Thursday, October 1, 2015
Saturday, September 26, 2015
From Angkor Guide To Author
PHNOM PENH— Hem Sophoan, a former
guide for tourists, has taken his knowledge of Angkor Wat and put it
into writing. He has finished a second book, “Angkor Kingdom Guide
Book,” but the road to its publication was a long one.
Heng Sophoan is the fifth child of six, born in Bek Chan village, Ang Snuol district, Kandal province. He received a bachelor’s degree from a university in Phnom Penh, majoring in tourism and hospitality. He eventually found his way to Siem Reap, but he failed a guide exam in 2007. A year later, he passed. He has taken other training since then, and has begun teaching at a local university. To write, he researches online and reads books.
But the real secret to his success, he says, is that people trust him. He is trusted as a source, including on Facebook, where he has a page for his guidebook. “The reason that many people are interested and supported me is that all the services I have given them never cause them any problems,” he says.
He writes for the next generation, so that they will know more about national and international communities, he says. His first book, a how-to on becoming a tour guide, was published in 2011. He has three more in the works.
“Since I started to be a tourist guide, I faced many difficulties, including the lack of documents related to tourist guide skills,” he says. “Moreover, it’s hard for me to get some answers from old tourists whenever I want to ask them. So I promised myself that when I became a tourist guide with high knowledge and experience, I would write a book for the general public.”
He spent about one year writing his most recent book, which drew from his own experience and his research. This book tells the history of the Angkor kingdom and temples. This book too is meant to help tour guides, not with their own profession but with guiding people through the historic temples.
Pen Sophy, a bookseller at the International Book Center, said most people who buy Heng Sophoan’s books are students and tour guides.
Ho Vandy, co-president of the Government-Private Sector Tourism Working Group and a former guide, said the job can be difficult, so a book that helps guides is good for tourists, too.
“Frankly speaking, tour guides can't please their clients 100 percent of the time,” he said. “I was a tour guide for over 20 years, and it’s not easy to please all the clients. For instance, 10 clients have different minds.”
Nearly 2 million people visited Cambodia from January to May this year. That’s a small increase from last year, and an increasing market for Hem Sophoan, who says he hopes soon to translate his works into English.
Source by :
Heng Sophoan is the fifth child of six, born in Bek Chan village, Ang Snuol district, Kandal province. He received a bachelor’s degree from a university in Phnom Penh, majoring in tourism and hospitality. He eventually found his way to Siem Reap, but he failed a guide exam in 2007. A year later, he passed. He has taken other training since then, and has begun teaching at a local university. To write, he researches online and reads books.
But the real secret to his success, he says, is that people trust him. He is trusted as a source, including on Facebook, where he has a page for his guidebook. “The reason that many people are interested and supported me is that all the services I have given them never cause them any problems,” he says.
He writes for the next generation, so that they will know more about national and international communities, he says. His first book, a how-to on becoming a tour guide, was published in 2011. He has three more in the works.
“Since I started to be a tourist guide, I faced many difficulties, including the lack of documents related to tourist guide skills,” he says. “Moreover, it’s hard for me to get some answers from old tourists whenever I want to ask them. So I promised myself that when I became a tourist guide with high knowledge and experience, I would write a book for the general public.”
He spent about one year writing his most recent book, which drew from his own experience and his research. This book tells the history of the Angkor kingdom and temples. This book too is meant to help tour guides, not with their own profession but with guiding people through the historic temples.
Pen Sophy, a bookseller at the International Book Center, said most people who buy Heng Sophoan’s books are students and tour guides.
Ho Vandy, co-president of the Government-Private Sector Tourism Working Group and a former guide, said the job can be difficult, so a book that helps guides is good for tourists, too.
“Frankly speaking, tour guides can't please their clients 100 percent of the time,” he said. “I was a tour guide for over 20 years, and it’s not easy to please all the clients. For instance, 10 clients have different minds.”
Nearly 2 million people visited Cambodia from January to May this year. That’s a small increase from last year, and an increasing market for Hem Sophoan, who says he hopes soon to translate his works into English.
Source by :
27 August 2015
India Suspends Project for Construction of Angkor Wat Replica
The move comes after Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Indian government find a way to stop the project.
PHNOM PENH: Indian officials say they
have halted the construction of a $20 million project to build a
replica of the famed temple of Angkor Wat, to maintain good bilateral
relations between the two countries.
Mahavir Mandir Trust, an engineering firm in India, had announced the construction of the 10-year project in 2012, but it has been ordered to suspend its operations, officials said.
The move comes after Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Indian government find a way to stop the project, which could have angered many Cambodians, who see Angkor Wat as a powerful national symbol.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastara on Tuesday, after which officials announced a halt to the project.
The Indian government has suggested that the company “revise its structure, to avoid copying the Cambodian Angkor Wat temple,” said Chum Sounry, a spokesman for the ministry.
India’s ambassador “acknowledged that the Angkor Wat temple is the Khmer’s soul and priceless heritage, representing the Cambodian nation, and they promised they would not do any thing that would affect the soul and impact the good relations of both countries,” he said.
Cambodian historian Ros Chantrabot applauded India for its decision, which he said would maintain positive relations between the countries. Had the structure been built, it would have “degraded” the reputation of the company involved and of “Indian culture and civilization.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, meanwhile, the Indian government pledged $4 million to help renovate Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a high escarpment near the Thai border.
Source by :
Mahavir Mandir Trust, an engineering firm in India, had announced the construction of the 10-year project in 2012, but it has been ordered to suspend its operations, officials said.
The move comes after Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the Indian government find a way to stop the project, which could have angered many Cambodians, who see Angkor Wat as a powerful national symbol.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastara on Tuesday, after which officials announced a halt to the project.
