The temple that has since become the symbol of Cambodia, Angkor Wat which means "The City that is a Temple" was built for King Suriyavarman II in the early 12th century as the capital city and his state temple.
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| Restoration on-going |
You'll be walking across the 200 meter wide moat, a deep and wide trench usually filled with water surrounding a castle, town or fortress for protection (though it was dry when we went there) before entering the actual temple.
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| One of the two libraries isolated from the temple. |
The "first enclosure" or the outer wall of the temple
Inside the gallery are walls of stone carvings from top to bottom.
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| So detailed and very well preserved |
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| At the center of the gallery |
The inner enclosure which also has walls of stone carvings and terrace that gives a perfect view of the entire complex.
From the religious perspective, a steep stairway can be interpreted as a "stairway to heaven," the realm of the gods. "From the monumental point of view," according to Angkor-scholar Maurice Glaize, "the advantage is clear - the square of the base not having to spread in surface area, the entire building rises to its zenith with a particular thrust."
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| Very steep staircase |
If you're wearing shorts (above the knee length), you will not be allowed to climb, unless you've brought a sarong to cover your legs just like most European ladies I saw. So there I was waiting for DB alongside elderly people, kids and people with fear of heights.
The view from the upper terrace
With only three hours in Angkor Wat, we still have a lot of unexplored places which hold more stories about Khmer's rich culture and history.
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