"Gateway to Angkor" Phumi Siem Reab by cheezecake_deli

Siem Reap is the second city of Cambodia, a town made good largely because of the tourist trade. Located in the northeast of the country, the area around Siem Reap was the heart of the Khmer empire between the 9th and 15th centuries, an empire which at its height ruled much of continental South East Asia. It left its legacy in the form of the spectacular temple ruins of Angkor, located just north of the town. When the Thais sacked Angkor in 1432, the Khmer court moved to Phnom Penh and much of the area sank into obscurity. Over the next few centuries, the area was fought over and variably controlled by the Thais and the Khmers. When Cambodia became a French protectorate in the 19th century, the French negotiated the permanent return of Siem Reap to Cambodia.

Little is known of the origins of Siem Reap town itself. Its proximity to Angkor made it a natural choice for the location of the Grand Hotel des Ruines (now the Grand Hotel d’Angkor) built in the 1930s to cater for European tourists visiting the newly re-discovered temples. Today’s Siem Reap continues to benefit as the gateway to Angkor – there seems to be a new hotel being built everyday. The town is also located close to the Tonle Sap lake, a vital source of living for rural Cambodians.

Tonle Sap lake

The main reason to come to Siem Reap, for most people, is to see the temples of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Indeed, you can spend many days, if not weeks, visiting the astonishing temples and learning about their preservation/restoration. Aside from Angkor, Siem Reap’s other main attraction is the Tonle Sap lake, the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Siem Reap town itself is also pleasant enough for a relaxing stroll, particularly the area around the Old Market (Psar Chas), where there are plenty of places to eat and shop.

Psar Chas

Top 5 temples of Angkor:
1. Angkor Wat - the one you came to see
2. Bayon - the beguiling last state temple of the Angkor period
3. Ta Prohm - the one featured in Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie
4. Banteay Srei - the striking pink limestone temple
5. Preah Khan - one of the largest templex complexes in Angkor.