Angkor Wat

candid Cambodia tips

 

Why
Angkor Wat
is special

The ornate architectural details and exquisite stone carvings are masterpieces. I found the seductive dancing female ("apsaras") sculptures ringing Angkor Wat to be particularly arresting.

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Angkor Wat
history in brief

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Early history

It was constructed in the jungle in the early 12th century, then - two centuries later - was mysteriously abandoned by the Khmer civilization.

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Forgotten

The jungle soon overwhelmed Angkor Wat, hiding it for several centuries with thick tropical foliage. There was little left to see except an occasional protruding building stone.

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Discovery

In 1861 a French naturalist accidentally came across the jungle veiled ruins.

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Recovery

Eventually archaeologists cut back the overgrowth, exposing Angkor Wat's magnificence.

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Tips & insights

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Angkor Wat is vast

It is one of many structures in a huge human-built complex, as geographically large as Paris. It is collectively called Angkor. The top subcomplexes besides Angkor Wat ("wat" means temple) are:

Ta Prohm
Photographers love this Angkor subcomplex. It clearly shows the on-going destructive forces of untamed jungle growth. The roots of banyan trees appear like giant octopus legs as they slowly entangle large buildings.

Banteay Srei
It's the tiny jewel of the Angkor environs. The Banteay Srei sculptures are outstanding.

Angkor Thom
Although Angkor Thom covers considerably more area and might have been grander than its neighbor Angkor Wat, its components are not as accessible and well preserved. It is more of interest to archaeologists than tourists.

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Recent deterioration

Sadly, much of what was rescued and restored over the past century fell victim to recent civil warfare. Structures and carvings deteriorated when - through human neglect - the jungle repossessed the previously saved Angkor structures.

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On the positive side

Cambodia is now making a conscientious effort to once again reclaim key Angkor sites from the destructive jungle.

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