The Temples of Angkor Wat

The temples of the ancient city of Angkor are the residence of the gods and are a depiction of Mt Meru (the Mt Olympus of the Hindu faith). The temples of Angkor are believed to be the largest religious structure in the world and are considered the national pride of the country by many Cambodians. The inspirational structure is the bright spot in a country that’s history is full of turmoil and heartache. The Wat is so large in physique that it often overshadows the rest of Angkor, which has a large volume of temples and include a variety in design.

Spanning more than six hundred years, the Khmer empire was established in 802 A.D., by Jayavarman II. Among his subjects he was known as deva-raja (the god king), which is a tradition taken from India. Many of the Khmer’s spiritual traditions and technology were borrowed from India, such as Hinduism as well as irrigation techniques and the art of stone carving. This influence is known as ‘Indianization’ and was primarily spread by Indian trading routes during pre-Khmer times. It was under the direction of Jayavarman II, that the foundation for Angkor was begun. However, Angkor did not become the capitol of the Khmer empire until the reign of Yasovarman I (reigned 889 -915).

Throughout the centuries to come, a succession of kings would erect monuments and temples in the Angkor region. The most notable of the kings to leave their architectural mark was Suryavarman II (reigned 1113 - 1150) and Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181 - 1219). Besides being known for his military prowess, which expanded the Khmer empire across South East Asia, Suryavarman II’s legacy lives on with his construction of the Angkor Wat temple (the largest of the Angkor temples). But Jayavarman VII, a great military leader as well, was the most prolific temple builder of any of the Khmer kings. His most famous architectural achievements was the new capitol of Angkor Thom ( featuring the Bayon temple, a short distance north of Angkor Wat), the temples of Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Neak Pean. In addition, Jayavarman VII also constructed an inter-connected network of roads that featured 121 resting houses to accommodate travelers and 102 hospitals to for the sick. With the exception of a few kings (Jayavarman VII was a Mahayana Buddhist) the Khmer empire was predominantly a Hindu state. It wasn’t until the reign of Srindravarman (1295-1309) that the Khmer empire switched permanently over to Theravada Buddhism. But unfortunately this new era did not last long. Over the next hundred years, the Khmer empire experienced a state of decline as the agricultural resources of the land were exhausted thus reducing productivity. During this same period, the Thai kingdom of Ayuthaya steadily grew in strength and in 1431 successfully sacked the city of Angkor, thus marking the end of the Khmer empire.

Noteworthy Attractions

Angkor Wat

The largest of the Angkor temples, Angkor Wat is surrounded by a moat and consists of an outer enclosure and a central structure. Dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu, the temple is a representation of the majestic Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu Devas (gods). From above, the inner temple resembles a five point die, with the five towers space evenly, the central tower being the highest. The five towers represent the five peaks of the mountain, with the outer towers and walls representing the mountain range and the moat representing the ocean. The central complex also contains bas-reliefs (stone carvings set in the wall) that are all together, 800 meters in length depicting Hindu religious history such as Heaven and Hell, the churning of the ocean of milk, the elephant gate, Vishnu conquering the demons and many more. The most famous decorations of the Angkor Wat temple are the 300 heavenly nymphs (Apsara), with each one being unique in its design, representing 30 different styles.

Everything about Angkor Wat is epic in scale and it seems unapproachable at first, but once you figure out the layout, you could easily work your way through it. It is said that 300,000 workers 6000 elephants worked on Angkor Wat, and it still was not finished. One of the most significant facts about Angkor Wat is that it faces the west, emblematically the direction of death, which leads some to think it was built as a tomb.

Angkor Wat, which means “temple that is a city”, is one of the most well preserved temples at the ancient city. The Wat, which is surrounded by a 190-meter moat, makes a large rectangle with large gates on all four sides, with the main gate on the west side. The famous Vishnu statue is located in the right hand tower of the main entrance. Walking down an avenue—that passes two libraries and two pools (the northern pool is a popular spot to see sunrise)— will lead you to the central temple.

The central temple has three stories, the first containing many galleries including the Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas. The second and third levels each have a tower that have a lotus bud on top. Thirty-one meters above the third level the central tower rises, bringing all the towers together to create one large structure.

The Bayon

Standing at the center of Angkor Thom, this extravagant temple contains 54 towers and 216 faces of Avalokiteshvara. Unlike Angkor Wat, the Bayon’s artwork reflects more of the history and everyday life of the Khmer empire, with a staggering 1.3km of bas-reliefs displaying over a 11,000 figures.

Ta Prohm

Over this past century there has been exhaustive work done on the temples of Angkor, including extensive rebuilding and clearing of vegetation due to the encroaching jungle. Ta Prohm stands in stark contrast, for it is left exactly as the western explorers found it, still covered in jungle. There is much stunning scenery here as the jungle intermingles with giant trees choking and wrapping around statues and corridors. Ta Prohm is also an example of the Buddhist influence on Khmer culture with one story departure of Siddhartha, the one who would become Buddha.

Elephant Terrace

A terrace of elephants and lions 350 m in length which was used as a royal viewing stand during ceremonies of the court.

Banteay Srei

This temple lies on the outskirts of the Angkor region, but it is well worth the visit. Carved from sandstone, the bas-reliefs depict a mix of everyday Khmer life as well as Hindu stories including the god Shiva, for which the temple is dedicated to.

Bas-Reliefs

Bas-Reliefs are elaborate pieces of art that are along the walls of Angkor, each telling stories and legends. Most of them were completed at the time of the building of Angkor in the twelfth century, but some were added during the sixteenth century.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is mostly known in pop culture as the site where many characters in Lara Craft: Tomb Raider looked for the “Triangle of Light”, but Angkor Thom was the last major capital of the ancient city of Angkor. The building of Angkor Thom was partly a reaction to the surprise taking of Angkor by the Chams. Jayavarman VII consequently decided to protect his empire by building Angkor Thom.

The “Great City”, which is centered on Bayon, is ten square kilometers and enclosed by an eight-meter high square wall. With over 54 decorated gothic towers, Bayon’s multiple huge heads are visible at all times whether they are full-faced or profile faced only. Unlike Angkor Wat, Bayon does not look impressive until you look close up.

The fundamental layout of Bayon is three simplistic levels, said to have stood for three building phases. The first two levels are square and include Bas-Reliefs all along both levels. The third is a circular level with the towers.

In addition to sites mentioned above, there are many other temples and monuments in the Angkor area worth checking out.