Angkor
Top Cities
Hotels In:
- Strung Treng
- Angkor
- Battambang
- Ko Kong
- Kompong Cham
- Kratie
- Phnom Penh
- Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
- Sihanoukville
Travel Cheap
Until 1861, the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor, capital of the Khmer kingdom, existed only in myth. One of the world's marvels, and the worlds largest religious monument, it's a vast and mysterious complex of carved sandstone blocks representing a civilization long past. The Khmer kingdom, which was the most powerful kingdom in the region from 802 until 1295, was lost for many years. Stories of its existence were passed down as fable; it was a mystery lost somewhere in the depths of the Cambodian jungle. Then, in 1861, French naturalist Henri Mouhout discovered it by accident. A lost city, or cities to be exact, surrounded by a moat on all sides, breaths what little insight there is to the once great kingdom.
The temple complex spans nearly 40 square miles (100km) and includes a largely unknown maze of passageways, tunnels, moats, temples, and carved structures representing the centuries it took to build this ancient capital. The area of Angkor Wat is serviced by its nearby town of Siem Reap, about 4 miles (6km.) to the south. Prepare for a new found love of ancient cultures and Asian religions, as walking through the stone walls of the ruins instills a feeling of deep-history that remains for a lifetime.
The magic of the ruins continues into the sunset which leaves the day's afterglow framed in the temple spires. The sunlight seems to dance as it shimmers off the temple reservoirs and beams of fading orange sun rays pierce through cracks in the stone. Breathtaking views of the sun rising and falling from the upper terraces of the main temple provide a rewarding climb. At dusk, the quietness returns, and you, as a spectator, fade into the magical afterglow.
Favorite Nighlife in the Area Favorite Events in the AreaAround Angkor
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Battambang Battambang is the capital of the Battambang province and the second largest city in Cambodia. Battambang literally means “disappearing stick,” and was named after a powerful stick that a legendary Khmer King used to gain and m.... |
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Ko Kong Many people are confused with Koh Kong because they are unsure of whether it is an island, a town, or a province, but it is actually all three. Here’s a little information to help with the confusion: the province of Koh Kong, wh.... |
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Kompong Cham Full of ancient sites, a lively Mekong River island life, and a beautiful waterfall, Kampong Cham is a traveler’s dream destination. Because of its location, it is an ideal trade and transportation hub. During the colonial perio.... |
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Kratie The riverside town of Kratie is the best place in the world to see the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins. Along with its picturesque sunsets on the Mekong River, most of the town’s action is along the east bank of the Mekong River a.... |
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Phnom Penh A capital city once deserted in a matter of hours, Phnom Penh has a history unlike any city in the world. It is a city which has seen the greatest of good, and the blackest of evil. Founded in the middle of the 14th century by the.... |
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Siem Reap Angkor Wat Siem Reap is known for it Angkor Wat temples. It gets is name, which literally means, “Siamese defeated” from the seventeenth century victory of the Khmer Empire over the army of the Thai Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Angkor and the .... |
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Sihanoukville Cambodia’s only international deep-sea port Sihanoukville (also known as Kampong Som) has become well known for its uninhabited beaches, fishing spots, and scenic trails. The French and Cambodians created Sihanoukville to give t.... |
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Strung Treng Once called Xieng Teng, Stung Treng was originally part of the Khmer Empire. It became part of the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, then the Lao kingdom of Champassack, until the French Indochina period when it was surrendered back to Cam.... |
