Monday, September 15, 2014

Angkor Wat - The gem in Cambodia

As one of the most corrupt developing nations in Asia, engulfed in a turbulent war until 1991, Siem Reap in Cambodia does seem like an odd choice for a vacation destination. But the gems it holds beneath the rough exterior is just too precious to miss.

  Siem Reap, Cambodia houses the largest religious monument in the world. The Ankor Wat Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and then later became a Buddhist Temple. Though i had read the dimensions , imagined it quite a lot, nothing ever prepares you for the size and grandeur of the building. The moat itself threw me off with its 109m width which took me quite sometime to cross in the hot sun. The water in the moat plays an important role in holding the Temple in place. If the moat water recedes, the Temple will collapse. They had some clever architecture in the older times!

Angkorwat moat
The Temple is surrounded by moats on all four sides

M for Moat for ABC Wednesday
Back Entrance to the Angkorwat Temple.
Back Entrance to the massive structure
Upper galleries of the AngkorWat Temple
Upper galleries of the Temple. There is a law prohibiting any other structure to be more taller than the 65m which is the height of the Temple.
Open grounds at the Angkor Wat Temple
Open grounds at the Angkor Wat Temple
Walk, walk and more walk - mantra at the Angkor Wat!



It was a very interesting experience to try and catch the sunrise from the temple. It was 4:20 AM when we reached the moat. We were welcomed to officials holding torches and checking our ID. Later, when we crossed the moat and reached the Temple itself, we were greeted to candles glowing in selected places. UNESCO has not made electricity available in the Temple to protect it. Because of this, the Temple is closed every day around 5:30PM. I wish i had read about this somewhere before searching frantically to catch a night time/ariel view of the temple from the flight at about 2AM Korean time :( Anyway, i missed getting the special sunrise shot because it was cloudy that one day i made up mind to breathe in the 4 AM air.


On the way to see a cloudy sunrise
On the way to see a cloudy sunrise 


Making the best use of a cloudy morn
Making the best use of a cloudy 4 AM
The gallery in the Angkor Wat
The gallery in the Angkor Wat
There are pools in the Temple for cleansing the body after the meditation
The Temples are grand but the pillars are bare
Sanskrit on the walls.
Sanskrit on the walls of the Temple

The Temple is built with sandstone cut and brought here from Kulen mountains that is a good 55kms from this place. They used bamboo and elephants to build it. The carvings are done are superficial and not so deep and even unfinished in a lot of places. Is it because they had to do a lot of carvings that they did not give in their 100%? "I am sure his mom was not around when he was building this one" quips my son rolling his eyes!

carvings in Angkor Wat
Unfinished and superficial but elegant carvings in the Angkor Wat Temple

Carved lotus on the ceilings of the Angkor Wat Temple
Carved lotus on the ceilings of the Angkor Wat Temple
 The carvings on the Temple were from the epics of India- Ramayana and Mahabharata including the battle between Vali and Sugreeva, the Kurukshetra war and also many Indian deities. There was a huge relief from the churning of the ocean for the nectar. This seemed to be a popular legend among the Khmer people as this legend is depicted in a lot of other places in Siem Reap. Then there were also carvings from the war campaigns of the then king Suryavarman II and also the daily life of the people.


God of Death, Yama on the walls of the Angkor Wat
God of Death, Yama on the walls of the Angkor Wat

Beautiful carvings of lotus on the walls of the Temple
Beautiful carvings of lotus on the walls of the Temple
Superficial and unfinished carvings
Unfinished carvings

Window carvings
Beautiful carvings on the window

Ramayana on the wall- King Rama
Ramayana on the wall- King Rama

Suryavarman II the king of Angkor Wat
Suryavarman II - The king who built this largest religious monument in the world. 

The Temple was built in the 12 century is not in great shape and has been protected by the UNESCO World Heritage and has been under the renovation by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Temple structure still holds but there were many places where we could see ruins.

Ruins near the temple
Ruins near the temple

Sandstone and volcanic rock in ruins near the temple
Sandstone and volcanic rock in ruins near the temple 

More ruins close to the Temple
More ruins close to the Temple

Prayer stones
Prayer stones

Lots of lotus and lilies in the lake close to the Temple
Lots of lotus and lilies in the lake close to the Temple


13 comments:

  1. Loved your first line 'corrupt developing nation' ha ha ha ... you have coined a new and quite apt term ! Now for the rest of the post amazing pictures and the ruins... awesome , straight out of 'Temple Run' :)
    Though not clear why the carvings are not finished ?
    Guess your son's answer is the best till then :) thanks for sharing this monumental beauty.. and yes the sanskrit lipi looked like Kannada in writing !

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    1. Yes, it was like going through an elaborately decorated game, as we had to climb really steep steps and had to keep on walking... in the heat and humidity. About the carvings, the guide did say that they were unfinished because the work was too overwhelming. Apparently, the carving and the construction of the temple itself was not in par with the capabilities at that time. The king focused on the grandeur instead of quality!

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    2. Hmmm.. got it :) but then it certainly looks grand . Again thanks for the share and your sweet visit at my space :)

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  2. I am yet to go Angkor wat,but thank you so much for taking me on a virtual tour.Lovely writeup!

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    Replies
    1. Oh thanks so much Ankita :) Do plan to visit Angkor Wat. It is a place that should not be missed!

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  3. Loved this virtual tour.
    So sorry that you missed the sunrise photo opportunity here.
    I hope I will be lucky enough to visit some day.

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    1. Well, it just was not to be. Anyway, no complaints. I enjoyed each and every hot minute I was there :)

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  4. Excellent photos from this marvelous temple complex! Despite being simple and look like worn-out, the carvings expose fine arts. Very interesting to know how significant the moats remain to allow the huge monument to exists.

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    1. Yeah Jeevan, it is amazing to think of the creativity of the ancient architects! What a colossal engineering marvel they have created so long ago!

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    2. Hi M for Meoww...You didn't say how you crossed the MOAT, did you walk over a bridge or go in a boat? Wonderful pictures and carvings on the stones.
      Quite amazing pictures, sorry it was cloudy though.

      Best wishes,
      Di.
      Abcw team

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    3. Hi Di! We drove across the bridge over the moat to reach the Temple. Although we did stop to take a lot of pics on the bridge. Nice to see you here :)

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  5. As always, aMAZING pictures.

    ROG, ABCW

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