We got up at 6am to start our first full “temple” day. Kim’s colleague with the silver tuk tuk picked us up. He was also very well organised with cool drinks and towels. On the menu today, : Ta Prohm, Ta Keo, Angkor Thom (terraces of the elephants & Leper King, Royal Enclosure, phimeanakas, Baphuon and Bayon) and finally Angkor Wat.
Ta Prohm, The Jungle Temple
Ta Prohm is part of the small circuit and was built end of the 12th century. It is one of the most famous temple sites due to its appearance in Tomb Raider, a movie with Angelina Jolie.
The site was in the past a Buddhist monastery. We found it one of the most beautiful temple sites of those visited. Especially because it was very picturesque due to the trees that were swallowing the ruins.
We had put it as the first visit of the day since we had read that many visitors first go to Angkor Wat, so the number of tourists would be lower early morning. We were quite happy with this decision, since the site did not feel crowded at all.
Ta Keo, The Sandstone Temple
The Ta Keo temple is the next on our list. It is one of the biggest temples, built in the 10th and 11th centuries and dedicated to Shiva. It was the first one fully made out of sandstone, however, the temple was never completely finished.
On our way to Angkor Thom we passed by the Chau Say Tevoda Temple (12th century). We just did a photo stop.
Angkor Thom, The Last Angkor Capital
Angkor Thom is the last capital city that hosts several temple sites: the state temples ‘Bayon’ and ‘Baphuon’, Phimeanakas & Royal Enclosure and the Elephants & Leper King Terraces. The city has 5 entrance gates, with 2 of them at the East side.
Bayon, Angkor Thom
Bayon is one of the most famous and most beautiful temples, it is known for its 54 towers with 216 smiling faces. It is a temple that certainly should be on your list… We loved it !
Terraces of the Elephants and Leper King, Angkor Thom
The Terrace of the Elephants is a platform from where the king watched the return of his army. The name is deducted from the elephant carvings on the wall.
The Terrace of the Leper King is named after the statue of the Leper King and also known for its carvings of gods, mythical creatures and demons.
Phimeanakas & Royal Enclosure, Angkor Thom
There used to be a palace here, but except 2 pools that were used for bathing, there is not a lot left. The temple is pyramidal and from the top you can have nice views. During our visit there were still archeological works ongoing.
Baphuon, Angkor Thom
Baphuon is an 11th century temple representing Mount Meru. It is one of the more impressive ones and you need to climb a number of steep steps to get to the terrace from where you have a great view. The reconstruction of the site was a huge work.
Angkor Wat, The World Famous One
Angkor Wat, the most famous and largest religious monument in the world, is probably the reason why most tourists visit Cambodia. The temple site is the national emblem and can be found on the flag of Cambodia. I have to say, that even if the temple site is absolutely incredible and fabulous, it is not my favourite (my hart goes to Ta Prohm and Bayon).
We visited Angkor Wat at lunch time, not the best since it was very warm at that time of the day. However, it was perfect for escaping the crowd.
It was a fantastic day today. We saw all the highlights of the Angkor Wat Archeological Site, something we will never forget !
