Explore Siem Reap's Amazing Ancient Temples: Your Easy Guide

Siem Reap is the main gateway to a truly special place: the ancient temples of the Khmer Empire. These old stone buildings are like a window into a powerful civilization that lived long ago. They are not just beautiful; they tell stories of history and beliefs.

You might wonder why only these stone temples are left. Well, back then, people only built religious buildings like temples from stone. Other buildings, like homes, were made of wood, which has since disappeared over time. This means the temples we see today were built to last, showing how important religion and kings were to the Khmer people.

This guide will help you discover the most important temples, give you useful tips for your visit, and share some of their fascinating stories.

The Famous Three: Temples You Must See in Angkor

The Angkor Archaeological Park has many temples, but THREE are especially famous and are part of the popular "Small Circuit" tour. Each one offers a different and amazing experience.

Angkor Wat: The Greatest Temple

Angkor Wat is known worldwide as the biggest religious building on Earth. It's a symbol of Cambodia and is even on the country's flag. Built in the early 1100s by King Suryavarman II, this huge temple complex covers a very large area.

The temple's design represents Mount Meru, a holy mountain in old Hindu stories where gods live. The five main towers are like the mountain's peaks, and the walls and wide moat around it are like the mountains and ocean.

Angkor Wat is special because it faces west, which is unusual for temples in this region. Some experts think it was built as King Suryavarman II's tomb, because the carvings inside are read in a special way (counter-clockwise) that was used in old funeral services. Others believe it faces west because it was built for the god Vishnu, who is linked to the west. This makes the temple even more mysterious and interesting.

The temple is covered in detailed carvings called bas-reliefs. These carvings show scenes from old Hindu stories and are considered some of the best stone carvings ever. You'll also see thousands of beautiful carvings of dancing figures called Apsaras and Devatas. The temple was built using sandstone brought from mountains about 40 kilometers away, moved by a clever system of canals.

Many visitors love to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. The best spot is by the reflection ponds, especially the one on the left side of the main path. To get a good spot, you should arrive very early, often by 4:30 AM, as the park opens at 5:00 AM. It's a good idea to buy your Angkor Pass the day before so you don't waste time in line.

Building Angkor Wat was a huge effort. It took over 35 years and more than 300,000 people, mostly farmers, to complete. This shows the incredible power and ambition of the Khmer Empire. When you visit, think about all the people who worked to create this lasting wonder.

2. Bayon Temple: The Temple with Many Faces

Bayon Temple is right in the middle of Angkor Thom, which was King Jayavarman VII's capital city. It looks very different from Angkor Wat and is known for its unique, detailed style.

Its most famous feature is the many calm, smiling stone faces on its towers. There are over 200 faces on 37 towers that are still standing. Many believe these faces look like King Jayavarman VII himself. Some think they represent Avalokitesvara, a Buddhist figure of kindness, while others believe they show Brahma, a Hindu god, because they have four sides.

Bayon was the last main temple built in Angkor and the only one mainly for Buddhist gods under King Jayavarman VII. Later, when the empire returned to Hinduism, some changes were made to the temple, including the destruction of a main Buddha statue, which was later found again. This shows how religions changed over time in the Khmer Empire.

The outer walls of the temple have detailed carvings that show historical events and everyday life of the Khmer people. You can see armies marching, elephants, and scenes of markets and palace life. The inner walls, added later, show stories from Hindu myths.

Bayon's many faces and close-together buildings make it feel like you're exploring a maze. The smiling faces seem to follow you, giving the temple a special, mysterious feeling. It's a great place for unique photos.

3. Ta Prohm: Where Nature Takes Over

Ta Prohm temple, located near Angkor Wat, is famous today as the "Tomb Raider Temple" because it was featured in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Actress Angelina Jolie, who starred in the movie, is said to have loved Cambodia after visiting this temple.

What makes Ta Prohm so special is how nature has grown into it. Huge silk-cotton and fig trees, with their "snake-like roots," have wrapped themselves around the old stone buildings, creating a stunning and wild look. Early experts decided to leave the temple mostly as they found it, because they saw its "beautiful ruined look". This choice makes Ta Prohm a unique place where you can see nature and ancient art together.

In the past, Ta Prohm was called Rajavihara, meaning "Royal Monastery". King Jayavarman VII built it in 1186 AD as a Buddhist monastery and school, dedicating it to his mother. Old writings found here show that a huge number of people, almost 80,000, worked for or lived around the temple, showing how important it was as a center for learning and daily life. Recent discoveries, like parts of a gold crown, add even more to its story.

Ta Prohm's design is "flat," unlike older temples that looked like mountains. You'll see gates with smiling faces, like those at Angkor Thom, and beautiful carvings of dancers. For photographers, the tree roots framing doorways are a must-see. There's even a famous carving that some people think looks like a dinosaur, which is a fun spot for a photo.

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