The Indian government has suggested that the company “revise its structure, to avoid copying the Cambodian Angkor Wat temple,” said Chum Sounry, a spokesman for the ministry.
India’s ambassador “acknowledged that the Angkor Wat temple is the Khmer’s soul and priceless heritage, representing the Cambodian nation, and they promised they would not do any thing that would affect the soul and impact the good relations of both countries,” he said.
Cambodian historian Ros Chantrabot applauded India for its decision, which he said would maintain positive relations between the countries. Had the structure been built, it would have “degraded” the reputation of the company involved and of “Indian culture and civilization.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, meanwhile, the Indian government pledged $4 million to help renovate Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a high escarpment near the Thai border.
Source by :
08 September 2015
Phimeanakas Temple
Constructed : Late 10th/Early 11th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kleang
King : Jayavarman V 968 – 1001
Location : Phimeanakas is located in Angkor Thom, in the centre of the royal city, behind the Terrace of the elephants.
Comment : The small stairway pyramid type temple which is inside the court of Angkor Thom. It is the small temple because the king does the ceremony, it is located on the center of the court. The fact that Pimeanakas is not aligned perfectly compared to Victory Gate lets suppose that it would have been initially built at the time of Phnom Bakheng with which it is aligned, then rebuilt then.
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kleang
King : Jayavarman V 968 – 1001
Location : Phimeanakas is located in Angkor Thom, in the centre of the royal city, behind the Terrace of the elephants.
Comment : The small stairway pyramid type temple which is inside the court of Angkor Thom. It is the small temple because the king does the ceremony, it is located on the center of the court. The fact that Pimeanakas is not aligned perfectly compared to Victory Gate lets suppose that it would have been initially built at the time of Phnom Bakheng with which it is aligned, then rebuilt then.
Unfortunately, this Royal temple presents only very few sculptures
having survived and is not very interesting from this point of view. On
the other hand, of the top, the sight on Angkor Thom is particularly
interesting. But to reach it, you will have to use with many precautions
the western staircase, on our photograph, only staircase practicable
but nevertheless very abrupt, which makes the descent rather perilous.
This temple is associated with a curious legend according to which it
was inhabited by the spirit of a giant snake with nine heads which
appeared every evening under the features of beautiful young woman with
which the King was to couple himself under sorrow that a serious
misfortune does not occur with its people or himself. The scandalmongers
claim that the King would have imagined this legend to give himself
more freedom.
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| Phimeanakas Temple |
Baphuon Temple
Constructed : Mid 11th century , ???-1060
Religion : Hindu
Style : Baphuon
King : Udayadityavarman II 1050 – 1066
Location : Angkor Thom, by leaving Bayon, On the left before arriving at the terrace of the elephants.
Description : Baphuon temple built by Udayadityarvarman II was the most poorly constructed of all the temples in Angkor. From the remaining ruins, it is possible to see how imposing it was. This temple hill was dedicated to Shiva, but in its reliefs many motives from the Vishnu epic can be seen. Restoration work continues to be carried out on the Baphuon.
Religion : Hindu
Style : Baphuon
King : Udayadityavarman II 1050 – 1066
Location : Angkor Thom, by leaving Bayon, On the left before arriving at the terrace of the elephants.
Description : Baphuon temple built by Udayadityarvarman II was the most poorly constructed of all the temples in Angkor. From the remaining ruins, it is possible to see how imposing it was. This temple hill was dedicated to Shiva, but in its reliefs many motives from the Vishnu epic can be seen. Restoration work continues to be carried out on the Baphuon.
Baphuon is a little frustrating to pass in front of such a monument
and not to be able to visit it. One of the center pieces of Angkor Thom,
Baphuon is currently closed with the public for restoration and surely
still for a long time. You can just make the turn of it. It is about an
enormous work: a puzzle of more than 300.000 stones scattered on several
hectares and of which some weigh several tons! Each stone is numbered
and recorded in files burned during the war! The work which was stopped
in 1970 consists today with all to reconstitute and the result should
be equal to the challenge to be judged some by what is already visible.
It will thus be necessary to wait a certain time to have to be able
to admire gigantic Buddha lying which is inside. This temple-mountain of
which the sight in its top is, appears it, exceptional, was to be the
central temple of second Angkor, intermediate stage between Phnom
Bakheng and Bayon. What is presented today as an immense building site
should become a major temple to visit after the end of work.
Temple Detail : The big temple where the court is
located immediately on south side. Presently, France undertaking
restoration, the large-sized crane is moving. As for being possible to
visit, entering from Toumon, to the point of the aerial
going/participating road ending. The inner part from that, it has become
off limit. Because of that, walking outer circle generally, the back
(west side) it turns, it means to return looking at the sleeping form of
the explanation/releasing.
Banteay Samre Temple
Constructed : Mid 12th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150
Location : Outside of the large circuit, one finds Banteay Samre three kilometers in the East of East Mebon.
Comment : Banteay Samre is associated with a tasty legend which connects three temples: Eastern Mebon, Pre Rup and Banteay Srey, the legend of the king to soft cucumbers. Samres were large warriors, supposed to be mercenaries, shaven, tattooed and very impressive. It is said that the inhabitants of the village of Pradak, located beside this temple, are their downward. One of them, a gardener had inherited a divine soft cucumber seed that the king adored at the point to have condemned to died any person who would enter the cucumber field to steal them.
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150
Location : Outside of the large circuit, one finds Banteay Samre three kilometers in the East of East Mebon.
Comment : Banteay Samre is associated with a tasty legend which connects three temples: Eastern Mebon, Pre Rup and Banteay Srey, the legend of the king to soft cucumbers. Samres were large warriors, supposed to be mercenaries, shaven, tattooed and very impressive. It is said that the inhabitants of the village of Pradak, located beside this temple, are their downward. One of them, a gardener had inherited a divine soft cucumber seed that the king adored at the point to have condemned to died any person who would enter the cucumber field to steal them.
