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Angkor Wat: A Jungle Story

Mysteries of the Angkor Wat temple and a couple of facts

Rules of conduct in an ancient temple

In the wilds of the exotic jungle, 240 km from Phnompei and 5.5 km from Siampriap, an ancient mystical structure is hidden. The iconic temple of Angkor Wat (Cambodia) demonstrates impossible architectural symmetry and overturns the “civilized” idea of ​​art.


Angkor - capital region of the Khmer Empire

Tales of Angkor Wat: who created the temple in Cambodia?

The legend of the construction of the mystical Angkor Wat can be found in ancient texts. One day, it says, the god Indra invited the emperor’s heir to visit. The handsome prince spent several days in a castle in the sky, decorated precious stones, expensive fabrics, gold and silver, surrounded by endless bliss, delicious food and dancing.


Replica of the heavenly five-domed palace

Only the ruler's servants had a hard time bearing the presence of the prince. He confused them, causing them to be drawn not to divine life, but to human temptations. Indra sent back the heir to the empire, and as a consolation he promised to build an exact copy of the five-domed temple on earth. This is how the stunning Angkor Wat came into being.


Ancient Angkor Wat has become a worthy rival to Solomon's Temple

Architectural monument Angkor Wat: history in the jungle

Ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a place where there are not enough hands for selfies and smartphone memory. Dated to the 12th century, unique monument in Cambodia it is considered a giant religious complex dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Local residents call the temple the soul of the Khmer nation, and inspired tourists call it another wonder of the world in the jungle.


More than 2 million visitors look at the grandeur of Angkor Wat every year

There is not a single hotel on the territory of the Angkor Wat temple, nor will you find tourism infrastructure. And that's the whole point. Ten centuries ago the promised “island” was largest city peace. Since 1431, it was destroyed by Siamese troops, and time drowned under the “blanket” of the tropics and jungle.


Today this temple the best place for peace and tranquility

Knowing nothing about Cambodian Angkor Wat, you already imagined these places in deep childhood, leafing through R. Kipling’s “The Jungle Book”. The author wrote a story about the brave Mowgli immediately after a trip to the ancient temple of Cambodia. Yes, it was Angkor Wat.


There is no more poetic and inspiring place on earth!

The majestic city was built by King Suryavarman II for more than half a century. Neither numerous wars, nor the tropical jungle, nor other elements destroyed the ancient temple over the subsequent millennia.


The sculptures of Angkor Wat in Cambodia have stood rooted to the spot for centuries!

IN different times Angkor Wat turned into:

  • abode of Hindus
  • dangerous jungle with elements
  • Buddhist sanctuary
  • royal tomb
  • a monastery for hermit monks without the right of entry for outsiders

They say that the city of Angkor was founded by the descendants of the inhabitants of Atlantis.

After an era of stagnation until 1860, the religious Angkor Wat was rediscovered for Europeans by traveler Henri Muo. Since 1992, the ancient temple in Cambodia has been under the protection of UNESCO, and is being restored and restored to this day.


It is believed that the Angkor Wat temple is the legacy of the great Atlanteans

Cambodian Wonder of the World in numbers

The multi-level territory, like a loud echo of the Khmer Empire, beckons to every corner of Cambodia. The temple symbolizes the Universe, and the five powerful towers symbolize lotus buds or the heavenly abode of the ancient gods - Mount Meru with five peaks.


The temple resembles an earthly projection of the Draco constellation, says archaeologist John Grigsby

A special contrast to the luxurious stone ancient temple is created by the poor local Peruvians who offer tourists various trinkets, children begging, and wild jungle around.


Local researchers claim that they did not live in the temple, but only prayed to their gods

In numbers, the ancient temple of Angkor Wat looks something like this:

  1. The construction area of ​​the Cambodian temple is 81 hectares.
  2. The height of the central tower of Angkor Wat, in which the Shiva linga is hidden, is 65 m.
  3. Each of the 4 other towers has its own terrace and gallery.
  4. At the foot of the temple in the jungle there is a ditch 5.5 km long and almost 200 m wide, as a symbol of the world's oceans. By the way, in ancient times crocodiles were bred there.
  5. The sculptural area of ​​all Angkor Wat exhibits and works is almost 2 km2.

