God for this gift, sitting at a table covered with a white tablecloth and drinking coffee from normal dishes. There was a small pool outside the window, water murmured and birds sang - it was some kind of Paradise after 4 months of traveling through dirty India. (you have already read my adventures in India - you understand me)

Returning after breakfast, I met a Chinese friend of mine in the lobby. He was with things and was about to leave. I thanked him for giving me breakfast. He asked me to wait until he checked out of the hotel. I moved to the other end of the foyer so as not to interfere.

- "Do you have your passport with you?" he shouted, turning around. -"Certainly!" I answered in surprise. - “Come on,” he asked and ... Rewrote the number to me, because he had paid for 2 days, and he changed the ticket and flew away earlier. Here is a gift of fate! I could not contain my joy and was all glowing with happiness and an unexpected surprise. We said goodbye and I ran for things. So I spent another night and two days in this kind and surprising city in relation to me. Enjoying the delights of hotel life and, oh happiness! Swimming pool - it was a real salvation in the terrible heat.

Happy and satisfied, I went for a walk around the city. It is better to do this in the morning, otherwise the terrible heat begins.

I liked this little park with beautiful gates, sculptures and a tower inside.

I really like this sculpture of a snake with several heads, which is pulled by many sitting people - also sculptures. The head of such a snake monument is beautifully decorated, like a crown. Such sculptures can often be found in Siem Reap at the temples. At Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, I took photos of such snakes, but they turned out badly.

In general, I walked around the city all day, went to the supermarket - then everything was produced in neighboring countries.

Bought a ticket for night bus for $ 19 to go to the capital of Cambodia, and from there to Vietnam, which you can read about in the next article about.

When you look at Angkor Wat, its openwork towers and walls depicting mythical animals and dancing celestials, you begin to understand why the locals are convinced that this temple was built by the gods as a sign of friendship between a god and a human prince.

One day, the god Indra, who lived on Mount Meru, invited Prince Preah Ket Mealea to visit (the name of the young man translates as Divine Radiance, which was given to him because he was surprisingly good-looking and at the same time possessed many talents). To say that the prince liked the heavenly halls is to say nothing. And the palace, on the walls of which mythical animals were depicted, with lotus-shaped towers and golden peaks, simply conquered him.

Preah Ket Mealea and Indre became friends, and the young man lived for a long time in the god's house. And he would hardly have left him if the tevoda, heavenly dancers, had not spoken out against his presence: the prince, who arrived from the human world, despite all his perfections, carried with him all his temptations, which greatly embarrassed their peace and beckoned. To keep peace in his house, the god asked his friend to return home, promising him to build a copy of his palace on earth.

temple of the gods

The temple of Angkor Wat is located in the Kingdom of Cambodia, in the south of the Indochina peninsula (on the geographical map of the world, this temple can be found at the following coordinates: 13° 24′ 45″ N, 103° 52′ 0″ E). It is located among the jungle, 240 km from Phnom Pei, the capital of the country, five and a half kilometers north of the city of Siampriap (you can get here by bus from Phnom Penh in just five hours).

Angkor Wat (translated as "Temple City") was built at the beginning of the XII century. in the capital of the Khmer state of Angkor, by order of the ruler Suryavarman II, and was originally dedicated to the supreme god of Hinduism, Vishnu. This temple is one of the largest religious buildings in the world, since its area occupies about 2 km², while the length is 1.5 thousand, and the width is 1.3 thousand meters.

Despite the fact that the size of the temple complex of the ancient Kingdom of Cambodia cannot but amaze, in reality there is nothing surprising here: the territory of the city of Angkor exceeded 400 km², and recent studies suggest that about half a million people could well live here.

Therefore, he was one of largest cities of its time, in which architecture and art were very well developed: today more than two hundred monuments have been discovered on its territory - pavilions, temples, palaces, pyramids and tombs, among which is the huge temple complex of Angkor Wat. The sanctuary, according to the plan of the builders, was supposed to symbolize Meru, the sacred mountain of the Khmers: the towers are the top of the mountain, the walls of the temple are rocks, and the moat is the ocean that surrounds the Universe.