By greediness, it penetrated during the night in the field and was
killed by the gardener. Not having a descent, one called upon “the
elephant of the victory” of Mebon Oriental to appoint the future king,
and it appointed the gardener. The late king was buried in Pre Rup, but
its subjects refused to recognize the gardener for king and this one
went to be locked up in Banteay Samre to protect himself. Enormous work
of anastylose made possible to emphasize a splendid unit and well
preserved. The visit of Banteay Samre is to be combined with that of
Banteay Srey.
Temple Detail : The Banteay Samre temple with the
Angkor Wat style which has feature in the central hall which places the
tower of conical condition on top, has the unique atmosphere like the
fortress. As for the cause of that the high peripheral wall and, there
is constitution inside the inside perimeter kind of wall where quite
the central hall stands in the bath pond. The temple is surrounded in
the wall where the laterite is high, the corridor and the hall, two
scripture houses are crowded in the space where the inside of that is
narrow relatively.
As for the construct density with other things it is something which
is not felt excessively. The stylobate section was a height, in
order to be able to stretch the water inside. The lattice window of the
corridor condition is good, also shape is beautiful. The temple itself
is small relatively, but it has the long going/participating road on
east west. As for the length on east going road 200 meters, on west
going road 350 meters. As for the east going road being similar to the
Angkor Wat west going road, the style which lays the sandstone on the
stylobate of the laterite.
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| Banteay Samre Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150 |
Friday, September 25, 2015
Neak Pean Temple
Constructed : Late 12th century
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : In the north of the large circuit, between Preah Khan and Ta som.
Religion: Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : In the north of the large circuit, between Preah Khan and Ta som.
Comment : Neak Pean is single in its kind. In the
middle of a low-size baray today completely invisible, this small island
temple is made of five swimming pools laid out in the shape of flower
of lotus: A central swimming pool (70 metres) in the middle of which
the temple is itself and four other swimming pools (20 metres) which
form the petals of the flower. 4 overflows symbolize 4 rivers which took their source on the same lake meadows of the Kailash Mountain in the Tibet.
A complex hydraulic system was used to purify water and appears it
gave him beneficial virtues. The temple in itself is of small size but
its particular configuration is worth largely a visit. The modern name
of Neak Pean (rolled up snakes) comes from a great number of snakes
which proliferated in the neighbourhoods of the temple.
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| Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218 |
Koh Ker Temple
Constructed : 10th century
Religion: Hindu (dedicated to Shiva)
Style : Koh Ker
King : Jayavarman IV 928 – 941
Location : 130 km in North East of Siem Reap, are approximately two hours and half of road.
Comments : In 928 years, for an unknown reason, the King Jayavarman IV moved the Khmer capital from Angkor towards Koh Ker. But when capital is placed at Koh Ker is short, Jayavarman IV sinks in 941, passing the reign where the child Harshavarman II is short, age of Rajendravarman II (944 years) capital means again to return to Angkor.
Religion: Hindu (dedicated to Shiva)
Style : Koh Ker
King : Jayavarman IV 928 – 941
Location : 130 km in North East of Siem Reap, are approximately two hours and half of road.
Comments : In 928 years, for an unknown reason, the King Jayavarman IV moved the Khmer capital from Angkor towards Koh Ker. But when capital is placed at Koh Ker is short, Jayavarman IV sinks in 941, passing the reign where the child Harshavarman II is short, age of Rajendravarman II (944 years) capital means again to return to Angkor.
During twenty years, this site was the object of a very great number
of constructions and Prasat Thom which one usually visits is only one
very small part of immense Koh Ker. Prasat Thom is appeared as very
large and majestic pyramid of seven levels whose only last stage is
damaged. The staircases are extremely abrupt and required the addition
of wooden staircases to be practicable and the immense sight on the
surrounding countryside that one has at the top of this pyramid is a
reward for those which will have climbed!
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| Koh Ker Temple |
East Mebon Temple
Constructed : Mid 10th century, 944 – 952
Religion : Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II 944 – 968
Location : East Mebon is located on the small circuit tour, in the medium of the Eastern baray.
Comment : In perfect alignment with the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, Victory Gate and exactly in the East, in the middle of a gigantic baray of 7 km by 1.8 km, is Mebon Oriental. The baray, formerly supplied with Tonle Sap and which was used to feed the neighbouring cultures is entirely covered today with ground and sand so that you reache Mebon by the road.
Religion : Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II 944 – 968
Location : East Mebon is located on the small circuit tour, in the medium of the Eastern baray.
Comment : In perfect alignment with the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, Victory Gate and exactly in the East, in the middle of a gigantic baray of 7 km by 1.8 km, is Mebon Oriental. The baray, formerly supplied with Tonle Sap and which was used to feed the neighbouring cultures is entirely covered today with ground and sand so that you reache Mebon by the road.
But formerly, the only manner of reaching this temple was to cross
the baray in boat, which explains the presence of the four landing
stages located at each cardinal point.
This temple mountain does not have a central pyramid which was
replaced by a simple platform. It is supposed that they will not have
wanted too much to charge this small island located at the medium with
such a quantity of water. This temple was built at the time when the
country had been shaken by the usurping king Jayavarman IV and
Rajandravarman II had just brought back the capital from Kho Ker to
Angkor.
Rajaendravarman II would have built this temple in the honour of his
divinized parents and to protect the country and to contribute to the
continuity of the royal line. The elephants which decorate each angle of
this temple are very realistic and recall us that this temple is
related to a legend of a magic elephant.
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| Rajendravarman II 944 – 968 |
Preah Vihear Temple
Constructed : Early 10th century.
