With a mixture of non secular devotion and architectural ingenuity, the Angkor temples close to Siem Reap are an evocative window to the once-great Khmer Empire. Right here is our choose of the most effective and find out how to see them.
By: Paul Healy |
Printed: 11 Mar 2024
The Khmer Empire thrived from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Ruling over a lot of Asia, the god-kings of Khmer sought to out-build their ancestors with greater and extra elaborate temples.
The outcome is likely one of the greatest collections of historical monuments on the planet.
Misplaced for tons of of years, these elegant stone cities have been consumed by the forest that encompass them. Mixing commanding scale with intricate carvings, The Angkor temples round Siem Reap earned UNESCO World Heritage Standing in 1992.
There are 72 main temples and different smaller buildings within the Angkor Archaeological Park. On this information, we cowl the 15 most vital temples with ideas for visiting and the important ones we expect you need to see.
1. ANGKOR WAT
Our Score – ★★★★★ | A necessary temple to go to.
Essentially the most iconic of the Angkor temples, Angkor Wat is the most important non secular constructing on the planet and the Khmer Empire’s best legacy. It’s the showpiece of the empire’s devotion to faith and the most effective instance of their architectural ability. It’s a robust image of Cambodian tradition and a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
NOT TO MISS
- Dawn and later afternoon views over the north and south reflecting swimming pools.
- Carvings on the southern and japanese partitions together with the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.
- The Monks providing blessings within the Corridor of a Thousand Gods.
2. PHNOM BAKHENG
Our Score – ★★★☆☆ | Good for sundown however in any other case not well worth the climb.
Phnom Bakheng is a mountain temple in honour of Shiva, the Hindu God. It’s not probably the most spectacular of the Angkor Wat temples, but it surely’s one of many few that stay open for sundown.
There are good views over the jungle from the highest and you’ll see Angkor Wat within the distance. The principle motive to go, nevertheless, is for the ambiance. You’ll usually discover Monks snapping selfies overlooking the dusty plains of Siem Reap.
It’s a 25-minute uphill stroll to the highest.
3. ANGKOR THOM
Our Score – ★★★★★ | The central temple of Bayon is unmissable.
Angkor Thom was probably the most spectacular cities of the Angkor interval, and proof of their intensive city planning.
This historical metropolis covers an space of 9 sq. kilometres surrounded by partitions 3 kilometres in size. Every wall has a gate which supplies entry to the complicated over a moat. Essentially the most spectacular gate is the South Gate.
On the centre of Angkor Thom is Bayon, an extensively adorned temple with 216 gigantic smiling faces. The opposite essential websites are Baphuon, the Elephant Terraces, Leper King, and Preah Pallilay.
NOT TO MISS
- The massive smiling enigmatic faces of Bayon Temple.
- The views over the encircling temples from the highest of Baphuon.
- Preah Palilay, the small hidden Buddhist Sanctuary nestled within the jungle.
4. TA PROHM
Our Score – ★★★★★ | Essentially the most atmospheric temple and a should see.
Ta Prohm is the Tomb Raider Temple with historical partitions crumbling beneath the constriction of the jungle.
The complicated is a maze of corridors, vaults, and closed courtyards. Many are piled up with boulders tossed apart by the development of the jungle. Bas-relief adorns most of the partitions and porches, enhanced by the flickering shadow of giant encroaching bushes.
NOT TO MISS
- The Tomb Raider door encased by the roots of bushes.
- The bas-reliefs on the Dancer’s Hall.
- The large Crocodile Tree with enormous roots consuming the temple.
5. BANTEAY KDEI
Our Score – ★★★☆☆ | It’s one you would miss.
Banteay Kdei is a maze of chambers and corridors, partially overrun by jungle. The temple is adorned with lions, Buddha statues, lintels and some bas-reliefs. The format contains an outer enclosure adopted by 3 additional internal chambers.
It’s a lot much less visited than a lot of the different temples of Angkor Wat making it a refreshing place to walk round. We loved visiting, however there may be much less to see so we solely suggest Banteay Kdei if in case you have further time.
6. PRE RUP
Our Score – ★★★☆☆ | Attention-grabbing if in case you have the time.
Constructed from gray sandstone, Pre Rup has decayed faster than different temples, giving it much more of a worn, crumbling look than many different Angkor temples.
From a collection of galleries and walkways you possibly can spot lion statues guarding doorways, crumbling stone columns and as soon as intricate lintels. The lengthy staircase main up the 3-stepped pyramid to the higher degree with 5 towers was our spotlight.
Pre Rup is likely one of the few temples open at each dawn and sundown. Nevertheless, with no views and excessive bushes surrounding it, it’s not the most effective place to be for both.
7. EAST MEBON
Our Score – ★★☆☆☆ | Skip it.
East Mebon is a pyramid of terraces with stunning sculptures and statues. The spotlight is the 2-metre-high elephants adorning every nook.
