"Angkor Wat" Angkor Wat by leffe3
Angkor Wat Travel Guide: 1,638 reviews and 4,718 photos
What an extraordinary place. The extensive ruins of an ancient kingdom, like so many places in the world, lost for centuries before being rediscovered by intrepid 19th and early 20th century explorers (Angkor, Petra, the Nile Delta, Mayan & Inca ruins to name but a few). But more recent tragic events (Pol Pot and the Khmere Rouge) kept Angkor out of view to the modern traveller until very recently - consequently, Angkor has yet to become the mass tourism site that it will, eventually, become.
Angkor (Thom & Wat) is only part of an extensive ancient kingdom going back centuries. The Rolous Group to the east is the oldest remaining remains - many of the buildings pre-9th century were made from semi-permanent materials and have been lost. Brick and sandstone constructions at Lolei and Bakong have survived the ravages of history and nature. But it is in Angkor Thom and, in particular the 12th century Angkor Wat that, according to critics, we see the 'pinnacle' of Khmer architecture.
The Angkor sites are some 4kms east of the village of Siem Reap - a sleepy little town on the banks of the Siem Reap river. At the moment, whilst serving tourism, it has yet to be overrun (although this will undoubtedly change in time). A few kms to the south is the Tonle Sap lake (point of arrival by ferry from Phnom Penh) and the floating Vietnamese village. Between the town and lake shores is an incredibly lush and verdant countryside and, probably, the site of many more yet to be discovered ruins.
As a religious site, Angkor remains the home of monks and novices, and throughout the area the incredible-hued orange robes can be seen, juxtaposed against the greys of the stone of the monuments and the green of the jungle.
Reviews (45)
Preah Ko - Rolous Group
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
On the other side of the highway from Lolei is Preah Ko. It is known as the temple of the ancestors, and, although... more travel advice
Phimeanakas
Things to Do
(32)
'Celestial Palace' is one of the bigger structures somewhat the worse for wear (it was actually being renovated in parts... more travel advice
Only if you're quick -:)
Shopping
(1)
It went past too quickly -:) Imagine if you'd forgotten soemthing, only to discover the local supermarket had upped and... more travel advice
lake shoreline
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
Once moved, the local residents spread themselves along the shoreline of the lake, forming a considerable community. But... more travel advice
Angkor Wat Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "Angkor Wat"
- "Angkor Wat Rediscovered"
- "Angkor"
- "Angkor What?"
- "Facing to the west and stairway to heaven"
- "Angkor Wat: Our Own Personal Tuk Tuk"
- "Angkor Wat"
- See All...
- Member Rank:
- 0 0 1 5 2
- Forum Rank:
- 0 0 2 3 7
- 2,258 Reviews
- 7,014 Photos
- Add Friend
- Follow
- Send Message
Badges & Stats in Angkor Wat
- 45 Reviews
- 135 Photos
- 0 Forum posts
- 21 Comments
- 3,030PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (38)
Have you been to Angkor Wat?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Angkor Wat
- Posted in Travel Melbourne Forum "Re: Melbourne - Great Ocean Rd"
- Uploaded a Photo to "Terrace of the Leper King III"
- updated a Angkor Wat Travel Page "Angkor Wat"
- Commented on one of SirRichard's Angkor Wat travel pages
- Wrote a Review Raised terrace in Angkor Wat Restaurants
Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Sydney
Intro, 113 reviews, 239 photos, 2 travelogues
-
Jerusalem
Intro, 76 reviews, 275 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Melbourne
Intro, 102 reviews, 245 photos, 3 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
State of Victoria
Intro, 54 reviews, 230 photos, 1 travelogue
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Tel Aviv-Yafo
Intro, 84 reviews, 185 photos, 3 travelogues
-
Israel
Intro, 51 reviews, 185 photos
-
Hong Kong
Intro, 50 reviews, 157 photos
-
Angkor Wat
Intro, 45 reviews, 135 photos
-
London
Intro, 64 reviews, 110 photos
-
Paris
Intro, 30 reviews, 137 photos

Business Travel
National/State Park
Historical Travel
Comments (21)
Your Angkor tips read like a must have guide! Very good job. The monk was indeed extremely photogenic. Good capture.
hi there, great page with nice photos and good tips. all the best from Istanbul.Bora
Hi Keith. What a gorgeous page! Super info, and how did you manage to get all those pics without the hoards of tourists in the shot?! A page well-done :-) Greetings from a Heidelberg-girl in the desert / Jess in Dubai
great pics visiting there in august can't wait 2 c them in person
kewl pictures u got here. I'm always fascinated by the smilling faces of the buddha in Bayon. I captured some of them on my site too.
Indeed,incredible and misterious smile.Some of your photo are really brethtaking. Cheers!
Great Photos and Tips! T2W
Thanks for the very interesting Angkor Wat info and pics !! I really enjoyed checking out your pages !!
Ver impressive VT Angkor Wat page,... You've seen the sacred Dancing courtesans, the lovely spirits of the Apsaras, the remarkable Avalokiteshvara, famous Leper King, my Garuda, some model-monks and even the South-gate... , thanks greetzzz RoyJava
Unlike my wife, I hold this place in higher esteem than even the pyramids. I'll get the same views as this before it's all over . . .