Religion : Hindu (god Shiva)
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Suryavarman I & II 1002 -1050
Location : In Svay Chrum Village, Kan Tout Commune, Choam Khsant District of Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia. The temple is 140 km from Angkor Wat and 320 km from Phnom Penh.
Comment : Construction of the first temple on the site began in the early 9th century; both then and in the following centuries it was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara.The earliest surviving parts of the temple, however, date from the Koh Ker period in the early 10th century, when the empire’s capital was at the city of that name. Today, elements of the Banteay Srei style of the late 10th century can be seen, but most of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the Khmer kings Suryavarman I (1002 -1050) and Suryavarman II (1113 -1150). An inscription found at the temple provides a detailed account of Suryavarman II studying sacred rituals, celebrating religious festivals and making gifts, including white parasols, golden bowls and elephants, to his spiritual advisor, the aged Brahmin Divakarapandita.The Brahmin himself took an interest in the temple, according to the inscription, donating to it a golden statue of a dancing Shiva known as “Nataraja”. In the wake of the decline of Hinduism in the region the site was converted to use by Buddhists.
Religion : Hindu (god Shiva)
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Suryavarman I & II 1002 -1050
Location : In Svay Chrum Village, Kan Tout Commune, Choam Khsant District of Preah Vihear province of northern Cambodia. The temple is 140 km from Angkor Wat and 320 km from Phnom Penh.
Comment : Construction of the first temple on the site began in the early 9th century; both then and in the following centuries it was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara.The earliest surviving parts of the temple, however, date from the Koh Ker period in the early 10th century, when the empire’s capital was at the city of that name. Today, elements of the Banteay Srei style of the late 10th century can be seen, but most of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the Khmer kings Suryavarman I (1002 -1050) and Suryavarman II (1113 -1150). An inscription found at the temple provides a detailed account of Suryavarman II studying sacred rituals, celebrating religious festivals and making gifts, including white parasols, golden bowls and elephants, to his spiritual advisor, the aged Brahmin Divakarapandita.The Brahmin himself took an interest in the temple, according to the inscription, donating to it a golden statue of a dancing Shiva known as “Nataraja”. In the wake of the decline of Hinduism in the region the site was converted to use by Buddhists.
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| Preah Vihear Temple |
Phnom Bakheng Temple
Constructed : Late 9th/Early 10th century – 889-900
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I 889 – 910
Location : With a little more than one kilometre in north of the principal entry of Angkor Wat and five hundred meters before the Southern Door of Angkor Thom, on the left of the road.
Comment : On the left of the road, one perforated in the forest, opposite some small merchants.
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Yasovarman I 889 – 910
Location : With a little more than one kilometre in north of the principal entry of Angkor Wat and five hundred meters before the Southern Door of Angkor Thom, on the left of the road.
Comment : On the left of the road, one perforated in the forest, opposite some small merchants.
The ruins of a monumental staircase which climbs the slope of a 60 m
height natural hill, it is the temple mountain of Phnom Bakheng. Every
evening, a many crowd – a little too many – is pressed there to go to
admire the sunset.
Some choose to ride elephant to go until in top of the hill, others
climb the staircases courageously. Arrived in top, the sight is with the
height of the efforts made for the rise. With far, one can see the
silhouettes of Phnom Krom in the South and Phnom Khulen in North. One
sees there also Baray, the forest of Angkor Thom and one overhangs
Angkor Wat.
The construction of Phnom Bakheng (Bakheng Hill) is an important
event insofar as it marks the displacement of the Khmer capital of
Roluos towards Angkor. Moreover, Phnom Bakheng is largely inspired by
Bakhong in its architecture but using materials and more elaborate
methods of construction. It should be noted that this temple mountain is
built directly on the rock whereas the other temples mountain are built
on embankments.
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| Phnom Bakheng Temple |
Preah Khan Temple
Constructed : Late 12th century 1191
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, in the North of Angkor Thom,
approximately two kilometres after the Northern Gate.
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, in the North of Angkor Thom,
approximately two kilometres after the Northern Gate.
Comment : Beautiful to be cried! Preah Khan, “the
crowned sword”, it is the most beautiful monument of whole Angkor! Built
by Jayavarman VII little after Ta Phrom, but in the honor of his
father, this temple is of an incomparable beauty. Unfortunately of broad
part of this monument are reduced to heaps of stones which piled up
during centuries and under the force of the vegetation and the bad
weather.
Preah Khan, city of the Victory would have been built on the same
spot where Jayavarman VII gained the victory over Chams, provisional
royal city when the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was downtown repair and
especially monastic where unrolled many traditional and religious
festivals.
It was in fact a real city of 56 hectares. In spite of the vandalism
and the plunder there’re still some magnificent sculptures. The city
sheltered 10.000 persons, 1000 dancers and one Sanscrit’s school.
Originally it was a convent Buddhist whose Buddha’s representations were
destroyed by Brahmanes (Indian priests) and replaced by representations
Hindus, (A single Bouddha representation stayed). To arrive in the
center of the temple, a row of galleries and doors which become more and
more low has measure that one approaches the centre (to show his
respect). In the center, a stone, big Stuppa Bouddhiste which was
brought in the XVth century. There’re small holes in all the walls in
the center of the building. Originally, in every hole was some gold and
diamonds, one says that all this was taken and resold by the Red Khmers.
Magnificent sculptures of the gods barattant the sea of milk, as well
as Vishnu and Lakshmi (his wife), and the place of 3 Lingams (sex of the
Gods), circle on the base for Shiva, square for Brahma and octagonal
for Vishnu. One finds as in Ta Phrom, a luxuriant vegetation which
resumed its rights.
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| Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218 |
Ta Prohm Temple
Constructed : Late 12th/Early 13th century 1186
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, just beside Banteay Kdei. East of Angkor Thom.