There are thousands of sculptures on the walls of Angkor Wat

A mathematical and geographical paradox still remains the fact why from any point ancient temple only 3 of the 5 domes are visible.


Hundreds of mysteries of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat have not yet been solved

Mysteries of the Angkor Wat temple and a couple of fun facts

The mausoleum of King Suryavarman is one of the most curious mysteries of the world. Closely studying the architecture and history of Angkor Wat Cambodia, you involuntarily ask questions:

  1. How was complete symmetry achieved during the construction of Angkor Wat in Cambodia?
  2. Whose imagination was enough to paint more than 2,000 images of apsaras, mythical dancing maidens, on the walls? Is it really a Cambodian Michelangelo?
  3. How can the smoothly hewn ancient stones of Angkor, not held together with mortar, hold up for centuries? But indeed, most of them are supported by their own weight.

The steps are clearly designed for creatures much taller than us

Wandering through the labyrinths of the jungle and Khmer culture, one can suspect that the ancient temple in Cambodia was not created for mere mortals. I wonder if the Gods themselves have their own legend of the creation of Angkor Wat?


Especially at sunset, an unearthly... divine beauty opens up

Rules of conduct in an ancient temple in Cambodia

“Rock painting” of Angkor Wat Cambodia invites you to examine each stone covered with carvings and bas-reliefs. Divine plots, characters, and erotic motifs are depicted here.


The ancient temple of Angkor Wat is surrounded by centuries-old flora and fauna

If you touch them, you will comprehend the divine principle, but without fanaticism. A strict set of rules of conduct has been in effect on the territory of Angkor Wat for more than three years. Even the most desperate tourist cannot climb the structure and take a photo with the monk in the background.


The scriptures on the stones look like they were made with a laser.
Angkor Wat is completely new shapes, colors, rules and sensations

When going inside the ancient temple of Cambodia (Angkor Wat), your shoulders and knees should be hidden from view - you can wear,. You also cannot give alms. Violation of such rules may result in either a fine or arrest.


More than 2000 images of mythical dancing maidens, aspar

For everyone who doesn’t have enough impressions, the view of the Angkor Wat Cambodia temple opens from above. Flight service to hot-air balloon, perhaps the only extreme entertainment for tourists (15 minutes of fun costs $20). But believe me: it’s much more breathtaking only in the temple itself!

Angkor (Cambodia) is the center of the ancient Khmer Empire, a complex of temples that have survived to this day. This cultural property is listed World Heritage UNESCO and rightfully considered the most popular attraction of the country. How to get to Angkor, opening hours and cost of visiting the temples - all the information you need for a successful trip is in this article.

Angkor Wat

Don't be confused! Angkor is an ancient city, on whose territory there are over 20 temples, among which the largest is Angkor Wat.

Excursion into history

The construction of the Angkor complex was started by the founder of the local dynasty - the prince who declared the independence of Kambujadesh (today's Cambodia), Jayavarman II. Since then, almost every king erected one or more sacred buildings during his reign, often marking certain events. Construction of the complex was completed in 1218, after the death of Jayavarman VII, on whose orders the temples of Preah-Kan (in honor of the victory over the Chams), Ta-Prokhm (in memory of the mother of the majestic ruler), and others were erected.

Interesting fact! The largest temple in history, Angkor Wat, took more than 30 years to build. It occupies the same territory as the Vatican State.

The majestic Khmer Empire fell in the mid-15th century as a result of centuries-long struggle with the Chams and Thais. In 1431, Siamese troops occupied Angkor, and all its inhabitants left their homes, deciding that it was better to live in peace, albeit far from their homeland. In the end, the devastated city, along with all the temples, was swallowed up by the jungle.


Angkor was rediscovered in 1861 by the French scientist Henri Muo, but due to difficult times in the history of Cambodia, accompanied by bloody wars, no one was involved in its restoration. Only after 130 years will UNESCO introduce temple complex on the World Heritage List, and in China an organization will be created that brings together specialists who to this day are engaged in the restoration of this majestic landmark of Cambodia.

Amazing details! All Angkor temples were built without the use of cement or other binding materials.