Temple construction

The history of the construction of Angkor Wat began during the time of Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1113 to 1150. He did not wait for the completion of construction work, and the complex was completed after the death of the ruler: his tomb was found in the sanctuary (there is nothing surprising in the fact that the tomb was built on the territory of the shrine, since the Khmers were convinced that their ruler was the incarnation of God, and the erected temple was considered his heavenly home on Earth).

Scientists claim that the construction of the Vishnu temple took the same amount of stones as the construction of the Khafre pyramid - about 5 million tons.

Much more effort was invested, since absolutely all the stone blocks were subjected to artistic processing (on all surfaces, columns, lintels and even roofs one or another story related to the life of the Khmers is depicted) - a fact that cannot but surprise and clearly shows not only the skill level of the ancient builders, but also their industriousness.

Stone blocks were brought from the quarries located on the Kulen plateau (on the map it is located forty kilometers north of Angkor Wat, so the Siem Reap River was used to get there). To fix them together, the builders did not use mortars: the blocks were so tightly fitted to each other that the seams between them in some places cannot be found.

Temple city from the outside

Angkor Wat is located in the center of a vast complex, which consists of two hundred other places of worship. Its outer wall is surrounded by a moat, which was filled to the brim with water during the rainy season. Its width was 190 m - such dimensions of the reservoir are not accidental, since it is a symbol of the oceans. In the west, the builders erected a stone dam, on top of which they paved the road leading to the temple - this entrance is central. You can also get into the territory of the temple from the east side along the earthen embankment.

Immediately behind the moat, the outer wall began, the length of which was 1024 m, the width was 802 meters, and the height was about 4.5 m. through which it was possible to get to the territory of the temple complex.

Near the tower on the south side there was a statue of Vishnu, and the largest group was installed from the central entrance, in the west, and consisted of three towers. All the towers were interconnected by patterned walls: in the west they are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting dancing figures, and in the east - men who dance on the backs of jumping animals, as well as beings with a divine nature, devatas.

Temple city from the inside

From the central city to the temple can be reached by a road, the length of which is 350 meters, along which there is a balustrade with sculptures of seven-headed snakes. Angkor Wat itself looks very interesting, as it consists of three square-shaped terraces located on top of each other, each of which is somewhat smaller than the previous one.

The first tier is located at a height of 3.5 meters, the second - seven, the third - thirteen. Due to the difference in height, the ancient masters managed to achieve an interesting effect: as you approach the temple, it not only increases in size, but also seems to grow.

The terraces are connected to each other by a huge number of stairs, and each level is surrounded by a gallery. The walls, located on the first tier, are decorated with two-meter bas-reliefs depicting mythology and everyday scenes from the life of the Khmers.

About two thousand sculptures of dancing celestials are depicted on the walls of the second tier - they all differ from each other: they all have different facial expressions, different figures, and decorations. According to archaeologists, the total area of ​​sculptures and bas-reliefs created from sandstone, which depict scenes from Indian mythology, the history of the Khers, their gods, is more than 2 thousand square meters. m.

On the upper terrace accessed by an extremely steep staircase with narrow and high steps. There are five lotus-shaped towers here (outwardly, they very much resemble cones). Four towers are located at the corners, the highest, which depicts Mount Meru, is in the center. Its height is about forty-two meters, but since it is located on the third terrace, the total height of the temple is 65 meters.

History of the Temple City

In 1431, the army of the neighboring state of Siam, having attacked Angkor, completely destroyed the city, forcing the inhabitants to leave it - and the history of the existence of one of the largest settlements ancient world came to an end, and the jungle was securely covered with its vegetation, leaving the locals with only legends and various stories (however, it was not completely abandoned - Buddhist monks soon settled in it).

