Angkor May be the Most Impressive Historical Site I Have Ever Seen
The ancient ruinous city of Angkor, located in the Cambodian jungle, may be THE coolest place I have ever been to date. I’m hesitant to make such a bold statement; after all, I have traveled to some ridiculously special places. I feel like a parent wrongly singling out their favorite child. Angkor, with its massive temples and intricate carvings, some dating back more than 1,000 years, is truly a world wonder worth visiting.
What is Angkor and What is Angkor Wat?
- Angkor was once the capital city of the Kmer people in Cambodia.
- The city flourished from the 9th to 15th century, and in its hey-day boasted a population of one million inhabitants.
- By area, Angkor was 30% larger than the current day five boroughs of New York City!
- Approximately 72 temples / buildings are located within Angkor and this count does not include the remains of hundreds of additional minor sites!
- Angkor’s most famous temple is Angkor Wat, which translates to “capital temple”. This temple, with its five towers, has become a symbol of Cambodia and even appears front and center on its nation’s flag.
- Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, and over 2 million tourists visit the monument annually.
Advice for Having the Best Experience at Angkor
Purchase a 3-day pass. Because, honestly, a 1-day pass is not going to cut it. If you visit Angkor for just one day, you will have temple overload, and you will fail to appreciate the staggering beauty of these temples. With my 3-day pass, I even had the opportunity to unwind one afternoon and quietly read my book in the shade of a thousand year old temple. Does it get any better than that?
Rent a bicycle and cycle around Angkor. For at least one day, I highly recommend hiring a bicycle to explore the city at your own pace. If you hire a Tuk-Tuk, the driver will tell you which site to visit, which entrance to enter, which side to exit, and what time to meet up in order to zoom off to the next temple. I spoke with a few tourists whom had visited by Tuk-Tuk and each complained about feeling rushed by the driver.
You do not need to see everything! The first day that I visited Angkor, I started biking at 4:45 am in order to catch the sunrise at the park. Throughout the day I tried hopelessly not to rush, but I kept thinking “I must go to the next temple or I will run out of time and miss something!” I biked around like a mad-man for nearly 12 hours visiting 15-20 sites!
Two days later, after a full day of rest, I ventured back out to Angkor with a friend. My friend had only one day to see Angkor, so we focused our efforts on three temples, Angkor Wat, Bayon, and, one that is less popular but is my personal favorite, Preah Khan.
We spent hours meandering in each of the temple complexes. We got lost in nearly every courtyard and every room; we analyzed ancient bas-reliefs carved into the sides of the stone, and we gazed into the eyes of the massive stone faces created to represent King Jayavarman VII (who identified himself with the Buddha). The history and grandeur of the temples resonated more deeply in me the second time around, when I wasn’t worried about missing something important and instead focused on what was right in front of me.
Never in my life have I felt more like Indiana Jones, and I loved every second of it.
Download the “Angkor Wat” app for free on your phone. This mobile app is jam-packed with information on Angkor, tour options, and activities in Siem Reap (the current day Cambodian city that is located next to Angkor). Most importantly, the app has a map of Angkor which can be accessed offline and outlines the 20+ major sites; it even provides a brief paragraph describing the history of each site.
Bonus Advice on Siem Reap and Angkor
- My favorite dinner spot in Siem Reap is Madam Moch Kmer. Try the banana flower salad appetizer for 2 USD; it’s the tastiest 2 USD salad you will ever taste!
- The temple complexes, other than Angkor Wat, Srah Srang, Pre Rup and Phnom Bakheng, do not open until 7:30 am. So, if you want to get up at sunrise, and you think you can beat the crowds and find a quiet temple to enjoy the sunrise by yourself… best of luck my friend.
- Wear pants and cover your shoulders or you will not be allowed to enter the temples.
