Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is an amazing place to visit, full of ancient mystery and intrigue. It's also one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Angkor Wat is the most popular attraction to visit in Cambodia and the biggest religious monument on earth. It's close to the city of Siem Reap, being approximately 8 kilometers north.

The History Of Angkor Wat

You get a strong sense of history and mystery on arrival at Angkor Wat, as you cross over the bridge, which takes you over the moat which is rumored to have once contained crocodiles that were used to deter enimies, more of this impressive site is still being discovered after being lost in the jungle for centuries.

Larger than anything the Greeks, Romans or Egyptians built, Angkor Wat is 10 times larger than any cathedral constructed. As you stand before one of the most impressive monuments ever built, you get a clear sense of this mighty Khmer empire - and the grandness it once held. Angkor was bigger than New York City with a population of more than 1 million people, while at the same time London only had 30,000 citizens.

Angkor Wat was built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century (between 1113 - 1150 AD), it is estimated that it took more than 30 years to build . Much of it is still standing today and there is half a mile long, relief-carved wall around the perimeter which is the longest of its kind anywhere in the world.

The name Angkor Wat translates as “City of Temples”, but this was not the original name. The new name Angkor Wat only began to be used in the 18th century. originally the temple was known as "Pisnulok". This was the official title that King Suryavarman II had bestowed this grand structure.

Angkor Wat holds many secrets and unlike other temples within Angkor Archaeology Park, which are aligned facing to the east, Angkor Wat temple was built to face west. Why? We don't know. However Angkor Wat faces the sunset and the evening is a wonderful time to see this magnificent temple as it reflects upon the serene lake. However, in the early morning the temple has a certain energy, when the dawn rays hit the earth-toned blocks and reflect the radiant light.

Some believe that like other ancient monuments around the world, Angkor Wat is built apon ley lines (energy lines of the earth) and this adds to the mystiry.

There is no doubt that Angkor Wat is an extraordinary place and the mighty Khmer empire rose to become one of the most sophisticated cities in the east - if not the entire world. Suddenly, something appeared to strike Cambodia in 1431, when Angkor Wat was quickly abandoned by most. Many think that it was due to war with neighboring countries, however records were lost and destroyed over time - so this is something we may never know for sure.

Overgrown by jungle and lost in time, Angkor Wat was said to be rediscovered 400 years later in the 1860's by accident, when a missionary started exploring the area and came across the massive structure. This discovery was not taken seriously until 60 years later when efforts began to uncover Angkor Wat from the gripping jungle.

Here it was discovered that King Suryavarman (whose name means shield of the sun) is depicted as being a tall, muscular and strong leader that was considered a Demi- God among his people.

Angkor Wat was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, however the religion in Cambodia swiched in the 13th century from Hindu to Buddhism. This can be seen through its various designs and sculptures on the temple walls depicting the two religions.

An Engineering Marvel

There is estimated to be 10 million stone blocks used in the construction of Angkor Wat and some are thought to weigh as much as 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds). Quarrying the rock from a mountain 25 miles away, it is believed that the blocks were floated down the river on barges and hauled to the construction site by elephants. Small holes are found in the stone blocks where it is believed that ropes were secured in order to move them.

Many people don't realise that the temples were originally painted on the outside and today only sparse traces of paint remain on a few of the temple's exterior walls.

The blocks used to build the temple walls were sealed together by using an almost invisible type of bonding made from vegetable compound rather than mortar. They were constructed with such precision and accuracy that one could not slide a piece of paper between the blocks.

The structure of Angkor Wat is considered both an architectural and engineering marvel, because it's floating on a swamp and supported by a foundation of sub terrain water. Built on this water table, the base of Angkor Wat is able to withstand the forces of nature from floods during the monsoon rains - the entire building rises and falls seasonally with the level.

Angkor Wat was the largest temple in the impressive Khmer empire and in the 13th century was considered by some as one of the biggest cities in the world, until the industrial revelation hit Europe. Inhabited by an estimated 1 million people during the peak of its reign, Angkor Wat covers an area of 500 acres, which is equivalent to 250 football fields.

A Very Interesting Feature

A very interesting feature of Angkor Wat is the small chamber that reflects sound. If you stand against one of the walls and beat your chest or sing a note, the sound magnifies back to you. No one knows what this chamber was used for, however it must have been something of great significance because a smaller version can be found in the temple of Preah Khan.

We are only now discovering that sound seems to have been of great importance to people from many ancient civilizations. Sound chambers have also been discovered at such other notable places as The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and Machi Picchu in Peru, while scientists are studying the practical application of sound for levitation purposes.

How To See Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a very important part of Cambodia and is even displayed on the national flag.

Your guide will take you around the notable areas in Angkor Wat, while giving you some of the history of this amazing monument. Guidebooks can also be purchased in Siem Reap city and are available in most languages.

One could spend an entire day or two just exploring the labyrinth of corridors that Angkor Wat presents - with its striking high relief artwork and etchings. Equaling the sights of the Pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge or Machu Picchu in Peru, a visit to Angkor Wat should be a definite must on your list of places to visit.

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