The 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.
Angkor Wat, the biggest and most famous temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park.
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 Location
The 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.
Angkor Wat in the afternoon
Visiting Angkor
To 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. 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.
Classification of Angkor ruins
The following is a full list of Angkor ruins covered by AsiaExplorers, in alphabetical order. There are probably more ruins listed here than you would care to explore. To help you in deciding which are worth your effort, I have put together a simple classification as below:
Top 3 Sights Major Sight Significant Sight Minor Sight
Ak Yum A small, out-of-the-way ruin which happens to be the oldest in the Angkor area.
Angkor Thom Ancient Khmer city with many significant ruins within its walls.
Angkor Wat The largest temple ruin in the world, Angkor Wat is the biggest and most significant sight in the whole area.
Bakong An early Angkor ruin from the Rolous Group, Bakong is the prototype pyramid temple that set the style for more to come.
Baksei Chamkrong A relatively insignificant ruin located close to the south gate of Angkor Thom.
Banteay Kdei A huge, sprawling monastery complex, Banteay Kdei is one of the significant ruins.
Banteay Prei A small, unimpressive, and incomplete ruin located close to Neak Pean.
Banteay Samre A smaller version of Angkor Wat, Banteay Samre is slightly out of the way, but worth a visit to appreciate its excellent carvings.
Banteay Srei Although much out of the way, Banteay Srei is a must-see, with some of the most exquisite carvings in Angkor.
Baphuon The world's biggest jigsaw puzzle, the Baphuon is one of the biggest pyramid temples in Angkor, but is still undergoing massive restoration.
Bayon A favourite among many visitors, this Temple of Stone Faces is the icon of Angkor.
Chapel of the Hospital One of the two ruins of hospital chapels still standing in the Angkor area.
Chau Say Tevoda This small ruin to the east of Angkor Thom is similar in design to Thommanon, located on the opposite side of the road.
East Mebon A temple that once stood on an island surrounded by the now dry manmade reservoir East Baray.
Jean Commaille's Tomb Tomb of the first director of the conservation of Angkor.
Kbal Spean Very much out of the way, Kbal Spean are carvings of linggas on the Siem Reap river flowing down Phnom Kulen.
Krol Ko An insignificant ruin not far from Preah Khan.
Kutisvara One of the most insignificant - and difficult to find - ruin in the Angkor area.
Lolei An early Angkor ruin from the Rolous Group.
Mangalartha One of the most obscure ruins in Angkor, Mangalartha requires some searching to find.
Neak Pean Neak Pean is unique in its design among Angkor ruins.
North Khleang One of the ruins in Angkor Thom is an advanced state of dilapidation.
Phimeanakas Phimeanakas is a steep pyramid temple with a local legend associated to it.
Phnom Bakheng A favourite site for sunset views of Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng is a state temple of an early Angkor empire, similar to the Bayon.
Phnom Krom Out of the way, and requires climbing, Phnom Krom rewards visitors with scenic views of the surrounding Angkor region.
Prasat Bat Chum Off the beaten path, Prasat Bat Chum is a small insignificant ruin.
Prasat Bei An obscure temple between Phnom Bakheng and the moat of Angkor Thom.
Prasat Kravan Prasat Kravan is significant for its carved reliefs on bricks.
Prasat Prei An insignificant laterite ruins near Neak Pean.
Prasat Prei Monti An insignificant early ruin in the Rolous Group.
Prasat Suor Prat They appear impressive from afar, but these twelve towers are not impressive when viewed up close.
Prasat Prei Monti An insignificant ruin within Angkor Thom.
Preah Khan A massive monastery complex, Preah Khan has much to offer in terms of variety. It is the only ruin in Angkor with a two-storey structure.
Preah Ko The first major temple of the Rolous Group, of early Angkor.
Preah Palilay Tucked away from view, Preah Palilay is a tower of sandstone and laterite in Angkor Thom.
Preah Pithu Preah Pithu is not one, but five small, insignificant temple ruins grouped as one.
Pre Rup Temple mountain with beautiful carving of false-doors on its gopuras.
Royal Palace of Angkor Thom Nothing much remains of the royal palace, except for its stone walls and a few ponds.
South Khleang Like the North Khleang, an insignificant ruin within Angkor Thom.
Spean Thma Remains of a stone bridge from the Angkor period.
Srah Srang One of the smallest baray, Srah Srang is significant as a site for viewing sunrise in the Angkor area.
Ta Keo Huge in size, but relatively inferior in its carvings, Ta Keo is quite likely an incomplete Angkor temple.
Ta Nei Located deep in the jungle, Ta Nei is difficult to find.
Ta Prohm A beautiful temple complex, Ta Prohm is famous for being left in the state of disrepair. This is where you find giant fig trees wrapping their roots over the ruins.
Ta Prohm Kel Ta Prohm Kel is another of the two hospital chapels remaining in the Angkor area.
Ta Som The farthest temple ruin within the Grand Circuit, often given a miss by those in a hurry.
Tep Pranam A long walkway with the Buddha statue at the end, Tep Pranam is one of the less significant sights in Angkor Thom.
Terrace of the Elephants An impressive platform carved with marching elephants, a centrepiece of Angkor Thom.
Terrace of the Leper King This terrace is significant more for its base carvings rather than for the statue of the Leper King (which incidentally, is a replica).
Thma Bay Kaek A small, obscure ruin between Baksei Chamkrong and the south moat of Angkor Thom.
Thommanon Almost identical to Chau Say Tevoda, Thommanon is a small, attractive temple east of Angkor Thom.
West Baray The biggest manmade reservoir in Angkor, the West Baray is still a massive body of water today.
West Mebon Difficult to reach, West Mebon is an insignificant ruin surrounded by the West Baray.
Siem Reap Travel Guide
If you are visiting Angkor, it's almost definite that you will be staying in a hotel or guesthouse in Siem Reap. You will probably also need to hire a tuk tuk to take you around. Click the thumbnail on the left to view vital details to make your stay in Siem Reap more pleasant.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries:
