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Discover the Temples of Siem Reap Cambodia
by Dan Romano
The remains of about thirty temples scattered about Siem Reap Cambodia are carved out of the thick jungle. Many of these temples have been deemed historically important sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Many of the temple grounds are between 800 - 1,500 years old and the most well-known is Angkor Wat. During this period, the Khmer Empire ruled the region (i.e., what is now Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos) and was centered in Angkor, which is now Siem Reap. It is renowned for this distinct type of architecture from the period and the temples show their impressive artistic and engineering capability.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
During this period, the temples were derived from Hinduism and dedicated to Hindu gods (Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu), and then when the regime was overthrown, many of the temples started including Buddhist themes as well. A visit to Siem Reap would not be complete without a couple of days to explore some of the temples. This article will touch on four of the many temples during my visit to Siem Reap Cambodia.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat, One of the Seven Wonders of the World
Known as the ‘City of Temples,’ Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century and is the world’s largest religious monument. Angkor Wat is so ubiquitous with Cambodia, that it is the image on the country’s flag. It mainly consists of five towers encircled by a moat. The five center towers represent Mount Meru, a sacred mountain in Hindu mythology believed to house Hindu gods. In the center tower, tourists can attempt a challenging ascent up a considerably steep staircase to reach the Bakan, the highest floor of the whole temple. From here one can get an overview of the temple grounds.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Wat was originally constructed as a Hindu temple and dedicated to the god Vishnu. Then in the late 12th century, after the death of the Khmer king, Angkor was taken over. The new king transformed it into a Buddhist temple. Many of the walls are ornately carved with various period scenes documenting their beliefs and way of life, making one wonder what it was like to live in such a civilization at the time.
Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon Temple, The Temple of Many Faces
Known as ‘Victory Mountain’ among other names, Bayon was built in the late 12th to early 13th century. This location is the last state-built temple and the last location of the capital of the Khmer Empire. It is legendary for its 216 smiling faces carved into every side of the temple’s many towers. It also was originally a Hindu temple, then converted to Buddhist when the Khmer regime changed hands. Bayon is compact with small passageways and has been added to over time. It has very intricately carved reliefs on many of the walls depicting life at the time including war, marketing, farming, and more. While there is no agreement on who the faces depict (e.g., Buddhist or Hindu gods, or a king at the time) it is agreed the temple was intended to represent Mount Meru on Earth.
Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ta Prohm Temple, The Tomb Raider Temple
Ta Prohm goes by several names with one of the originals being ‘Monastery of the Kings.’ It is best known for being in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Ta Prohm was built in the late 12th to early 13th century and was consumed by the jungle after the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century.
Vegetation still claims parts of the temple with some inside passages blocked with parts of the structure toppled by nature. Outside, there are the iconic Silk Cotton, Strangler Fig, and Banyan trees that grow through and around the structure, roots entangled in the architecture. The trees and roots present an interesting paradox, seemingly pushing the temple apart while at the same time holding it together.
Bayon Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Compared to the other temples (i.e., Angkor Wat and Bayon) Ta Prohm lacks reliefs depicting the way of life at the time but has many decorated walls with various idols, figures in prayer, dancers, and warriors. Some of the reliefs are original and some have been carved over time. As we walked toward the temple, I could only imagine trekking through the dense jungle to rediscover this temple. It gave a feeling of living history, adventure, and wonder. The trees and natural growth enveloping this temple bring the fight with nature alive.
Banteay Srei Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Banteay Srei Temple, The Citadel of Women
Originally called the ‘Great Lord of the Threefold World,’ Banteay Srei was built in the 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati. The temple was not built in full size and is relatively small with miniature buildings that are divided with the south end of the complex devoted to Shiva and the north end to Vishnu. Among the temples we visited, Banteay Srei has the most intricate carvings and reliefs of Hindu mythology; decorative carvings seem to cover almost every wall.
Banteay Srei Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Visit Siem Reap
There are many more temples to explore in Siem Reap and these four are likely the most popular. Visiting the temples of Siem Reap was more than a physical trek but also a journey back in time. As I watched the jungle trying to take back the land and considered the number of centuries these structures have stood and fought back, I thought about how small of a speck we are on this timeline and that I needed to plan my next trip somewhere in the world!
Banteay Srei Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia
When is the Best Time to Visit Siam Reap?
There is no right or wrong answer and depends on your tolerance for heat, crowds, and the risk of rain. The climate in Cambodia is tropical year-round and generally, the temperature is hottest in April/May. It can reach the upper 90s or more (~35 - 40 Celsius) but has a low to moderate chance of rain and very few tourists. This trip was in May and the temperature was in the 90s (~33 Celsius) on average; however, any rain that fell was at night, never impacting our tours, and the tourist count was very low, at times hardly any people in a temple. As the year progresses, the temperature declines, and the chance of rain increases. Then, from about November through March, the temperature is the most moderate and the chance of rain at its lowest; however, the number of tourists skyrockets, and all sites are packed! What do you prefer?
Whatever time you decide, take advantage of your time in South Korea by visiting the many great historical areas of Asia, including Siem Reap and others in Cambodia. To find out more about the UNESCO locations across Asia, check out their World Heritage List. On this list, UNESCO lists cultural and natural historical sites within each country to make travel easy.
UNESCO World Heritage List Website: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
About the Author
Dan Romano retired from the Air Force after 30 years of service. Dan was based at United States Forces Korea for several years over two assignments. He recently returned and enjoys living in Korea.
He is a nature lover, photographer, and traveler. His adventures take him to some of the most beautiful places in the world where he captures the beauty of nature both on land and in the water.
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