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Introducing AngkorThe Angkor Archaeological Park, to the north of Siem Reap, is a Unesco World Heritage Site, and the main focus of visitors coming to view the ruins of Angkor.Angkor. The name conjures images of the exotic, distant from our everyday existence. Whether it's sunlight on Angkor Wat, or the parting of rain-drenched foliage to unveil the stone faces of Bayon, Angkor has enthrilled visitors over many generations. With calm finally settling on the troubled lands of the Khmers, a new wave of visitors can now come up close and admire the works of a mighty civilisation, lost, but now rediscovered and once again appreciated. The word Angkor is a corruption of the Khmer word nokor or ongkor, which means "capital". It is derived from the Sanskrit nagara, the same word that yielded the Thai nakhorn and the Malay negara and negeri. As its name indicates, Angkor is a city, an ancient one of massive scale. The Angkorian period in Cambodian history is generally considered to extend from AD 802 to 1431. These dates should be treated as open-ended, as there were Khmers in the Angkor region before it became a capital, and Angkor was not completely deserted when the capital was moved, first to Oudong then to Phnom Penh. Angkor LocationThe temples of Angkor are located in the vicinity of the town of Siem Reap. The name Siem Reap means "The Siamese are defeated". It is the main town where all the hotels and creature comforts are available. Except for the Roluos Group of temples, which are 13kms east of Siem Reap, the majority of the important ruins are all located 7-25km north of Siem Reap, with the closest and biggest being Angkor Wat.Visiting AngkorTo visit the ruins of Angkor, particularly those within the archaeological park, you will need an Angkor Pass which is available for durations of one day (US$20), three days (US$40) and seven days (US$60). The pass is obtainable at the checkpoint enroute to Angkor Wat. For those getting multiple-day passes, a photograph of you will be shot at the checkpoint itself, and printed onto the pass, which acts as a souvenir of your visit to the Angkor Archaeological Park. At time of updating this page (June 2009), the authorities are in the process of modifying the rules so that in future (perhaps by the time you read this), visitors holding the 3-day pass can use it on any 3 days of a week, and those holding the 7-day pass can use it on any 7 days of a month. Visiting hours are from 5:00am until sunset. There's a US$30 to US$40 fine for not possessing a valid pass.Is Cambodia safe? As the founder of AsiaExplorers, I would say it is. Naturally, one should be cautious at all times, the same as one should be back home. I have walked the streets at night without fear of harm. Unless you take reckless risks, you should be assured of a safe and enjoyable trip. 'Angkor' literally means 'Capital City' or 'Holy City'. 'Khmer' refers to the dominant ethnic group in modern and ancient Cambodia. In its modern usage, the term 'Angkor' has come to refer to the capital city of the Khmer Empire that existed in the area of Cambodia between the 9th and 12th centuries AD, as well as to the empire itself. Associated Sites |
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