Where is Angkor

You can get to the temple complex by tuk-tuk (about $2), bicycle ($0.5/hour) or taxi (from $5), after first getting to the city of Siem Reap, located in the west of Cambodia. To do this you can use:



Siem Reap Airport

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Angkor opening hours and cost of visiting

The ticket office of the temple complex opens at 5 a.m. and is open until 5:30 p.m., at the same time tourists are allowed here. By official rules All travelers must leave the Angkor area before 18:00, but if you don't get caught by the police, you can stay a little longer and enjoy the beauty of the temples as the sun sets.


The price of entry to Angkor varies depending on the number of days. There are three options in total:

  • One-day visit for $20;
  • Three-day cultural education for $40;
  • Seven-day tour of the temples for $60.

You can use the three-day pass within a week from the date of purchase, and the 7-day pass will be valid for a month. There should be your photo on the front side of such a ticket; it is taken at the box office directly upon purchase.

Note! You can buy a ticket on the same day only until 17:00; the remaining half an hour, passes for the next day are sold.

Structure of Angkor (Cambodia)

In the territory ancient city There are more than 30 temples that cover an area of ​​500,000 square meters. Visiting them all in one day is absolutely unrealistic, most often travel agencies and travelers who have visited this attraction of Cambodia are advised to spend three to five days walking around the temple complex.



The most popular route around Angkor lasts three days and is divided into visits to the temples of the small circle, the large circle, as well as distant temples, which are reached by the most persistent and curious.

Advice! If you are going to visit the temple complex with a group, rent bikes or bicycles. This will help you save time and effort (since the length of the same route through the temples of the small circle is 20 km), and not lose your rental property if you get distracted to take photos of Angkor Wat and other places.

Small circle

This includes those temples that every traveler must see - the most majestic, beautiful and valuable. The route distance is 20 km, designed for one day. The direction of travel is shown in the titles of the following sections: first Angkor Wat, then Angkor Thom, etc.

Angkor Wat

This temple occupies a huge territory and can rightfully be considered an entire complex. It is surrounded by a moat, which fills with water during the rainy season, and there are many trees, green grass, flowers and wild animals around.



In the center of Angkor Wat there is a temple-mountain, built in such a way that its five identical towers can be seen from any side. The second key attraction of the complex is the library - a one-story building surrounded by palm trees and tourists.





No less interesting are the galleries of Angkor Wat, which you can look at from above, climbing the stone stairs in the backyard. In total, 8 galleries with bas-reliefs densely covering the walls were built on the territory of the temple. The most famous among them is the Gallery of Hell and Heaven.

Advice! If you want to take uncrowded photos of Angkor Wat, wait for full sunrise and look into the temple's backyard. At this time, all the tourists who met the dawn go to rest, and the newly arrived travelers disperse to the main parts of the complex.

Angkor Thom

This is another attraction on the list of must-sees in Cambodia, the last capital of the Khmer Empire and majestic city 13th-14th centuries with a population of over a million people. Its name explains its popularity in modern world– “Great Angkor” is truly impressive with its scale, unusual architecture, harmony and splendor.



The structure of Angkor Thom is very logical - the city is a square with stone walls, inside which there are various buildings. The most significant of them:




In addition, Angkor Thom has the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, several prasats, the Gate of Victory and an unusual bridge with figures of gods and demons. The recommended time for visiting this attraction is 3-4 hours.



Advice! Head to Bayonne before sunrise to avoid the tourist crowds and get the most spectacular photos.

Ta Prohm

Another one of the most beautiful buildings in Cambodia is Ta Prohm, which became popular after the filming of the film “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and today bears the proud name of the Angelina Jolie Temple. For seven centuries, this building played the role of a monastery and university, where local residents received education and conducted scientific research.



Ta Prohm is several times smaller than Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom; there are no separate significant attractions on its territory, they are all part of the temple itself. Thus, the Ta Prohma galleries are one of the most interesting in the entire complex, since they are built into one another and resemble a small labyrinth.



Another feature of the temple is its proximity to the jungle - the roots of the trees wrap around the stone walls and amaze with their size. To this day, Ta Prom cannot be cleared of vegetation, because it is thanks to it that the building has been preserved to this day.

The Mystery of the Millennium. Among the picturesque bas-reliefs of the temple there is an image of a dinosaur. Both scientists and tourists have been wrestling with the question of what this ancient creature is doing on the walls of Ta Prohm for many years now.



