Bayon

If there’s one place you must visit before you die, it’s the temples of Angkor.  Many people haven’t even heard of these temples, others have only heard of Anchor Wat (the biggest religious structure in the world), but what relatively few people know is that there are dozens of these stunning temples scattered over approximately 70 square miles.  The Lonely Planet gets it right when it states, “there is no greater concentration of architectural riches anywhere on earth.”

Apsara at Bayon

The temples of Angkor date back to the 800′s, with the last great structures built during the 1200′s.  Angkor Wat is the most well known, probably because it’s the largest of them all…and using the word “large” to describe Angkor Wat is an understatement.  It’s MASSIVE.

Walkway to Angkor Wat

The moat surrounding the complex is 190 meters wide!  And this isn’t just a gigantic stone temple.  The inner and outer walls are completely covered in the most amazing bas reliefs you could imagine.  Here’s an apsara or “heavenly nymph” from the outer wall:

Apsara at Angkor

Angkor Wat was built at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th centuries, and roughly translates to “temple that is a city”.  No doubt.  The outer walls are 1025 meters by 800 meters.  Unfortunately a very large amount of the complex was built of wood and has not survived, but what has is simply staggering.

Angkor Wat

But Angkor Wat is just the beginning of the temples of Angkor!  Other massive temples include Bayon, with 216 gigantic, stunning faces:

Faces of Bayon

To get to Bayon, you pass through the gates of a temple complex called Angkor Thom.  The gates alone are magnificent:

Angkor Thom

After driving through the beautiful jungles inside Angkor Thom, you arrive at Bayon.  From a distance it looks more like a massive pile of rocks.  But as you get closer, the faces emerge from the stone:

Bayon

And if 216 serene and exquisitely carved faces are not enough, don’t worry.  The outer wall of Bayon is covered with beautiful bas reliefs and apsaras.  You could literally spend days examining them.  Then there’s Ta Prohm, another massive temple taken over by tropical trees:

Ta Prohm

While Ta Prohm isn’t in great condition compared to many of the other temples of Angkor, the atmosphere is unbeatable.  The carvings are covered with lichen, and the trees make shadows creating mysterious and awesome sites:

Apsara at Ta Prohm

Parrots fill the trees, and their cries make you feel as if you are deep in the jungle discovering the temple for the first time:

Trees at Ta Prohm

Then there’s Ta Keo, Thommanon, Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei, the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King, and on, and on, and on…  Angkor is probably the most amazing place on earth.  Book the next flight out.  You won’t regret it!

For much more on Angkor and Cambodia, check out Andy Brouwer’s excellent Cambodia blog.