Comment : Ta Prohm temple is certainly one of most impressive, if not most impressive of all the temples of the site of Angkor . It was to be in its time a gigantic monastic city and when you enter by the Est gate, while moving through this splendid forest towards the temple itself, it is necessary to imagine that you cross an active city of many people where houses, made light materials entirely disappeared with Time. Inscriptions indicate that 80.000 people worked at the service of this monastery and inter alias the monks used 5 tons of gold plate! Ta Phrom forms part of the last generation of Angkorian temples, on only one level, surrounded by many galleries. You will be immediately impressed by the number, the size and the quality of the still intact galleries.
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Location : On the large circuit, just beside Banteay Kdei. East of Angkor Thom.
Comment : Ta Prohm temple is certainly one of most impressive, if not most impressive of all the temples of the site of Angkor . It was to be in its time a gigantic monastic city and when you enter by the Est gate, while moving through this splendid forest towards the temple itself, it is necessary to imagine that you cross an active city of many people where houses, made light materials entirely disappeared with Time. Inscriptions indicate that 80.000 people worked at the service of this monastery and inter alias the monks used 5 tons of gold plate! Ta Phrom forms part of the last generation of Angkorian temples, on only one level, surrounded by many galleries. You will be immediately impressed by the number, the size and the quality of the still intact galleries.
The others are only fall and heap of stones. The French School of
Extreme Orient, which is at the base of many work of restoration of
Angkor, would have voluntarily left this temple in this state of decay,
where nature continues its work destroying in order to give to the
visitor this very special impression to discover a wild place. The EFEO
is as justified by saying as there exists on the site of Angkor many
other examples of this kind of architecture, like Banteay Srey or the
very close Banteay Kdei, but also releases itself from an enormous task,
it is enough for persuaded to look at the numbers of stones scattered
on the ground. In addition, the roots which surround the walls and
invade certain galleries are a true treat for the eyes and the
photographers! Set up five years after the arrival on the throne of
Jayavarman VII, Ta Phrom is dedicated to his mother, and is formed part
of the temples dedicated to the divinized parents. It will build later
Preah Khan in the honor of his father. To be visited absolutely.
Ta Prohm is a Buddhism temple ruins like one city that inside the
immense site which east west 1000 meter north and south 600 meters.
There is a mark of the ring moat which surrounds the third lap wall on
left and right. The next second lap wall does with the laterite. Inside
having become the corridor, the roof of the sandstone is riding. As for
the banyan tree with the very much high trees and shrubs, there is no
branch excluding the part of the canopy. The key also voice of the bird
which calls sharply has emphasized strange atmosphere.
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| Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218 |
Beng Mealea (Lotus Pond)
Constructed : Early 11th century
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150
Location : About 50 km to the East of Siem Reap.
Comment : “The excursion of Beng Mealea which requests a whole day can be combined with a authority in Cambodia people to reach and visit this temple. The area being rich in small and big game and even in deep forest. There are tigers, panthers, elephants and buffaloes in the jungle wild until Prah Khan temple in Kompong Svay district in the east of country.” If these remarks are not any more of topicality, the visit of the site of Beng Malea which has just been opened to the public remains nevertheless a small forwarding but the access roads are now excellent if one agrees to make a small turning.
Religion: Hindu
Style : Angkor Wat
King : Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150
Location : About 50 km to the East of Siem Reap.
Comment : “The excursion of Beng Mealea which requests a whole day can be combined with a authority in Cambodia people to reach and visit this temple. The area being rich in small and big game and even in deep forest. There are tigers, panthers, elephants and buffaloes in the jungle wild until Prah Khan temple in Kompong Svay district in the east of country.” If these remarks are not any more of topicality, the visit of the site of Beng Malea which has just been opened to the public remains nevertheless a small forwarding but the access roads are now excellent if one agrees to make a small turning.
This visit can combine with that of Banteay Srei,
or Phnom Khulen, of Chau Srey Vibol and the Roluos group! A very
beautiful day in view for those which want to see all in only once. The
temple in itself mainly is dilapidated in invaded by the vegetation, but
the visit is facilitated by a wooden way which traverses part of the
temple.
Some places nevertheless remain enough sportsmen when it is a
question of climbing the many falls. Built little before Angkor Wat, of
which it would have been a kind of prototype, this temple is at the
cross of several main roads of the time. A visit which gives the
impression of a beautiful adventure and, now so rare, where very few
visitors are crossed.
 |
| Suryavarman II 1113 – 1150 |
Bayon Temple
Constructed : Late 12 th century
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Detail : Only the gallery circumference 1,200m total height 43m 54 towers.
Location : Center of Angkor Thom, 1500m in the north of the Southern Gate.
Comment : In the heart of Angkor Thom lies the beautiful Bayon temple. Bayon was built about a century after Angkor Wat. Bayon is unlike most of the other temples; no walls surround the terrain, and the style is Buddhist. The more than 200 large faces carved on the 54 towers are believed to depict the god Loki, or Avalokitesvara, or the Buddha King, or a mixture of the portrait of the Buddha and the King Jayavarman VII, but opinions differ. For many architectural and symbolic details a fitting explanation still has to be found. There are also some significant changes in style which leads archeologists to believe that the Bayon was built over a long period of time. The third level with the towers was changed later; the central part may have resembled the Indian temple mount Meru in an earlier stage, similar to temples like Angkor Wat.
Religion: Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218
Detail : Only the gallery circumference 1,200m total height 43m 54 towers.
Location : Center of Angkor Thom, 1500m in the north of the Southern Gate.