Small temples of a small circle



Included in this category are Pre Kan (built by the last king of Cambodia in honor of his father), Ta Kaew (the highest mountain temple, the construction of which was not completed because the building was struck by lightning, which was considered a bad omen) and Phnom Bakheng (rock temple , from which it opens panoramic view throughout Angkor). The total duration of the visit to all three buildings is 4-5 hours.

Big circle


Banteay Kdei

The route includes more than ten small temples, the total duration is 25 km. The most popular buildings that are worth visiting first:

  1. Banteay Kday. It was built as a Buddhist temple and consists of many galleries decorated with bas-reliefs.
  2. Pre Rup. Temple-mountain, created in honor of the god Shiva.
  3. Banteay Samre. It is distinguished by the elegance of its architecture and unusual walls with carvings. It was erected in honor of the ancient Indian god Vishnu.
  4. Ta Som. A place for spectacular photographs showing the unity of nature and ancient buildings.
Distant temples

This category includes several temple complexes located at a considerable distance from the center of Angkor. You can only get there by taxi or rented car (you shouldn’t take a bike or bike, otherwise you’ll get stuck in the dust of Cambodia’s dirt roads). The cost of such a trip is $50-60, so try to find travel companions or become one yourself.

Beng Melia


Located 67 km from Siem Reap, this temple is definitely worth visiting. At the entrance you will be greeted by unusual guards in the form of seven-headed snakes, and once inside you will understand the beauty of stone chaos. The peculiarity of Beng Melia is that its walls have not been touched by the hands of restorers, so you have an excellent opportunity to see it as it was found at the end of the 19th century.

Important! The cost of visiting the temple is $5, not included in the general Angkor ticket.

Banteay Srei


It is called the “Fortress of Beauty”, the citadel of women and the pearl of Angkor. This is a unique building, unlike all other buildings in the complex due to:

  • Your size. Banteay Srei is truly miniature, which is very impressive, especially after visiting Angkor Wat;
  • Materials. The temple is built of pink sandstone (the rest are yellow), which gives it a special charm and beauty, especially early in the morning;
  • Handmade carvings and bas-reliefs that cover the walls of Banteay Srei.

On the temple grounds there is a library, a central sanctuary, and many statues. Recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours. Distance from Siem Reap – 37 km.

This place is sacred to all residents of Cambodia, because it was here that the country’s independence was proclaimed 1200 years ago. Here is famous statue reclining Buddha, a sacred temple where pilgrims go every year, a river of a thousand lingas and the most picturesque waterfall in Cambodia.

The cost of visiting Phnom Kulen is $20 (paid separately from the general ticket to Angkor), located 55 km from Siem Reap. You can only get there by taxi or rented car.

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Map Siem Reap city, which marks landmarks, including Angkor Wat and some important infrastructure.

Angkor Wat is a huge Hindu temple complex in Cambodia, often called the "eighth wonder of the world." This is the largest religious building in the world dedicated to the god Vishnu. The silhouette of Angkor Wat is the national symbol of Cambodia and adorns the flag and coat of arms of the state. This bright and expressive example of Khmer Empire architecture attracts many tourists to the country.

The temple complex of Angkor Wat symbolizes the universe, and its five towers in the shape of lotus buds symbolically represent the heavenly abode of the gods - Mount Meru with its five peaks.

Inside the central tower, rising 65 m above ground level, is hidden the Shiva linga, a symbol of life-giving divine power. Around there are 4 lower towers with their own courtyards and galleries enclosing them. From any vantage point, only three of the five towers of Angkor Wat can be seen.

The temple complex consists of three levels with terraces and galleries, rising as you move towards the central tower. These three levels symbolize the parts legendary mountain Meru, in the upper part of which the gods lived, in the middle part lived people, and below, under the mountain, demons lived. Angkor Wat is essentially a huge three-step pyramid surrounded by a huge moat 3.6 km long, symbolizing the world's oceans.

The Angkor Wat temple covers an area of ​​200 hectares, including a 190 m wide surrounding moat.

The walls of Angkor Wat are covered with intricate carvings, among which you can see images of deities, battle scenes and many apsaras - heavenly maidens, according to legend, delighting those who go to heaven. In Angkor Wat, you can count more than 2 thousand images of apsaras, and all of them are not repeated. The total area of ​​sculptural works of the Angkor Wat complex is about 2 thousand square kilometers.

