The temple of Angkor, the great historical legacy of Khmer civilization, stand majestically in Situ in north-west Cambodia. At the heart of the Khmer empire, Angkor Thome, for over 500 years from the ninth to the fifteen century, the monuments constructed by Ang-inhabitants (People belonging to Ang Mahajanpad of ancient India whose language was Angika.) during 1200 A.D. belong to the classic period of Khmer art and are unrivaled in architectural greatness.
“The temples startle with their splendor and perfection but beyond the emotions they evoke lie complex microcosms of the universe steeped in cosmology”. Khmer art of the period includes finely modeled sculptures of startling beauty. “Sensuous, yet never erotic, male and female forms stand in grandeur and dignity offering universal appeal, past and present”. Down Rooney.
The temple of Angkor, the great historical legacy of Khmer civilization, stand majestically in Situ in north-west Cambodia. At the heart of the Khmer empire, Angkor Thome, for over 500 years from the ninth to the fifteen century, the monuments constructed by Ang-inhabitants (People belonging to Ang Mahajanpad of ancient India whose language was Angika.) during 1200 A.D. belong to the classic period of Khmer art and are unrivaled in architectural greatness. “The temples startle with their splendor and perfection but beyond the emotions they evoke lie complex microcosms of the universe steeped in cosmology”. Khmer art of the period includes finely modeled sculptures of startling beauty. “Sensuous, yet never erotic, male and female forms stand in grandeur and dignity offering universal appeal, past and present”. Down Rooney,
It is believed that the people from Ang region (Angika speaking region) of India used to visit South-East Asian Countries for the purpose of business since 500 B.C. or before. Later on these Ang inhabitants had started to establish colonies. In this process Combodia (Ang-Dweep), Vietnam(Champa), Pahow-Ang, Kantoli, Malaysia and other colonial countries were formed and ruled by Ang-inhabitants.
This temple is still considered as 8th wonder and is one of the greatest mysteries to be solved.Angkor Wat, literally ‘city of temples’, is the biggest religious structure in the world. Billed as the eighth wonder of the world, it was built in the 12th century is one of the most enduring architectural achievements in the world.
Angkor, in northwestern Cambodia, is the site where Khmer kings established their capitals from the ninth to the twelfth century. Angkor was a highly developed civilization, as demonstrated by its temples, sculpture and bas-reliefs, as well as its elaborate irrigation system. Today, Angkor is an extensive archaeological site covering more than 400-square kilometres. More than 100 temples can be seen there. However, civil houses, including
palaces, which were built with wood, no longer exist. Up to the twelfth century, kings were Hindu. At the end of this century, a Buddhist king built a number of temple complexes.
HISTORY
Angkor was built by the Angkorian god kings who ruled the region for more than 500 years, from 802 to the mid-1300s. Spanning 81 hectares, the vast complex incorporated more than 60 temples and had five main towers, which are now depicted on the Cambodian flag. The towers are thought to have represented the five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu gods and the temples were encircled by moats, which represented the ocean surrounding the mountain.
King Suryavarman II, who reigned from 1113 to 1152, was responsible for the Temple of Angkor Wat, a huge pyramid shaped structure which was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. The Temple contained some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art, though sadly it has been repeatedly ransacked throughout history and artifacts are still circulating on the illegal international art market.
By the mid-15th century Angkor had been abandoned. Phnom Penh became the new capital and the site crumbled into obscurity. For centuries was little more than a legend of a mysterious walled city to all but a handful of local inhabitants. In 1860 a French explorer called Henri Mouhot made international headlines when he ‘discovered’ the place by accident. The cause of Angkor Wat was taken up by the French, who invested 40 years of technical expertise in preventing further deterioration of the site. However their grand plans were halted first by the Khmer Rouge guerrillas, who occupied the site and used it as a munitions dump for the duration of the civil war, and later by the Vietnamese.The last capital was Angkor Thom, a city of nine-square kilometres, in the middle of which was built the Bayon, around 1200.
Restoration work was resumed in 1986, and these days thousands of pilgrims and tourists flock to the religious center every year. Siamese Buddhist monks still occupy part of Angkor, and their presence has been a major factor in the preservation of the site. In 1992 Angkor Wat was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
TOURIST PLACES
The ancient site of Angkor is 15 miles in length and 7 miles. The best way to see it all is to hire a bike. You can buy a day pass to all the major sites for the equivalent of about $20.
The city of Angkor Thom covers an area of 10 square kilometres and is encircled by a moat. The most important monuments, the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas and the Terrace of the elephants, are located at the center of the city.
Ta Prohm ranks alongside Angkor Wat as one of the most popular attractions at Angkor. It has been deliberately (and controversially) neglected by preservationalists and looks rather like the entire complex must have appeared to the French explorers of the 19th century: overgrown, devoured by the jungle foliage and steeped in mystery.
The magnificent Angkor Wat temple is undisputed the highlight of any visit. Facing west in the direction of death, its primary function was once thought to have been as a tomb. It’s a fantastic place from which to view the sunset, and the famous bas reliefs and decorative embellishments continue to elicit wonder, even on repeat visits.
HOW TO GET THERE
MISCELLANEOUS
Angkorwat Facts
Other Names – Nokor Wat
Latitude – 13°24′45″N
Longitude – 103°52′0″E
Area
Kilometres
Location
Angkore, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Population
Major Rivers
Languages
Angika, English
Date built: 12th century
Creator: Started by Suryavarman II Completed by Jayavarman VII
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