Comment : In the heart of Angkor Thom lies the beautiful Bayon temple. Bayon was built about a century after Angkor Wat. Bayon is unlike most of the other temples; no walls surround the terrain, and the style is Buddhist. The more than 200 large faces carved on the 54 towers are believed to depict the god Loki, or Avalokitesvara, or the Buddha King, or a mixture of the portrait of the Buddha and the King Jayavarman VII, but opinions differ. For many architectural and symbolic details a fitting explanation still has to be found. There are also some significant changes in style which leads archeologists to believe that the Bayon was built over a long period of time. The third level with the towers was changed later; the central part may have resembled the Indian temple mount Meru in an earlier stage, similar to temples like Angkor Wat.
Visit the Bayon in the early morning. The sight of the rising sun
slowly revealing the many faces with their eerie smile is a sight not to
be missed. Come back during the afternoon to have a look at the
galleries with their many bas-reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life
as well as great battles and military processions. Some of the reliefs
were re-carved when the temple later became Hindu. View the reliefs
from left to right, as opposed to Angkor Wat.
Before becoming the temple of state of Jayavarman VII, Bayon had been
devastated by Chams, which partly explains this architectural confusion
which makes of it also its charm! Bas-reliefs of the lower levels, and
the sight on the stone heads of the higher level are among most
interesting and more impressive things to be seen in Angkor! The
reconditioning of the unit of the temple was a colossal work, the more
so as certain stones were completely hidden in a very dense vegetation
which asked for large work of releases until the anastylose of the
towers and the central solid mass in the Forties.
 |
| Jayavarman VII 1181 – 1218 |
Banteay Srei / Women’s Citadel
Constructed : Late 10th century – 967
Religion: Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II 944 – 968 & Jayavarman V 968 – 1001
Location : At 37 km in North East of Siem Reap, and about 20 km from the large circuit, the road of Banteay Srei is very practicable and now indicated well.
Comment : Jewel of Khmer art, this temple with restricted dimensions is well outside the whole of Angkor, in a zone still difficult of access a short time ago, which explains its relatively late discovery and its restoration which intervened only after the complete release in 1924.
Religion: Hindu
Style : Banteay Srei
King : Rajendravarman II 944 – 968 & Jayavarman V 968 – 1001
Location : At 37 km in North East of Siem Reap, and about 20 km from the large circuit, the road of Banteay Srei is very practicable and now indicated well.
Comment : Jewel of Khmer art, this temple with restricted dimensions is well outside the whole of Angkor, in a zone still difficult of access a short time ago, which explains its relatively late discovery and its restoration which intervened only after the complete release in 1924.
It emanates from this small temple a very special softness, a kind
of undoubtedly calms mainly with the colour of the stones used for its
construction, a pink liking which slightly changes colour with the sun.
The many sculptures, their smoothness and their excellent state of
conservation contribute to the charm of this unit.
The term of “Banteay Srei” can be translated by “fortress of the
women” but its real significance differs according to various
interpretations. Some say that this temple was built by women, of other,
that it was reserved to the women, or that many women there were
found, but most probable in our eyes is that according to which the
temple would have been built in homage to the women.
The visit of Banteay Srei is to be envisaged over at least a
half-day, visits that one will be able to combine with that of Banteay
Samre and, on the return at the end of the afternoon with the splendid
sunset visible from the top of Pre Rup.
 |
| Rajendravarman II 944 – 968 & Jayavarman V 968 – 1001 |
Baksei Chamkrong
Constructed : Early/Mid 10th century 910-947
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Harshavarman I 910 – 923
Location : With less than 200 meters of Phnom Bakheng, on the left, right before arriving at the Southern gate of Angkor Thom.
Religion : Hindu
Style : Bakheng
King : Harshavarman I 910 – 923
Location : With less than 200 meters of Phnom Bakheng, on the left, right before arriving at the Southern gate of Angkor Thom.
Description : Baksei Chamkrong is a 12-meter tall
brick and laterite pyramid. Combine with a visit to the South Gate and
Phnom Bakheng. Lighting is best in the morning. Harshavarman I began
construction or perhaps dedicated statues at the site. The temple was
later improved/restored by Rajendravarman II shortly after the capital
was returned to Angkor from Koh Ker.
According to inscriptions on the doorway
Rajendravarman consecrated the temple with the installation of golden
Shiva image in 947AD. It may have also served as funerary temple.
 |
| Harshavarman I 910 – 923 |
Bakong Temple
Constructed : Late 9th century 881
Religion: Hindu (Shivaism)
Style : Preah Ko
King : Indravarman I 877 – 889
Location : Roluos Group. Located at Au Luok village, Ba Korng Commune, Prasat Bakong District in 15-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Siem Reap by the National Road No. 6. Then turning right.
Religion: Hindu (Shivaism)
Style : Preah Ko
King : Indravarman I 877 – 889
Location : Roluos Group. Located at Au Luok village, Ba Korng Commune, Prasat Bakong District in 15-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Siem Reap by the National Road No. 6. Then turning right.
Comment : They are first ones as the large-sized
mountain type temple which was made with the sandstone in the process of
evolution of the temple construction in Angkor period.
Also the constitution where you can feel the central hall small lightly
the stylobate (especially) in comparison with heavy appearance more, it
probably will be considered as one process of evolution. View helix
from near the central hall it seems, calls the artificial mountain it
is suitable.
The ring moat of Bankong, presently being covered in the grass, has
become like the swamp land. The ring moat was possible with the
laterite, there was a stairway which it is possible with the sandstone
which lap it is low is surrounded in the wall, in addition descends to
underwater, but the part of that remains on east side participating road
both sides. Lap there is a wall in the place which crosses the ring
moat, furthermore lap there is a wall mark even in the inner part. In
the halfway right side the Buddhism temple, is elementary school in the
left hand. Foreward reaching to the stylobate section, the building
which it is possible to left and right, with the sandstone
systematically has lined up
Furthermore when it advances, in the front the stylobate of five
layer which is heavy-looking increases in pyramid type, the central hall
of thinness one stands on that. In order from under and under one of
the first section for the tower hall whose 12 is small to surround the
central hall in fourth layer, it is arranged.
