Angkor Wat in Cambodia is a national treasure of the Khmers. Angkor, Cambodia: description, photos and reviews
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 largest Hindu temple in the world. It is considered one of the most magnificent "pearls" of Angkor - the ancient capital of the powerful Khmer Empire. While on vacation in Cambodia, an independent traveler should definitely visit this mysterious and beautiful place.
Angkor Wat: history
More than ten centuries ago, the Khmer Empire (Kambujadesh) 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 reaches its heyday a little later, during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150). The king worshiped the Hindu god Vishnu, and Angkor Wat was erected in honor of him. The construction of the religious building lasted more than 30 years. Not only local craftsmen worked on its creation. By order of the ruler, the masters were searched all over Asia.
Sandstone was used as the main material, 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. When laying no solution was used.
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. Water was sorely lacking, and fertile lands were depleted. During the reign of Jayavarman VII (1181-1218) there were several uprisings, 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 have left the city forever. Only the monks remained in the temples. The capital of the empire was moved to Phnom Penh. The territory of Angkor was swallowed up by tropical forests, and the buildings 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 importance to the unusual find and soon forgot about it. Ancient Angkor owes its second birth (the end of the 19th century) to the French traveler Henri Muo. He described the ancient city in detail and with admiration in his manuscripts. Crowds of researchers, scientists, historians, pilgrims and merchants rushed to Angkor.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
Unfortunately, not a trace remains of the former splendor of the capital. The sandstone from which the buildings were built was destroyed over time by the influence of wind, sun and water. Most of the wooden buildings were burned down by vandals during periods of hostilities. Roots and branches of trees sprouted 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 of the city, including Angkor Wat, were restored. After graduation 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 under the protection of UNESCO.
Photo 45 years after opening: 1906
The device and architecture of Angkor Wat
The temple is located in the very center of the ancient city. Angkor Wat is 1.3 km long 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. In appearance, it is somewhat reminiscent of a pyramid. The levels represent the three elements: air, earth and water. The territory of the complex is surrounded by lush greenery and is reliably protected from 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 the 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 east side of Angkor Wat, but it is less visible and can be found using the services of a guide.
The entire territory of the temple has to be walked around, transport is prohibited here.
Angkor Wat is located in such a way that when looking at it from any side, only three of the five towers are always visible. This proves the skill of the architects of that time. The towers and tiers are interconnected by stairs, intersecting galleries, and covered walkways. The interior space thus formed is divided into numerous, square shape, patios.
The walls of galleries and corridors, columns and stairs are covered with bas-reliefs, carvings and paintings. Ceilings are decorated with lotus images and intricate patterns. On the territory of the complex, many statues of outlandish animals, mythical heroes and real historical characters have been preserved.
The first tier is the largest, 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 “plots” 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.
There are corner pavilions at the end of each gallery. Two pavilions are connected to the main galleries. Two more end in shallow niches in the wall. Once these recesses were also decorated with bas-reliefs, but over time they have worn out and are barely noticeable.
The gate towers of the main entrance are connected to the towers of the second tier with the help of passages. Between them are four courtyards, which fill with water during the rainy season and serve as pools. The inner walls of the galleries are made in the form of columns through which courtyards-pools are visible. On the opposite walls, between the 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. Libraries are located on both sides on the second tier, each of which has four entrances.
Angkor is a temple city of the Khmer Empire, located on the shores of Tonle Sap Lake. Although Angkor has not been included in the list of the New Seven Wonders of Angkor, visiting the ancient Khmer capital is a cherished dream of many travelers. But what do we know about Angkor? In our review, the past and present of the Khmer sacred city, as well as a story about the main temples of Cambodia.
HOW DID ANGKORE APPEAR?
Some things in this world never change. As you know, the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor are located in the center of modern Cambodia. It is curious here that in ancient times Angkor was not only the political and religious, but also the geographical center of the Khmer empire, so it turns out, whatever one may say, the sacred city, regardless of historical upheavals, was and remains the center of the country.
The name Angkor is translated as "city", and the Khmers built their sacred city in a special place. It is located between Mount Phnom Kulen and the Great Lake, and the Siem Reap River flows through it. The Khmers saw magical symbolism in the arrangement of rivers, lakes and mountains. Phnom Kulen was considered a kind of personification of Mount Mahendrapura, where, according to legend, Shiva lived, and the Siem Reap River was associated with the sacred river Ganges, and, by the way, according to legend, it was in this area of Cambodia that the goddess Ganga descended from heaven, entangled in Shiva's hair.