Initially, the temple was positioned on a synthetic island in a big physique of water and was solely accessible by boat. The water is lengthy gone, however the temple stays in a format of a number of courtyards and towers.
We appreciated visiting however there are extra spectacular temples to see, so it is perhaps one to skip except you could have loads of time.
8. TA SOM
Our Score – ★★★☆☆ | Value a cease, however the spectacular tree has gone.
Ta Som is an atmospheric temple that has been rigorously restored over time. It’s been held up in locations, however not a lot that it ruins the crumbling impact.
There are some outstanding stone carvings, and the jungle setting makes it a charming place to walk round.
Sadly, the tree consuming the japanese gate has been reduce extensively. The roots over the doorway stay, but it surely’s misplaced a few of its attract since our first go to.
9. NEAK PEAN
Our Score – ★★☆☆☆ | The temple might be skipped, however the views over the reservoir are good.
Neak Pean (generally spelt Neak Poan) is a Buddhist temple on an island within the centre of Jaytataka Baray, a large man-made lake measuring 3,600 metres by 900 metres.
The temple is a protracted stroll over a picket boardwalk throughout the lake and is fascinating sufficient. However the big reservoir, usually coated in lilies with lifeless bushes poking above the water is value a cease if in case you have time.
10. PREAH KHAN
Our Score – ★★★★☆ | Discover time to see it. It’s like Ta Prohm, however with out the crowds.
Preah Khan is consumed by the jungle, like Ta Prohm, but it surely’s a lot much less visited. It’s one of many largest temples constructed throughout the Khmer empire and the decaying stays are effectively value visiting.
A 100-metre-long causeway, flanked by giants holding a Naga, crosses a moat to enter the complicated made up of 4 enclosures. Each converging on the Principal Sanctuary, an ideal sq. within the centre.
Most of the carvings are in wonderful situation and it’s probably the most fascinating temples to go to which stays comparatively quiet.
NOT TO MISS
- Gigantic tree roots surrounding the japanese wall.
- The Greek-looking library within the japanese part of the temple.
- A maze of rambling corridors converging on the central stupa within the Principal Sanctuary.
11. ROLUOS GROUP
Our Score – ★★★☆☆ | Not well worth the journey except you cease on strategy to Beng Mealea.
The Roluos Group is a group of monuments 12 kilometres east of Siem Reap.
There are 4 temples which make up the Roluos Group: Bakong, Lolei, Preah Ko and Prasat Monti.
Essentially the most spectacular is Bakong which pre-dates Angkor Wat by round 200 years. A central pyramid constructed on 5 ranges kinds a gorgeous centrepiece.
12. BENG MEALEA
Our Score – ★★★★☆ | Take some time to get out right here, few vacationers do.
Beng Mealea is the true jungle temple of the Angkor Wat space.
Not like Ta Prohm, the place the jungle is maintained to maintain it from utterly obscuring the buildings, Beng Mealea is totally wild.
Walkways have been constructed to get you throughout the positioning, however in any other case, partitions lay in giant piles of boulders and bushes and vines wrap the temple in a lost-world vibe. That is true Indiana Jones territory and a magical place to go to.
Beng Mealea is a 1-hour drive from Siem Reap, so it’s probably you’ll have the entire place to your self. A taxi from Siem Reap is round $45 return.
We suggest organising a day journey with a non-public driver that features the Roluos Group, Beng Mealea and Banteay Srei.
NOT TO MISS
- Observe the picket walkways to the well-preserved southwest nook.
- The library reverse a carving of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk in southeast nook.
- The collapsed stays of the central tower within the center sanctuary.
13. BANTEAY SREI
Our Score – ★★★★☆ | Nicely value visiting for the carvings alone.
Banteay Srei is a small temple round 45 minutes from Siem Reap. Created from pink sandstone with intricate carvings, it’s thought-about the head of Khmer paintings.
That means “Citadel of the Ladies” Banteay Sri options delicate carvings of ladies with lotus flowers and scenes from Hinduism. Most of the carvings are detailed third-dimensional designs and the positioning is in a superb state of preservation.
14. KBAL SPEAN
Our Score – ★☆☆☆☆ | Give it a miss.
Kbal Spean is a carved riverbed within the jungle northeast of Siem Reap. There are tons of of representations of Hindu deities in addition to symbols of fertility and a number of other carvings of animals and gods.
The world is okay to go to within the moist season as a result of a waterfall kinds within the river. Nevertheless, you possibly can solely actually see the carvings within the dry season.
It’s a 1-hour taxi journey from Siem Reap then a 30-minute stroll uphill to the riverbed. There’s not sufficient to see to justify the trouble to get right here, so in our opinion, it’s not value going.
15. PHNOM KROM
Our Score – ★★☆☆☆ | Cease in your strategy to Chong Khneas.