Excursions

Many travel agencies offer themed or all-inclusive excursions to the Angkor Wat temple complex. Also sightseeing tours can be booked on the official website of the Cambodia travel agency.

If tourists arrived in the country not through the Siem Reap airport closest to the Angkor Wat complex, you can use intercity by bus by booking your ticket on the official website of the Cambodia Tourism Bureau.

Road from Siem Reap

Before historical place you can get from Siem Reap to auto rickshaw- knock-knock. This transport service can be pre-booked with the help of the hotel staff.

Experienced tourists note that to travel around the ancient city of Angkor, it is better to rent transport for the whole day, because the distances between the temples are quite large. The travel distance along the so-called big circle is 26 km, and along the small circle - 17 km. The car costs 2 times more than tuk-tuks, that is, 40 dollars per day, but it goes much faster and in most cases is equipped with air conditioning.

Tourists can rent automobile in a licensed company, choosing from the list of companies on the official website of the Cambodian travel agency.

The parking lot is located near the bridge along which the road to the temple complex goes.

Video of Angkor Wat temple

A detailed historical excursion that will tell you about Angkor Wat - the legendary temple complex in Cambodia. Get ready, it will be interesting!

The religious building of Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple. Considered one of the most magnificent “pearls” of Angkor - ancient capital powerful Khmer Empire. While on holiday in Cambodia, independent traveler You should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.

Angkor Wat: history

More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesha) existed on the territory of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Its founder was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who united these lands through bloody wars.

The empire reached its peak a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was built in honor. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, craftsmen were searched throughout Asia.

The main material used was sandstone, which was brought from a quarry located 40 km away. from the construction site. The stones were polished and stacked on top of each other. No mortar was used during installation.

In those distant times, rulers were considered messengers of the gods. After the death of Suryavarman II, the temple became his tomb. Since then, the history of Angkor and its main religious monument have been inextricably linked.


The construction of the temple complex undermined the country's economy. In addition, the capital was overpopulated; at that time more than 1 million people lived in it. There was a catastrophic shortage of water, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218), several uprisings occurred, as a result of which Angkor was partially destroyed.

Later, the capital was repeatedly invaded by Siamese troops. After the last invasion in 1431, Angkor finally fell into disrepair. People left the city forever. Only monks remained to live in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up rainforests, and the structures became home to thousands of animals. But the city did not disappear forever.

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At the beginning of the 17th century, Portuguese and Spanish travelers accidentally stumbled upon mysterious stone structures in the jungle. But for some reason, the Europeans did not attach any importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. With his second birth (late 19th century) ancient Angkor obliged to the French traveler Henri Muot. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of explorers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and traders rushed to Angkor.


 Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the capital's former splendor. The sandstone from which the buildings were built has eroded over time due to exposure to wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned by vandals during periods of hostilities. Tree roots and branches grew through the walls of buildings in many places.

Thanks to the efforts of thousands of people, by the middle of the 20th century, many buildings in the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After the end of the civil war, the restoration of the temple complex was carried out mainly by Indian specialists. Since 1992, the unique creation of Khmer masters has been protected by UNESCO.


 Photo 45 years after opening: 1906

Structure and architecture of Angkor Wat

The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat measures 1.3 km from north to south and 1.5 km from west to east. Religious building of rectangular shape. It consists of three levels (tiers), which increase in height towards the center. By appearance somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected on all sides by a moat with water. The width of the moat is more than 100 m. A stone bridge is laid across it, connecting the rectangular “island” with land. Further the road leads to the main entrance. The central gate and the front side of the structure are oriented to the west. There is also a road to the eastern side of Angkor Wat, but it is less noticeable and can be found by using the services of a guide.

You have to walk around the entire temple territory; transport is prohibited here.

Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any direction, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are connected by staircases, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The internal space thus formed is divided into numerous square-shaped courtyards.


The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. The ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of strange animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.

The first tier is the largest and consists of several galleries and passages. The walls are decorated with numerous images. There are 8 panels here, the total length of which is more than 800 m. The main “subjects” are the battles of the gods, the period of the reign of the great Suryavarman II and numerous battles for the power of the empire. Several panels are dedicated to scenes from the epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”. The outer wall is made in the form of a double row of columns.


At the end of each gallery there are corner pavilions. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. At one time these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn away and are barely noticeable.

