Recently updated on August 30th, 2022 at 05:28 pm
Stretching over 150 square miles of lush South-East Asian jungle in Cambodia’s northern province, Siem Reap’s Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer Empire, and has left enormous, lasting reminders of its importance. From basins and dykes to statues and temples, Cambodia’s Khmer past can be seen and experienced around every corner. Such is the quantity of stunning history on display here, that visiting is less about finding beauty than a case of sifting through its finest varieties. Here, we provide a guide to the greatest Siem Reap temples to visit on a trip to Cambodia.
Old & Venerable: Phnom Bakheng
Built around AD 900 as a mountain temple, Phnom Bakheng seeks to mimic Mount Meru (the centre of the universe in Hinduism) with its five magnificent towers. These compete for attention, however, with the sanctuary towers built by the famous “Leper King”, Yasovarman I, as well as the silver slither in the middle distance, which is Tonlé Sap, The Great Lake. Despite these attractions, countless visitors enter Phnom Bakheng for the view of Angkor Wat rather than anything else.
Best Preserved: Angkor Thom
Technically not a temple at all but a city, Angkor Thom (meaning “great city”) was built after the Cham peoples destroyed the old Cambodian capital of Yasodharapura. It was built to last, too, with a 100-metre wide moat, huge walls and towers that dwarf visitors even today. Perhaps its most visited sites are the Royal or Elephant Terraces, where lichen-clad sculptures look ready to leap into life at any second!
Most Important: Angkor Wat
Important enough to be featured on the Cambodian national flag, Angkor Wat represents what Cambodian stonemasons could achieve at the height of their powers. Reached by a 350-metre long walkway and overlooked by five huge lotus-shaped towers, every aspect of this temple is monumental in scale and execution.
Greatest Statues: Thommanon
Once connected to Chau Say Tevoda temple across the road, Thommanon is in a much better condition than its neighbour thanks mostly to a successful restoration project in the 1960s. This saved hundreds of statues (aged beautifully in a colourful sandstone), each of which recall the glorious deeds of the gods and the piety of mankind.
The Natural Wonder: Ta Phrom
Even more photogenic than Thommanon, everybody knows Ta Phrom thanks to its leading role in Lara Croft’s “Tomb Raider” film. No doubt the site was chosen for its gargantuan trees and aerial roots (which lend the temple a storybook air) but the bas reliefs, which capture everything from rampaging boars to serene monks, refuse to play second fiddle to nature.
Best Sunset: Pre Rup
There are lots of temples in Siem Reap that do a good sunrise or sunset, but few compare to the rusty-red skies, peachy brickwork, verdant jungle, and tumble-down romance afforded by Pre Rup. Built to honour Shiva, there’s also a small Buddhist shrine at the summit, where some augment their peaceful moments with a little prayer.
Most Characterful: Preah Khan
Preah Khan likes to do things a little differently. A stunning example of a linear temple, its boundaries are formed by garudas – the human eagles that epitomised speed, strength and valour – which protect a rather unusual domain that features phallic lingam symbols, a two-story pavilion, a library, and a once-bronze-plated sanctum.
If dangling vines, prayer-soaked stones and smudgy sunsets sound like an alluring prospect, why not book a place on the Highlights of Vietnam with Cambodia trip, which features the mystical Angkor Wat.
Image Credits: Phnom Bakheng © iStock/ivanmateev. Elephant Terrace © iStock/molloykeith. Angkor Wat © iStock/nikada. Thommanon © iStock/ahau1969. Ta Phrom Temple © iStock/manx_in_the_world. Pre Rup © iStock/aluxum. Preah Kahn © iStock/meheszsofi.