European travelers sometimes accidentally discovered it during their travels, but failing to turn it into a discovery of public interest, they retreated - and they forgot about the city again for a long time.

This continued until, in 1861, the Frenchman Henri Muo could not get to Angkor Wat, who, instantly appreciating the find, was able to popularize it in the West - and a new milestone in the history of Angkor began: after he was liberated from the jungle, he never ceased to attract the attention of not only scientists, archaeologists and researchers, but also a huge number of tourists.

In the 70s of the last century, a war broke out in the Kingdom of Cambodia - and archaeologists were forced to leave the country, and the temple complex ended up in the hands of the Khmer Rouge, communists who were especially cruel: having come to power, they were trying to build socialism in the country, executed several million people. They did not forget to get to Angkor Wat - believing that the country should be freed from the influence of religion, they decapitated and mutilated almost all the sculptures where the gods were depicted.

Fortunately, the unique complex managed to survive - and in the early 90s, restoration work was resumed, and the city itself and the temple complex were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.

- This business card Cambodia, Siem Reap, and possibly the whole of Southeast Asia. But in fact, Angkor Wat is only one of the most famous temples Angkor and in addition to it, more than a hundred other temples, of varying degrees of interest and integrity, are located on the territory of the archaeological complex. But in this post I want to talk about only one of the temples of Angkor - directly about Angkor Wat, which is depicted on the flag of Cambodia.

Angkor Wat (Angkor Wat)- This modern name temple complex, which in translation means "Temple City" Unfortunately, its historical name has not come down to us.

It is believed that "Angkor" comes from the word "nagara", which in Sanskrit means a city or capital. Wat means temple. And so it turned out Angkor Wat - Temple City.

angkor wat- is one of the largest places of worship ever built in the world, well, at least of those that have somehow survived to this day. Initially, it was a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, but over time it became a Buddhist one.

A lot of secrets and legends, conjectures and assumptions are connected with it. Without pretending to encyclopedic knowledge, I will try to collect at least part of the reliable and interesting information about Angkor Wat in this post.

angkor wat

Location: .

Important: Angkor Wat is usually viewed within the framework of small circle and this first point this route.

Working hours: with 5:00 before 17:30

Important: Angkor Wat opens to the public before all the other temples of Angkor. It is customary to meet the dawn here, and it is so popular that behind the backs of tourists there is a risk of not seeing the temple itself ☺. I would recommend coming to the temple no earlier than 10:00 when the bulk of the "dawn greeters" subside. To visit Angkor Wat, you need to lay a minimum 2 hours This is the bare minimum, more is better.

Visit cost:

• 1 day ticket - 37$ ;
• Ticket for 3 days - 62$ ;
• Ticket for 7 days - 72$ .

Important: The ticket price includes not only Angkor Wat, but also other temples of the Angkor group. You can read more about visiting Angkor here (the post is still under development).

So, let's start with some fun math ☺.

• Angkor Wat is located on 72 degrees east of the pyramids of Giza in Egypt;
• Angkor Wat is located in 5.5 km north of modern city Siem Reap;
• Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat that is 200 meters, and the length of each of its sides - 1500 meters;
• Height main tower(gopurs, maize) 65 meters from ground level, while over the entire territory of the temple it rises to 42 meters. Those. that's about the height of a modern 21-story building!
• 1800 Apsaras depicted on the walls of Angkor Wat. To be honest, I read this information in a not very trusted source, and we ourselves did not count the apsaras either. If suddenly someone decides to take on this hard work - let me know how many apsaras (I’ll tell you about who they are somehow separately) are depicted on the walls of Angkor Wat.

As I wrote above, Angkor Wat was originally a Hindu temple, and he himself symbolized the mythical Mount Meru - the abode of the gods.