The stylobate section and the central hall are covered with the
sandstone, but in order to surround around the central stylobate, eight
hall groups which stand are the brick making. In addition, in order the
small hall group of the brick and the sandstone where each one has
specific name, to surround the central hall completely, it stands even
in the forest outside the ring moat.
Among these it seems that the hall which remains on south side state
is best. Also verifying the extent of such temple limits, probably will
be useful to the scale of Bakong and knowing constitution.
 |
| Indravarman I 877 – 889 |
Ak Yum Temple
Constructed : 7th century – Pre-Angkor
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kompong Pras
Religion: Hindu
Style : Kompong Pras
King : Unknown
Location : In the south of western baray, approximately a kilometre before the western end.
Comment : Ak Yum is the earliest known temple mountain architectural design. Inscriptions indicate that a temple dedicated to the Hindu. It is located in the southern of western baray. Ak Yum is regarded as the oldest Angkor ruin in the area.
Location : In the south of western baray, approximately a kilometre before the western end.
Comment : Ak Yum is the earliest known temple mountain architectural design. Inscriptions indicate that a temple dedicated to the Hindu. It is located in the southern of western baray. Ak Yum is regarded as the oldest Angkor ruin in the area.
During the construction of the West Baray, which is located
immediately to the north of it, parts of Ak Yum was built over. It is
not certain which Khmer king built this monument. Ak Yum were re-used
during the reign of Jayavarman I. Similarly, the ruins as visible today
was built over the original structure.
This temple, a little to away of the major monuments of Angkor is not
of great interest for a tourist but is archaeologically very
important. Inscriptions indicate the first construction to this temple
in 609, which makes of him the oldest pre-Angkorian vestige found at
this date. It was located on the road of first Angkor , and was
partially buried during the construction of Phnom Bakheng, then
definitively buried at the beginning of the XII° century during the
installation of the dams of Baray.
This temple is also the first prototype of mountain temple, concept
largely included thereafter in the various Angkorian constructions.
Because of its stranding, the release of Ak Yum was a considerable work,
it was even necessary to dynamite part of the dam to discover it
completely.Angkor Thom Style and Site
Style
Angkor Thom is in the Bayon style. This manifests itself in the large scale of the construction, in the widespread use of laterite, in the face-towers at each of the entrances to the city and in the naga-carrying giant figures which accompany each of the towers.
The site
Faces on Prasat Bayon
An artists representation in 1899 of Angkor Thom during its heyday in 12th century CE.
The city lies on the west bank of the Siem Reap River, a tributary of Tonle Sap, about a quarter of a mile from the river. The south gate of Angkor Thom is 7.2 km north of Siem Reap, and 1.7 km north of the entrance to Angkor Wat. The walls, 8 m high and flanked by a moat, are each 3 km long, enclosing an area of 9 km². The walls are of laterite buttressed by earth, with a parapet on the top. There are gates at each of the cardinal points,
from which roads lead to the Bayon at the centre of the city. As the
Bayon itself has no wall or moat of its own, those of the city are
interpreted by archaeologists as representing the mountains and oceans
surrounding the Bayon's Mount Meru.Another gate—the Victory Gate—is 500 m north of the east gate; the
Victory Way runs parallel to the east road to the Victory Square and the
Royal Palace north of the Bayon.
The faces on the 23 m towers at the city gates, which are later
additions to the main structure, take after those of the Bayon and pose
the same problems of interpretation. They may represent the king
himself, the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, guardians of the empire's cardinal points, or some combination of these. A causeway spans the moat in front of each tower: these have a row of devas on the left and asuras
on the right, each row holding a naga in the attitude of a tug-of-war.
This appears to be a reference to the myth, popular in Angkor, of the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The temple-mountain of the Bayon, or perhaps the gate itself, Would then be the pivot around which the churning takes place. The
nagas may also represent the transition from the world of men to the
world of the gods (the Bayon), or be guardian figures.The gateways themselves are 3.5 by 7 m, and would originally have been closed with wooden doors.The south gate is now by far the most often visited, as it is the main entrance to the city for tourists.
At each corner of the city is a Prasat Chrung—corner shrine—built of sandstone and dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. These are cruciform with a central tower, and orientated towards the east.
Within the city was a system of canals,
through which water flowed from the northeast to the southwest. The
bulk of the land enclosed by the walls would have been occupied by the
secular buildings of the city, of which nothing remains. This area is
now covered by forest.
Most of the great Angkor ruins have vast displays of bas-relief
depicting the various gods, goddesses, and other-worldly beings from the
mythological stories and epic poems of ancient Hinduism (modified by
centuries of Buddhism). Mingled with these images are actual known
animals, like elephants, snakes, fish, and monkeys, in addition to
dragon-like creatures that look like the stylized, elongated serpents
(with feet and claws) found in Chinese art.
But among the ruins of Ta Prohm, near a huge stone entrance, one can see that the “roundels on pilasters on the south side of the west entrance are unusual in design.”
What one sees are roundels depicting various common animals—pigs,
monkeys, water buffaloes, roosters and snakes. There are no mythological
figures among the roundels, so one can reasonably conclude that these
figures depict the animals that were commonly seen by the ancient Khmer
people in the twelfth century.
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom (Khmer: "Great City"), located in present day Cambodia, was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII.
It covers an area of 9 km², within which are located several monuments
from earlier eras as well as those established by Jayavarman and his
successors. At the centre of the city is Jayavarman's state temple, the Bayon, with the other major sites clustered around the Victory Square immediately to the north.
Map of Central Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom was established as the capital of Jayavarman VII's
empire, and was the centre of his massive building programme. One
inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the
city as his bride.
