The Major Temples of the Ancient Angkor City – Siem Reap, Cambodia Travel Guide

Angkor which means great city, was the capital of the Khmer Empire – an empire that once had a stronghold over Southeast Asia. The ruins of the ancient city are found in the province of Siem Reap, North West of Cambodia.

As a child I happened to watch an interesting documentary about the Angkor Wat on the National Geographic Channel, since then I always dreamt  of seeing it live. And of course there was the Tomb Raider series, and as a Lara Croft fan, this piqued my curiosity further. Some years later I was able to finally take the big trip, and from my temple raiding experience, here’s my list of top temples ones to visit.

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II. It was dedicated to the Hindu God “Vishnu,” known as the Preserver. At that time Hinduism was the country’s main religion and on the temple walls you’d see intricate carvings of deities and inscriptions from Hindu literature. On one of the walls of Angkor Wat, the story of the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk,” is depicted, it tells of the Devas and Asuras (opposing forces) working together to acquire “Amrita” the elixir of immortality.

The Bayon Temple is my second favorite. It’s known as the temple of many smiling faces. It was also one of the sites in a Tomb Raider film. Constructed in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman II, it is at the heart of the King’s capital Angkor Thom. Unlike other temples, the Bayon was constructed to honor Buddha at a time when Buddhism had started to spread in the country. At present it is the dominant religion in Cambodia although Hinduism still has a strong influence on modern day culture.

Ta Prohm is one of the major temples in the park. It was built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman II. It is within the forest and has become popular as the temple with giant trees growing out of its ruins.

Bantay Srei is one of the temples dedicated to the Hindu God, Shiva. It was built in the 10th century. The one feature I loved about this temple were the intricate carvings on the shrines, arches and doorways. The reddish color of its walls is due to the sandstone used to build it. Fortunately, the inscriptions and carvings of the temple were well preserved over the centuries.

Banteay Samre is one of the far-out temples. You can classify it as a mid-size temple with lesser visitors. Nevertheless, it has its unique features and impressive design which makes it worth a visit.

The Prasat Kravan is a small Hindu temple built in the 10th century.

The Baphuon temple was built in the 11th century in honor of the Hindu God Shiva, “the destroyer.” It’s a short walk from the Bayon Temple. You can also have your tuk tuk take you there. It is actively used as a Buddhist temple although visitors are welcome. However, the dress code is strictly observed and so, my denim shorts and I were not allowed inside. Lesson learned – always carry a light piece of cloth that you can wrap around your waist or throw over your shoulders to cover up. This applies to both men and women.

Check out these Siem Reap, Cambodia travel guides for more info on the coolest attractions and things to do in the ancient city

Pre Rup temple was third on my list after Angkor Wat and Bayon Temple. It was built in the 10th century and also dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Like Angkor Wat, this towering temple is perfect for sunrise or sunset viewing. It may take some will power to reach its summit, but the view from up there makes it well worth the effort.

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There are many other temples within the Angkor Archaeological Park. How many you get to see will depend on the length of your trip and the time you spend at each temple. Go at your own pace, soak in the marvelous scenes and history, and enjoy that magical feeling of being at the heart of this magnificent ancient empire.

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