Here you need to understand that in the view of the Khmers during the construction of Angkor Wat, the temple was not at all a gathering place for believers. No, a temple is a place where the gods live, or at least occasionally appear. But the king Suryavarnam II somewhat departed from this rule and wished to make Angkor Wat his tomb in order to be closer to the gods.

Angkor Wat is built of laterite, we have already talked about this interesting material in our article about the wonderful. For bas-reliefs and other "finishing works" sandstone was used here.

At the same time, laterite blocks were so smooth that they were perfectly adjusted to each other, almost without gaps, without even using any joint mortar.

In some places, the blocks are held only by the weight of their own weight, and in some places it was necessary to use various methods of fastening, such as latches, pins, etc.

The main entrance to Angkor Wat is located on the western side of the complex and leads to it. wide bridge sandstone and laterite. But during our visit, the bridge was under reconstruction, and a pantone bridge was built nearby. Restoration work must be completed by 2020.

The first thing that opens on the territory of Angkor Wat is two slightly more modern library buildings.

It is assumed that books, manuscripts and some temple valuables were previously stored there. Now the buildings are empty, although sometimes “messages” from our contemporaries appear on their walls.

But the main goal of tourists and pilgrims, of which there are many here, is the central gopuras, the very projection of the divine Mount Meru.

Important: what you need to know when visiting gopura (corn):

• In order to go upstairs, you will have to stand in line, unreasonably it takes an average of 15 minutes, what happens in the season is scary to imagine;
• The stones heat up very quickly, stock up on water - for thirst, an umbrella - for shade, patience - for yourself;
• No more than 100 people can go upstairs at a time, the rest will patiently wait until they finish the tour;
• The stairs to the gopuras are very steep and you have to be very careful on them. With us, a woman turned up on the descent - not pleasant enough;
• Clothing Requirements: Knees and shoulders must be covered. Moreover, just a stole will not work, you definitely need a T-shirt!

From the top there are stunning views of the entire Angkor Wat.

Only from above you can fully understand and appreciate the beauty and geometry of Angkor Wat.

In general, if someone wants to better prepare for a visit to Angkor Wat, or someone is interested in this topic, or maybe there is simply a desire to learn something new and interesting, we recommend watching the movie Superstructures of antiquity: Angkor Wat from national geographic:

Hello dear readers! Today the goal of our virtual travel will be the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Angkor region was the center of Cambujadesh, the ancient state of the Khmers. In addition to Cambodia itself, it included the territories of today's Laos, Vietnam and Thailand.

As is known from, this feudal kingdom existed from the 9th to the 13th centuries. It reached its peak in the 12th century when Angkor Wat was built. History is silent as the temple was called in those days.

Suryavarman II, one of the rulers of the Khmer Empire, erected it in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. Therefore, there are suggestions that the historical name could sound like "Varah Vishnuloka", that is, "the place where the holy Vishnu lives."

What does the modern name mean?

"Angkor" (from the Sanskrit "nagara") means "city". Interestingly, in Cambujadesh they spoke two languages: the rulers in Sanskrit, and the common people in Khmer. The word "Wat" in the languages ​​of Asian countries can mean a temple, pagoda or monastery.

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

The Khmer language is no exception here, but it also has a second meaning of the word "Wat": it is "admiration" or "veneration".

Cambodians are incredibly proud of their main shrine. The image of Angkor Wat is present on the state symbols of the country: the coat of arms and the flag.

Thus, the name of the sanctuary can be translated as:

• temple city;
• city ​​temple;
• capital temple.

But in fact, the word Angkor has long become a proper name and therefore cannot be translated in any way. Therefore, Angkor Wat is the temple of Angkor.

Location

The ruins of Angkor are located very close to Siem Reap. It is the capital of the Cambodian province of the same name. Angkor Archaeological Park covers approximately four hundred square meters. km along with its wooded territory.

Temple complex Angkor Wat on the map

Here are the majestic relics of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, which existed at different times from the 9th to the 15th centuries. They include the temple of Angkor Wat, which will be discussed in our story. Angkor Archaeological Park has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1992.