The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier using transitions. Between them are four courtyards, which are filled with water during the rainy season and serve as swimming pools. The interior walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns, through which the courtyard-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between windows with figuratively carved columns, figures of thousands of celestial dancers (apsaras) are carved. There are many statues in the long corridors.

At the intersection of the galleries (from north to south) there are corner columns with inscriptions in an unknown language. On both sides of the second tier there are libraries, each of which has four entrances.

In the very “heart” of the third tier there is a central tower (65 m). This is the tallest building in the complex. It personifies the mythical Mount Meru - the home of the supreme Khmer gods. Around it there are smaller towers around the perimeter. Their tops look like a lotus bud - a symbol of purity and enlightenment. Figures of devatas (demigoddesses) decorate the walls of the third tier.


From here you can enjoy an incredibly beautiful view of the surrounding area. Since 2010, in order to preserve the monument, changes have been made to the rules for visiting Angkor Wat. No more than 100 people are allowed into the upper tier of the temple at a time. During all Buddhist holidays, the upper galleries are closed to visitors. There are also restrictions on clothing: shoulders and knees must be covered.

Watching sunrise and sunset on the territory of Angkor Wat is very popular among tourists. Bathed in the sun, Angkor Wat looks especially majestic.

Most routes begin and end at the temple. To visit and explore the complex you need to allocate at least 6-8 hours. Other attractions of Angkor are no less popular among tourists.

And finally, watch an interesting film about this grandiose structure!

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When you look at Angkor Wat, at its openwork towers and walls, on which mythical animals and dancing celestials are depicted, you begin to understand why local residents are convinced that this temple was erected by the gods as a sign of friendship between a god and a human prince.

One day, the god Indra, who lived on Mount Meru, invited Prince Preah Ket Mealea to visit (the young man’s name translates as Divine radiance, which was given to him because he was surprisingly good-looking and at the same time had many talents). To say that the prince liked the heavenly palaces is to say nothing. And the palace, on the walls of which mythical animals were depicted, with lotus-shaped towers and golden tops, simply captivated him.

Preah Ket Mealea and Indra became friends, and the young man lived in the house of God for a long time. And he would hardly have left him if the tevodas, the heavenly dancers, had not spoken out against his presence: the prince, who arrived from the human world, despite all his perfections, carried with him all his temptations, which greatly disturbed their peace and beckoned them with him. To maintain peace in his home, God asked his friend to return home, promising him to build a copy of his palace on earth.

Temple of the Gods

The Angkor Wat temple is located in the Kingdom of Cambodia, in the south of the Indochina Peninsula (on geographical map world this temple can be found at the following coordinates: 13° 24′ 45″ N. latitude, 103° 52′ 0″ e. d.). It is located among the jungle, 240 km from Phnom Pey, the capital of the country, five and a half kilometers north of the city of Siampriap (you can get here by bus from Phnom Penh in just five hours).

Angkor Wat (translated as “Temple City”) was built at the beginning of the 12th century. in the capital of the Khmer state of Angkor, by order of the ruler Suryavarman II and was originally dedicated to the supreme god of Hinduism Vishnu. This temple is one of the largest religious buildings in the world, since its area occupies about 2 km², while the length is 1.5 thousand and the width is 1.3 thousand meters.

Despite the fact that the size of the temple complex ancient kingdom Cambodia cannot help but amaze, in fact there is nothing surprising here: the territory of the city of Angkor exceeded 400 km², and recent research suggests that about half a million people could easily live here.

Therefore he was one of largest cities of its time, in which architecture and art were very well developed: more than two hundred monuments have been discovered on its territory today - pavilions, temples, palaces, pyramids and tombs, among which are huge size temple complex Angkor Wat. According to the builders, this sanctuary was supposed to symbolize Measure, sacred mountain Khmer: the towers are the top of the mountain, the walls of the temple are the rocks, and the moat is the ocean that surrounds the Universe.

Construction of the temple

The history of Angkor Wat's construction began during the time of Suryavarman II, who reigned from 1113 to 1150. Endings construction work he did not wait, and the complex was completed after the death of the ruler: his tomb was found in the sanctuary (the fact that the tomb was built on the territory of the shrine is not surprising, since the Khmers were convinced that their ruler was the incarnation of God, and the erected temple considered it a heavenly home on Earth).