Phnom Krom is a mountain temple, 13 kilometres south of Siem Reap, overlooking Tonlé Sap Lake. The spotlight is three extremely adorned sandstone towers in a major quantity of decay.
The temples are fascinating sufficient, and the views over Chong Khneas, Tonlé Sap and the encircling rice fields are first rate. Nevertheless, it’s probably not well worth the journey out except you determine to go to the floating village of Chong Khneas.
MAP – ANGKOR TEMPLES
Our map exhibits all 15 Angkor temples now we have coated on this information. A well-liked strategy to mix 4 or 5 temples is to see them on the Small Circuit, the Grand Circuit or a day journey across the Outer Temples.
SMALL CIRCUIT
Angkor Wat ★★★★★
Phnom Bakheng ★★★
Angkor Thom ★★★★★
Ta Prohm ★★★★★
Banteay Kadei ★★★
GRAND CIRCUIT
Pre Rup ★★★
East Mebon ★★
Ta Som ★★★
Neak Poan ★★
Preah Khan ★★★★
OUTER TEMPLES
Roluos Group ★★★
Beng Mealea ★★★★
Banteay Srei ★★★★
Kbal Spean ★
Phnom Krom ★★
Methods to use this map / Click on on the highest left of the map to show the listing of areas, then click on on the areas to show additional info. Click on on the highest proper nook of the map to open a bigger model in a brand new tab or the star to save lots of to your Google Maps.
BUYING TICKETS FOR THE ANGKOR TEMPLES
To go to the Angkor Temples close to Siem Reap you want a cross from Angkor Enterprise. You should buy the cross on the entrance gate to the primary Angkor temples, however it could take time.
It’s far more handy to buy them in advance on-line. The cross can then be saved in your cellphone to indicate as you enter every temple.
There are three forms of tickets:
- 1-Day Pas ($37) – Entry to all of the Angkor temples for 1 day.
- 3-Day Move ($62) – Entry to all of the Angkor temples for any 3 days in a 10-day interval.
- 7-Day Move ($72) – Entry to all of the above temples for any 7 days in a 1-month interval.
The cross shall be scanned on the entrance to a lot of the main temples to watch what number of days have been used. Kids beneath the age of 12 are free however should present their passports.
Please observe – Previously, tickets for Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea have been bought individually. That’s now not the case, and the Angkor Move is now required to go to these temples. Moreover, it’s not all the time doable to purchase the cross on the entrance to Beng Mealea, so be sure you have a sound ticket in your cellphone earlier than you go.
OPENING TIMES
The temples open from 7:30 am to five:30 pm with just a few exceptions permitting you to go to at dawn and sundown.
- Angkor Wat – 5 am to five:30 pm
- Phnom Bakheng – 5 am to 7pm
- Pre Rup – 5 am to 7 pm
The most effective dawn spot is on the north or south reflecting swimming pools in Angkor Wat.
The most effective sundown spot (however not that nice) is on the summit of Phnom Bakheng.
HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO SEE THE ANGKOR TEMPLES?
You possibly can see the three greatest Angkor Temples in someday. However there are various extra temples within the space and they’re all a bit totally different.
We suggest spending 3 to 4 full days in Siem Reap, utilizing the 3-day temple cross. On the ultimate day, go to a floating village on Tonlé Sap.
ANGKOR TEMPLES ITINERARY
Right here is our prompt 4-day Siem Reap itinerary. For those who solely have 3 days, you can begin early and mix Day 2 and Day 3.
DAY 1 – SMALL CIRCUIT
The small circuit visits the three greatest Angkor temples – Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon) and Ta Prohm, plus Banteay Kadei.
The circuit can simply be explored on a scooter ($8 for the day) or by hiring a tuk tuk driver ($13-15) for nevertheless lengthy it takes you to finish the circuit.
Begin early to catch dawn over the reflecting swimming pools at Angkor Wat then discover the remainder of the temples in cooler temperatures.
DAY 2 – OUTER TEMPLES
On day 2 rent a taxi (about $70 for the day) and go to the most effective of the outer temples. Begin on the Roulos Group, then head to Beng Mealea, and at last the intricately carved Banteay Srei.
DAY 3 – TONLÉ SAP
On day 3, take a tour to one of many floating villages on Tonlé Sap. Now we have some solutions about which to go to in our information to Siem Reap.
DAY 4 – GRAND CIRCUIT
On day 4, do the Grand Circuit which incorporates Pre Rup, Ta Som, Neak Poan, and Prasat Preah Khan.
After the Grand Circuit, return to Angkor Wat to see the temple in beautiful afternoon mild when the crowds have began to vanish.
For those who nonetheless have vitality, hike up Phnom Bakheng for sundown.
The Grand Circuit can simply be explored on a scooter ($8 for the day) or by hiring a tuk-tuk driver ($15-18 for the circuit, plus one other $5 for sundown up Phnom Bakheng).