Rediscovering the world

The once great Kambujadesh was bled dry by endless wars with neighbors and exorbitant construction costs. It ceased to exist in the 14th century. Angkor Wat gradually fell into disrepair, but was not completely abandoned, as monks always lived here.

Two centuries later, the first Europeans visit the sacred place. They were the Portuguese. First, the merchant Diogo do Couto published his travel notes. And after 36 years, the monk António da Madalena, having visited the ruins of the temple, described it in excellent colors.

But truly Europeans became interested in the shrine in 1860. This time the French did their bit in drawing attention to the shrine:

1. Preacher Charles-Emile Buyevo, who published a two-volume book of his impressions from visiting this place.
2. Naturalist and traveler Henri Muo, who popularized the great Khmer temple among Westerners.
3. Henri Ernest Jean Parmentier, archaeologist and later director of the French Institute of the Far East, who studied, documented and participated in the restoration of the monuments of Angkor.

The Paris Colonial Exhibition, which was held in 1931, exhibited a model of the sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Model of Angkor Wat at the Royal Palace, Cambodia

There were also barbaric antics. In the 70s, part of the buildings and sculptural images were damaged by the Pol Potites. Well, now, protected by the world community, the temple is the number one attraction in the Cambodian kingdom, and any travel agency will tell you how to get here.

Those who have already been here share their experience with tourists:

1. The entrance ticket can be bought for a day, three days or a week. It must be kept, as controllers periodically check tickets. With a ticket, you can leave the complex any number of times during the paid time and enter again. It is personalized: your photo will be taken at the checkout, and it will be on the ticket.
2. Forgery of a ticket is punishable by law, as well as looting and damage to the property of Angkor.
3. At 5 o'clock in the morning it is customary to meet the dawn here, and the complex closes at 17:30.
4. Dress appropriately, covering your shoulders and knees. A headdress will save you from sunstroke. And shoes, despite the heat, are recommended to choose comfortable ones, such as sneakers, since the stairs with stone steps are very steep.
5. Well, and absolutely obvious truths: you should not litter, smoke, touch images with your hands. It is necessary to respect and follow the instructions of signs and signs on the territory.

Before visiting the temple, of course, it’s nice to be savvy in theoretical terms. Therefore, we turn to the description of its architecture.

architectural features

The Angkorian style in which this shrine is built combines features of both Khmer and Hindu architecture. This is a temple-mountain, personifying, in combination with many galleries. The building consists of three rectangular terraces that make up the pyramid.

The inner rectangular courtyard occupies two hundred hectares. It is surrounded by a wall four and a half meters high. From the outer side of the wall, a moat filled with water stretches for more than three and a half kilometers.

At its edges, the land is cleared of the jungle to a width of thirty meters. The width of the moat is one hundred and ninety meters, and it is believed that it was he who saved the temple from destruction and from the invasion of wild animals from the jungle during the years of oblivion.

Towers of Angkor Wat

The unique beauty of the monastery is given by five towers. Each of them is shaped like a lotus flower. The tower in the center rises sixty-five meters into the sky. It is higher than the other four by forty-two meters.

Khmer believers did not go to temples: their gods lived here. Only representatives of the clergy and rulers could go inside. Agkor Wat also served as the tomb of Suryavarman II.

The entrance to the temple is through the western gopura (the tower above the gate), which is considered the main one. It consists of three dilapidated turrets, behind which at first the giant main building is not visible, and is its likeness in form. Leaving the gopura, the traveler passes to the temple along the road, on both sides of which there is a parapet with statues of snakes with seven heads.

The road is laid on a dam made of sandstone. Probably, the dam was previously replaced by a wooden bridge. An earth embankment leads to the shrine from the east side. There are gopuras from all four cardinal directions, but the other three are smaller than the western one.

