"High Point in Khmer Classical Culture" Angkor Wat by atufft

Angkor Wat Travel Guide: 1,638 reviews and 4,718 photos

Main causeway and outer moat at Angkor Wat

The most important in a city of great temples

Probably a by product of efforts to control the water supply for irrigation during the dry season, the moats surrounding Angkor Wat human constructed trenches, probably with the aid of elephant and oxen labor. The material unearthed is called laterite, and was the chief foundation material used at Angkor Wat and elsewhere in the area. While several hastily built temples within Ankgor Thom are mostly exposed laterite, Angkor Wat is entirely covered by carefully quarried sandstone, much of which was also carved into complex reliefs. As a result of this exceptional high point in creative expressive culture, the entire area is often generally referred to as Angkor Wat. In reality though there is much more, as Angkor Thom, the city of temples adjacent to Angkor Wat is at times equally inspiring, and often much earlier. Indeed, the Bayon, rates perhaps second in creative greatness to Angkor Wat, providing the well known imagery of repeating faces, imagery that Hollywood has so frequently used as a haunting backdrop for tribal jungle epics. For a complete overview, visit All my "things to do" and "off the beaten path" tips below.

Mount Meru cosmology is Hindu, not Buddhist

False window and Aspara Dancer at Angkor Wat

Local government literature and current Khmer culture claims that the temples are Buddhist, but in fact the cosmology and origin of the temples is Hindu. Ankgor Wat layout is a series of concentric walls, through which gates and causeways lead up to the center towering symboic Mount Meru. In Angkor Thom, the earlier and later temples of various legendary purposes, built by various kings of the Khmer society, provides a cornicopia of reliefs and jungle enshrouded stonework.

The stone reliefs provide the history of Angkor Wa

War relief at Ankgor Wat

Miles of walls at Angkor Wat are carved in detailed reliefs. I've also seen wonderful reliefs in Egypt and Guatemala, but the detail here is extraordinary even relative to these. As elsewhere in the world, myth and history are combined, and like the Maya, the original paper based history texts were unfortunately lost to the weather and devastation of invading military forces. Therefore, expect to see Khmer military victories, rather than defeats, shown on these stone reliefs. With careful study however, considerable evidence of cultural and regal heirarchy can be learned. The photograpy of these reliefs are challenging and time consuming.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Must see wonder of the world--fantastic reliefs and construction
Cons:The weather is almost unbearably hot and humid
In a nutshell:Ruins fans will want to spend at least 5 days in the area

Last visit to Angkor Wat: Apr 1998
Intro Updated Jun 28, 2009
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Reviews (30)

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Comments (14)

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King_Golo May 21, 2010 at 2:40 AM

Great Angkor pages! I've seen the temples twice and I could still go for more!
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magor65 Jun 27, 2009 at 1:25 PM

Very detailed and interesting information about Angkor. When I visited the site in 2008 the temples were as beautiful but the place was much more noisy and crowded.
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Helenbb Jul 18, 2008 at 11:39 PM

will spend one week in this amazing country. :))
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anoum Nov 23, 2007 at 6:26 AM

Am looking forward to seeing the beautiful places you have described in Siem Reap.
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CatherineL Aug 6, 2007 at 6:42 PM

Hi Alan, I really love your writings. And I totally agree with you on the reading prior visiting Angkor Wat. I bought a guide book during my touring around Angkor Wat and I learn alot of things. And it gave a feeling of flash back ... to the Khmer era!
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Ewingjr98 Mar 24, 2007 at 2:08 AM

Great tips... sounds like you had an interesting visit!
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sayedaburas Mar 19, 2007 at 1:13 AM

Well discribed (~_~)
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hindu1936 Sep 6, 2006 at 5:44 AM

thank you for the good info and photos. your facts and observations really help a lot. were the roads safe for a motorscooter?
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MM212 Jun 28, 2006 at 1:29 PM

Incredible! Thank you for sharing!
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uglyscot Jun 27, 2006 at 12:10 AM

Another place I wish i'd had the chance to see. Your tour and commentary are so good I feel I have been there without the humidity and danger of tripping over tree roots>