Angkor Thom seems not to be the first Khmer capital on the site, however. Yasodharapura,
dating from three centuries earlier, was centred slightly further
northwest, and Angkor Thom overlapped parts of it. The most notable
earlier temples within the city are the former state temple of Baphuon, and Phimeanakas,
which was incorporated into the Royal Palace. The Khmers did not draw
any clear distinctions between Angkor Thom and Yashodharapura: even in
the fourteenth century an inscription used the earlier name. The name of Angkor Thom—great city—was in use from the 16th century.
The last temple known to have been constructed in Angkor Thom was Mangalartha,
which was dedicated in 1295. Thereafter the existing structures
continued to be modified from time to time, but any new creations were
in perishable materials and have not survived.
Angkor Wat Architecture
Plan of Angkor Wat
General plan of Angkor Wat with central structure in the middle
Detailed plan of the central structure
Angkor Wat, located at 13°24′45″N 103°52′0″E, is a unique combination of the temple mountain, the standard design for the empire's state temples and the later plan of concentric galleries. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods: the central quincunx of towers symbolises the five peaks of the mountain, and the walls and moat the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean.
Access to the upper areas of the temple was progressively more
exclusive, with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level.
Unlike most Khmer temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west rather than the east. This has led many (including Maurice Glaize and George Coedès) to conclude that Suryavarman intended it to serve as his funerary temple. Further evidence for this view is provided by the bas-reliefs, which proceed in a counter-clockwise direction—prasavya
in Hindu terminology—as this is the reverse of the normal order.
Rituals take place in reverse order during Brahminic funeral services.The archaeologist Charles Higham also describes a container which may have been a funerary jar which was recovered from the central tower. It has been nominated by some as the greatest expenditure of energy on the disposal of a corpse.
Freeman and Jacques, however, note that several other temples of Angkor
depart from the typical eastern orientation, and suggest that Angkor
Wat's alignment was due to its dedication to Vishnu, who was associated
with the west.
A further interpretation of Angkor Wat has been proposed by Eleanor Mannikka.
Drawing on the temple's alignment and dimensions, and on the content
and arrangement of the bas-reliefs, she argues that the structure
represents a claimed new era of peace under King Suryavarman II:
"as the measurements of solar and lunar time cycles were built into the
sacred space of Angkor Wat, this divine mandate to rule was anchored to
consecrated chambers and corridors meant to perpetuate the king's power
and to honor and placate the deities manifest in the heavens above." Mannikka's suggestions have been received with a mixture of interest and scepticism in academic circles. She distances herself from the speculations of others, such as Graham Hancock, that Angkor Wat is part of a representation of the constellation Draco.
Angkor Wat History
Angkor Wat lies 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) north of the modern town of Siem Reap, and a short distance south and slightly east of the previous capital, which was centred at Baphuon. In an area of Cambodia where there is an important group of ancient structures, it is the southernmost of Angkor's main sites.
According to legend, the construction of Angkor Wat was ordered by Indra to act as a palace for his son Precha Ket Mealea. According to the 13th century Chinese traveler Daguan Zhou, it was believed by some that the temple was constructed in a single night by a divine architect.The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113 – 1150). Dedicated to Vishnu, it was built as the king's state temple and capital city. As neither the foundation stela nor any contemporary inscriptions referring to the temple have been found, its original name is unknown, but it may have been known as "Varah Vishnu-lok" after the presiding deity. Work seems to have ended shortly after the king's death, leaving some of the bas-relief decoration unfinished.In 1177, approximately 27 years after the death of Suryavarman II, Angkor was sacked by the Chams, the traditional enemies of the Khmer.Thereafter the empire was restored by a new king, Jayavarman VII, who established a new capital and state temple (Angkor Thom and the Bayon respectively) a few kilometers to the north.
Toward the end of the 12th century, Angkor Wat gradually transformed from a Hindu center of worship to Buddhism, which continues to the present day. Angkor Wat is unusual among the Angkor temples in that although it was somewhat neglected after the 16th century it was never completely abandoned, its preservation being due in part to the fact that its moat also provided some protection from encroachment by the jungle.
One of the first Western visitors to the temple was António da Madalena, a Portuguese monk who visited in 1586 and said that it "is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of. In the mid-19th century, the temple was visited by the French naturalist and explorer, Henri Mouhot, who popularised the site in the West through the publication of travel notes, in which he wrote:
"One of these temples—a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by some ancient Michelangelo—might take an honorable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome, and presents a sad contrast to the state of barbarism in which the nation is now plunged.Mouhot, like other early Western visitors, found it difficult to believe that the Khmers could have built the temple, and mistakenly dated it to around the same era as Rome. The true history of Angkor Wat was pieced together only from stylistic and epigraphic evidence accumulated during the subsequent clearing and restoration work carried out across the whole Angkor site. There were no ordinary dwellings or houses or other signs of settlement including cooking utensils, weapons, or items of clothing usually found at ancient sites. Instead there is the evidence of the monuments themselves.
Bullet holes left by the Khmer Rouge at Angkor Wat
The splendid artistic legacy of Angkor Wat and other Khmer monuments in the Angkor region led directly to France adopting Cambodia as a protectorate on 11 August 1863 and invading Siam to take control of the ruins. This quickly led to Cambodia reclaiming lands in the northwestern corner of the country that had been under Siamese (Thai) control since 1351 AD (Manich Jumsai 2001), or by some accounts, 1431 AD.Cambodia gained independence from France on 9 November 1953 and has controlled Angkor Wat since that time. It is safe to say that from the colonial period onwards until the site's nomination as UNESCO World Heritage in 1992, this specific temple of Angkor Wat was instrumental in the formation of the modern and gradually globalized concept of built cultural heritage.
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