Statue of Vishnu in South Tower, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

There is a statue of Vishnu in the south tower. It is assumed that he appeared in it later, and initially his place was in the central hall. Four gopuras on each of the three tiers are connected by galleries, decorated with square columns along the outer wall.

The galleries are so spacious that, if desired, an elephant could pass through them. Because of this, another name for gopura is “elephant gate”. The ceiling of the galleries is decorated with stone lotus flowers. And the walls have the richest decoration, more than a thousand square meters. What is it:

• bas-reliefs with scenes from the history of the Khmers, the ancient Indian epic and Hindu myths;
• figurines of two thousand charming demigoddesses - apsaras with intricate and sophisticated hairstyles;

Bas-reliefs on the walls of the temple - Apsaras

• griffins;
• sculptures of dancing people;
• dragons with wings harnessed to chariots;
• figures of men dancing on the backs of running animals;
• unicorns;

• warriors with leaders riding on elephants;
• devatas.

On the map of the complex, there were originally both urban buildings and Royal Palace. But all of them collapsed over time, as they were not built of stone. Only the outlines of some streets have survived to this day.

From the main road to the temple, perpendicular to it, there are six pairs of side stairs through which you can go down to the territory former city. There are two library buildings located symmetrically on both sides of the road, with ponds in front of them. These reservoirs, as well as the cross-shaped terrace into which the main road passes, appeared later than other elements of the complex.

The subtleties of the building

The stones used for the construction are so smooth that they seem to be polished. No solution was used for their coupling. They fit so tightly to neighboring stones that the seams are not visible at all.

Sometimes there are no connections in the blocks at all, they are held by gravity. In most of the blocks, the researchers noticed multiple holes about three centimeters in length and slightly smaller in cross section. Opinions about their purpose differ: some scientists believe that they are intended for metal connecting rods, others that they are for connecting parts, with the help of which it was easier to move stones during installation.

There is evidence that elephants were used to actuate the block mechanism. The ropes were made from coir, the middle layer of the coconut wall. So the stones were lifted into place.

There are holes in the walls too. This suggests that once there were panels of bronze. It was the height of chic in antiquity, but also attracted marauders.

The figure indicating the amount of sandstone that went into the construction of this ancient monument is impressive: over five million tons. This building material was delivered from the Kulen Plateau along the Siem Reap River.

According to modern ideas, a structure of such complexity should have been erected for several hundred years. Nevertheless, the construction of Angkor Wat was completed in about forty years - the lifetime of its founder. This indicates that the builders had some special knowledge and skills.

And finally, quite sensational information: scientists have established using computer programs that the location of the temples of the Angkor complex exactly corresponds to the location of the stars in the constellation Draco, as it was during sunrise ten and a half thousand years BC, on the day of the vernal equinox. So what is thismiracleSveta, which is only about a thousand years old, continues to keep its secrets.

Conclusion

Having visited the temple of Angkor Wat, even inveterate skeptics admit that the famous place has amazing energy and sinks into the soul for a long time. Many come back here again, and more than once. The tourists who have been here are unanimous in one thing: this miracle must be seen with your own eyes at least once in your life.

