Angkor Wat: Visiting Cambodia’s Treasure

With our upcoming Mekong trip in Vietnam and Cambodia, Angkor Wat is one of the highlight visits of this incredible journey, but likely to be lesser known to us than some of the famous European sights, so that inspires this week’s article…

Angkor Wat: Visiting Cambodia’s Treasure

Angkor Wat is so crucial to the people, culture and general nationhood of Cambodia that it features on the national flag. It is the world’s largest religious monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It narrowly missed out on being crowned one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is the crown jewel of an archaeological park covering more than 100,000 acres. Yet many travelers outside of the region have never even heard of it. Where did Angkor Wat come from? Why should you visit? And what else is there to see and do in Cambodia? Read on to find out.

History of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, and its original purpose was as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. It became the centerpiece of the city of Angkor. This in turn was the center of the Khmer Kingdom, which stretched at its zenith into modern day Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, as well as Cambodia. Angkor was, for its time, one of the most modern cities in the world, supporting up to 1 million people. As well as the ancient temples to be discovered at Angkor, there are historic urban plans, water reservoirs, canals and dikes, testament to the innovation of the Khmer civilization. This innovation is also clear in the intricacy of Angkor Wat’s bas-reliefs and towering spires, which modern technology would struggle to replicate. These reliefs depict ancient Indian epics including the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Towards the late 12th century, the Khmer Empire transitioned to Buddhism, and Angkor Wat followed, remaining a Buddhist site today. In fact, travelers can see and interact with monks at the site, resplendent in their iconic orange robes. The layout of Angkor Wat is supposed to represent Mount Meru, sacred mountain and center of the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cosmology. Meru famously has five peaks, represented by the five central towers of Angkor Wat.

What does an Angkor Wat visit involve? 

Sunrise visits

Sunrise represents a special time of day to visit Angkor Wat, and not just because it means they can avoid the Cambodian heat. Thanks to the Khmer positioning of the temple, the sun rises behind Angkor Wat. The iconic silhouette is framed against an ever-changing morning sky, with purple and blue hues becoming red and yellow as daylight emerges from the dark. For many travelers to Southeast Asia, this particular experience is the highlight of their visit.

Plenty to see

The main Angkor Wat complex is of course the highlight of Angkor, but there is so much more to see across the sprawling archaeological park. The Bayon Temple is renowned for its gigantic stone faces that peer out from the temple’s towers. The Terrace of the Elephants was once used for Khmer leaders to view their assembled armies, so named because of the intricate elephant carvings along its side. The Terrace of the Leper King is thought to have been a royal cremation site, and its unusual name was given to it because of a Cambodian legend about Yasovarman I, a Khmer king who had leprosy.

However, the most well-known site in Angkor aside from Angkor Wat is Ta Prohm. The jungle has reclaimed this site, and enormous tree roots wind through the stone ruins. You may recognize the site from the blockbuster 2001 movie, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie – it was partly filmed at Ta Prohm.

Uncovering the Mystery

Part of Angkor Wat’s appeal is that we actually know little about it. Angkor Wat was not this temple’s original name, but it has been lost to the depths of time. We also don’t know how the huge stones used in its construction were transported and assembled. But perhaps the greatest mystery is that we have no idea what happened to the Khmer Empire and its great capital. By the 15th century, Angkor was abandoned and the empire more or less vanished. Climate change, invasion and disease are all possible, but we may never know for sure.

Top Tips for Visiting Angkor Wat

Dress conservatively: Cover your knees and shoulders out of respect, as Angkor Wat is still an active religious site. To be more comfortable on warmer days, loose fitting clothing is recommended.

Visit early or late: Avoiding Angkor Wat in the middle of the day means you can miss the biggest crowds and the hottest part of the day. As mentioned, visiting at sunrise is an unforgettable experience.

Hire a tuk-tuk: If you’re concerned about your mobility at such a large site, you can hire a tuk-tuk to take you around. Just make sure you agree to a price in advance!

Plan your day: Angkor is huge, so make sure you plan your visit to avoid missing any of the attractions. You may wish to return for a second day to take in everything the site has to offer.

Why Cambodia…and Vietnam?

Though Angkor Wat is the highlight, there is more to see in Cambodia. This country experienced a horrendous genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, who exterminated around one third of the population in just four short years from 1975 – 1979. The Killing Fields and the museum at Tuol Sleng are sobering but important destinations for visitors. There is also the modern capital of Phnom Penh, Tonle Sap Lake, and the lively tourist town of Siem Reap to discover.

And travelers are encouraged to combine their time in Cambodia with neighboring Vietnam. From northern treasures like Hanoi, Halong Bay and the Ha Giang Loop, to southern attractions including Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. A river cruise on this mighty waterway is a great way to take in the region. The Mekong runs from the Tibetan Plateau through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, before emerging into the South China Sea.

Angkor Wat is a bucket list destination and worthy as the key highlight of a trip to Asia – visiting Cambodia and Vietnam should be part of your future travel planning.

Our Mekong River cruise trip in February 2025 is currently sold out, but we are taking names on the waitlist right now in case space opens in the next month. Check out this the itinerary and ask to be added to the waitlist or reach out to let us know a future date we can arrange this experience for you.
www.recess4grownups.com/mekong-river-cruise-2025