Scientists claim that the construction of the Vishnu temple took the same amount of stones as during the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre - about 5 million tons.

Much more effort was invested, since absolutely all the stone blocks were subjected to artistic treatment (all surfaces, columns, lintels and even roofs depict one or another plot related to the life of the Khmers) - a fact that cannot but surprise and clearly shows not only the level of skill of the ancient builders, but also their hard work.


Stone blocks were brought from quarries located on the Kulen Plateau (on the map it is located forty kilometers north of Angkor Wat, so they used the Siem Reap River to get there). To secure them together, the builders did not use mortars: the blocks were fitted so tightly to each other that the seams between them in some places were impossible to find.

Temple city from the outside

Angkor Wat is at the center of a vast complex that consists of two hundred other religious buildings. Its outer wall is surrounded by a ditch, which was filled to the brim with water during the rainy season. Its width was 190 m - such dimensions of the reservoir are not accidental, since it is a symbol of the world's oceans. In the west, the builders erected a stone dam, on top of which they paved the road leading to the temple - this entrance is the central one. You can also enter the temple grounds from east side along an earthen embankment.

Immediately behind the ditch began the outer wall, the length of which was 1024 m, width - 802 meters, and height - about 4.5 m. It was rectangular in shape, each side of which was oriented to one of the cardinal directions and had a gate tower (gorupa), through which one could enter the territory of the temple complex.

Near the tower on the south side there was a statue of Vishnu, and the largest gorupa was installed at the central entrance, in the west, and consisted of three towers. All the towers were interconnected by patterned walls: on the west they are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting dancing figures, and on the east - men who dance on the backs of jumping animals, as well as creatures with a divine nature, devatas.

Temple city from the inside

From the central mountain to the temple you can reach the road, the length of which is 350 meters, along which there is a balustrade with sculptures of seven-headed snakes. Angkor Wat itself looks very interesting, as it consists of three square-shaped terraces located on top of each other, each of which is slightly smaller than the previous one.

The first tier is located at a height of 3.5 meters, the second - seven, the third - thirteen. Thanks to the difference in height, the ancient masters managed to achieve an interesting effect: as you get closer, the temple not only increases in size, but also seems to grow.

The terraces are connected to each other by a huge number of stairs, and each level is surrounded by a gallery. The walls located on the first tier are decorated with two-meter bas-reliefs depicting mythology and everyday scenes from the life of the Khmers.


On the walls of the second tier there are about two thousand sculptures of dancing celestials - they are all different from each other: they all have different facial expressions, different figures, decorations. According to archaeologists, the total area of ​​sandstone sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Indian mythology, the history of the Khers, and their gods is more than 2 thousand square meters. m.

The upper terrace is reached by an extremely steep staircase with narrow and high steps. There are five towers in the shape of a lotus (outwardly they very much resemble cones). Four towers are located at the corners, the tallest, which depicts Mount Meru, is in the center. Its height is about forty-two meters, but since it is located on the third terrace, overall height The temple is 65 meters.

History of the Temple City

In 1431, the army of the neighboring state of Siam, attacking Angkor, completely destroyed the city, forcing the inhabitants to leave it - and the history of the existence of one of the largest settlements ancient world came to an end, and the jungle was reliably covered with its vegetation, leaving local residents only legends and various tales (however, it was not completely abandoned - Buddhist monks settled in it quite soon).

European travelers sometimes accidentally discovered it during their travels, but having failed to turn the discovery into a public interest, they retreated - and the city was forgotten again for a long time.

This continued until, in 1861, the Frenchman Henri Muo was able to reach Angkor Wat, who, instantly appreciating the find, was able to popularize it in the West - and a new milestone in the history of Angkor began: after it was freed from the jungle, he never ceased to attract the attention of not only scientists, archaeologists and researchers, but also a huge number of tourists.

In the 70s of the last century, a war began in the Kingdom of Cambodia - and archaeologists were forced to leave the country, and the temple complex ended up in the hands of the Khmer Rouge, communists who were particularly cruel: having come to power, they tried to build socialism in the country and executed several millions of people. They did not forget to get to Angkor Wat - believing that the country needed to be freed from the influence of religion, they beheaded and mutilated almost all the sculptures where the gods were depicted.

Fortunately, the unique complex managed to survive - and in the early 90s, restoration work was resumed, and the city itself and the temple complex were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.