I saw an excellent aerial panorama of the world-famous Cambodian temple, was impressed, and decided to tell you more. But for starters, be sure to fly over this ancient structure anyway. Soak up 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 are moats, which symbolize the oceans washing the foot of the divine mountain. Angkor Wat is 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 gigantic Angkor Wat complex was erected in Cambodia. Most likely, the construction took about 30 years, so we can assume that Angkor Wat began to be built somewhere in 1110. The ruins of Angkor lie about 240 km northwest of the capital of Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) - the city of Phnom Penh, not far from big lake Tonle Sap. Although, in theory, the temples of Angkor Wat are the place in India, as 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 a tomb for Suryavarman himself. Angkor Wat for the Khmers, who ruled from the 9th to the 15th century in Cambodia, is something like a heavenly palace in which the spirit of kings can reside. In front of the temple is a moat 200 meters wide. During the rainy season, which in Cambodia can last up to 4 months, the moat is filled with water. In addition, several more lakes have been dug within the city. The only way to get inside is through the main portal in the wall that surrounds Angkor Wat in a 260 square kilometer area.
The temple itself is built from several platforms, following one after another. The first platform (180 by 180 meters) is 3.5 meters high, the second platform (110 by 115 meters) rises by 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 interconnected 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 the severity of lines and clarity. Lush jewelry does not match this. Each stone of the temple is covered with carvings or bas-reliefs. What is only the gallery of the first platform 600 meters long. There are 8 panels with a total area of ​​more than 1000 square meters. Most of all, 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 on the Bayon temple is depicted the face of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the main characters of Buddhist mythology. In addition to the images of the gods in the temples, there are historical paintings. For example, those that depict local rulers, warriors going to battle.
There are 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 are four more, where the remaining shrines are kept. There are more than 200 small temples in Angkor Wat.
Tourists usually start their journey through Angkor Wat from the western entrance. Climbing up a short flight of stairs to the first cross-shaped terrace guarded by giant stone lions, one comes 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 one has 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 go through huge arches located at ground level. Arches used to serve as passageways for elephants, horses and carts.
From the central entrance, the guides lead tourists to the right and lead them to the end of the gallery, paying attention to the windows with chiseled 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, on 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 (65×50 meters). The left one is always filled with rainwater, while 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 cross-shaped passage galleries with square columns dividing the courtyard into four parts. Some columns are decorated with Khmer and Sanskrit inscriptions. All the rest of the free space is given over to elegant rosettes, cornices and bas-reliefs. In fact, there is no place that the carver's hand would not touch. Further up the stairs you can get to the gallery of the second level (100 × 115 meters). Its main feature is the image of more than 1500 sculptures of beautiful goddesses.
The next third, and last, level was allowed to visit only the king and the monks. Twelve stairs 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 could not reach us. There were too many 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, but this powerful complex was learned relatively recently - about 100 years ago. Lost in the Cambodian jungle near Lake Tonle Sap, the French traveler Charles Emile Buivo wandered for a long time among dense thickets, giant trees, frightened by predators and tortured by clouds of mosquitoes, but suddenly stumbled upon ancient city. Prior to this, the existence of this complex was not even suspected. This is how Angkor Wat (“Capital Pagoda”) was “extracted from oblivion” - 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.

The history of the Angkor period dates back to 800 BC, when the Khmer king Jayavaman 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 that moment on, Jayavaman II was active in seizing the territories of neighboring states, and by 802 BC Kampuchea owns lands that now belong to China and Vietnam. In the same year 802, he declares himself a full-fledged ruler and creates a cult of worship of the god Shiva.

In 889, Yasovarman I ascends the throne and decides to start building a new capital - Yasodharmapura, which in Sanskrit means "holy city". Keeping the tradition, he also, like his predecessors, builds a huge reservoir. The construction of reservoirs was associated not only with the life and needs of the city, but also with the observance of the tradition, the roots of which go back to the myth of sacred mountain Meru, surrounded by a great ocean. Mount Meru in religious construction was symbolized by a temple surrounded by water, and the lingam *, located inside the temple, symbolized the ruler, who was the viceroy of God on earth. Yasovarman I built his temple on the hill of Phnom Bokeng 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 erected during the reign of Jayavaman VII. After his death, centuries-old construction stopped.

It is known that already by the year 1000, during the period of its highest prosperity, the city occupied an area of ​​190 sq. km, which meant that he was largest city medieval world. The city of Angkor was the size of present-day Manhattan. On the vast expanse of its streets, squares, terraces and temples, 600,000 people lived, and in the vicinity of the city - at least a million more. The inhabitants of Angkor were Khmers who professed Hinduism, brought to South East Asia in the 1st century A.D. e. The earliest references to Angkor in Cambodian chronicles date only to the 15th century. Unfortunately, there are no documents left from the most ancient people. They used a very fragile material as a record material that did not stand up to time. But the inscriptions carved in stone are of great historical importance, there are more than a thousand of them, most of them are made in Khmer and Sanskrit. It is not known how the complex was built - not a single source has survived, except for a legend that speaks of the divine origin of the city. According to this legend, Prince Preah Ket Mealea was a guest in heaven with the god Indra. 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 the same as the one in which the prince was visiting. So, according to legend, Angkor Wat was born.
It is absolutely certain that Angkor Wat was a thriving city. A completely incomprehensible reason - why did it turn into an abandoned city, where did all its inhabitants go? After all, the fertile soil gave three crops of rice a year, the Tonle Sap lake abounded with fish, and the dense forests - with various game. There are currently two main theories. According to the first, in 1171 the city was defeated by the Chams - the neighbors of the Khmers. And in 1431, the Thais finally finished off the already weakened people. But, then it is completely incomprehensible why the invaders did not occupy the reclaimed lands ...
There is a second theory, which is denied academia because it's absolutely fantastic. It relies 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 erected 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 take seriously the reconstruction of Angkor Wat, as it requires very high costs. But this historical monument ancient culture is in a very deplorable state. The war that has been waged here for the past two decades, as well as the looting of temples by thieves, had very detrimental consequences for the monuments. But, in addition, the inexorably advancing jungle vegetation destroys the Angkor complexes, its stone buildings are covered with mosses and lichens.

To date, the Angkor temple complex is listed World Heritage UNESCO.

Interesting fact: all the temples of Angkor were built without the use of cement and any other binding materials. During the construction of temples, blocks of sandstone were most often used, which were interlocked according to the principle of a castle, and the fortress walls were laid out from tuff.

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

Angkor Wat has survived much better than many other buildings 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 Muo. In the 1970s, some of the buildings and sculptures of the complex were vandalized by Pol Pot's soldiers. In 1922, along with other buildings, the city of Angkor was taken under the auspices of UNESCO.

A bike - good idea to visit the temples. Of course, only if you intend to stay in Siem Reap for more than a day.

Most of the local population prefer this type of transport when they visit Angkor, which means you have the opportunity to be closer 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 bike rental company. They are supported by many hotels and guest houses, because the main percentage of their income goes to charity, in support of educational programs for children from low-income families.

Taxis are a fairly common option for traveling around 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 negative side of such walks can probably be that you find yourself isolated from sounds, smells and many other delights.

The cost of one day 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 meet 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 have found a way to rent a moped, then we strongly recommend that you leave 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 Company can offer you a trip in a balloon basket. The route is fixed and there is no possibility to change course, the flight altitude is about 200 meters above the ground. The cost of pleasure is $ 11 per person (up to 30 people are placed in the basket). Unfortunately, this type of travel is not always available due to weather conditions.
Elephant travel was at its peak in the early 20th century. It was on elephants that the first routes through the temples of Angkor were laid. Now, of course, everything is more civilized and put on the track of organized tourism. You can ride an elephant from Angkor Thom gate to Bayon Temple. The cost of such a trip will cost you about $ 10. But in a place called Angkor Village, you can not only book an elephant ride, but even get a real lesson from professional drovers. They will teach you how to sit on the elephant confidently and you will learn some commands to control the elephant. The cost of such a course is approximately $50. Popular with group travelers. 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. Rickshaw cabs are quite comfortable and an important bonus is that they can protect you from the rain. If you are lucky with a driver, he can 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 crowd of people taking pictures and screaming. The cost of renting a motor rickshaw ranges from $10 to $20 per day.
As we said earlier, walking is not the most convenient way to 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 am the sun is at its zenith and long walks can be a very serious burden on the body. However, if the facts described above did not scare you away, you decided to walk, then discover the road that lies behind the wall of Angkor Thom. This route will not only reveal little-known temples hidden in 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