Angkor was built from the seventh century AD to the twelfth approximately according to the following scheme. The first temple complex was erected here by Emperor Indravarman the First in 881 AD. The example turned out to be contagious, after Inravarman, each successive Khmer ruler decided to build a temple in Angkor.
Ashrams, swimming pools, clinics and houses of ordinary people have always appeared near the temples. By the way, the size of Khmer houses strictly obeyed the hierarchy that existed in society - the lower the social status, the smaller the dwelling should be.
Most of the houses of ordinary citizens were wooden with a thatched roof, which is why none of these structures have survived to this day.
Due to the fact that each new emperor erected another temple complex in Angkor, the center of the city was constantly shifting depending on which temple was considered the main one here at one time or another. In the end, the territory of Angkor grew up to 200 kilometers.
Thus, from about the tenth century AD to the end of the fifteenth century, Ankor was a million-plus city, while it was not only the religious, but also the political capital of the Khmer empire, which dominated at that time in South-East Asia.
Unfortunately, in the fifteenth century the city was captured by the Siamese. After the looting and the epidemic that happened here a little later, Angkor was empty. Soon the city was completely swallowed up by the jungle, and many Khmer temples were rediscovered by archaeologists only in the nineteenth century.
THE FLOWERING OF THE HINDU ANGKOR
Angkor flourished in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Of course, many of the local temples are much older, but the most beautiful of the surviving ones (including the legendary Angkor Wat) were built during this period.
In the photo: the pool at the entrance to Angkor Wat
Travelers who visited Angkor at that time called the Khmer capital a city-kingdom, because in addition to the famous temples, there were hospitals, swimming pools, inns and many ashrams on its territory.
The foreigners were also struck by the water supply system that existed in Angkor: canals, dams and pools, called barays. Well, of course Royal Palace, rebuilt in Angkor, was a real embodiment of luxury and a symbol of the power of the empire.
ANGKOR WAT
The famous Angkor Wat- a temple complex dedicated to the god Vishnu, the largest religious building in the world - was built by Emperor Suryavarman in the second quarter of the 12th century.
It must be said that all the temples of Angkor have common features, and it's not just about the bas-reliefs, which traditionally depict iconic scenes from Hindu mythology, for example, the great churning - the process by which gods and demons received amrita - a drink that grants immortality.
In the photo: the courtyard of Angkor Wat
In their structure, Khmer temples most of all resemble pyramids made of large stones (Angkor Wat, for example, consists of three pyramids). Such structures are called temple-mountain.
Another interesting point. In the Khmer tradition, the temple is not a place for prayers, but the place of residence of the gods, so mere mortals were ordered to enter the temple, only clergymen and representatives of the aristocracy could freely enter the temple.
In the photo: the courtyard and barai of Angkor Wat
angkor wat- the embodiment of classical Khmer architecture. Rectangular structure surrounded by a moat; temple-mountain, which is crowned by three pyramids.
However, from all the other temples of the city of Angkor Wat, two important moments. Firstly, this is the first temple dedicated to Vishnu, all previous temples of the city were dedicated only to Shiva. Secondly, Angkor Wat "looks west", although all the other temples of Angkor are oriented to the east, that is, towards the rising sun. Although today the temple is open to everyone, visitors to Angkor Wat must follow the dress code, you will not be allowed inside in shorts.
However, it is much more interesting to consider not the interior of the temple, but the bas-reliefs that adorn its walls, they are excellent illustrations of scenes from Indian mythology.
In the photo: the bas-relief "great churning" in Angkor Wat
Although Angkor Wat was founded as a Hindu temple, it "converted to Buddhism" in the sixteenth century and continues to be a Buddhist sanctuary to this day.
Photo: Buddha statue at Angkor Wat
Another curious nuance: Angkor Wat was never completely abandoned. In spite of everything, services were always held here, which is why the temple complex has survived to this day in much best condition than even later Khmer buildings.
BUDDHIST ANGKOR
During its history, Angkor managed to be both a Hindu and a Buddhist temple city.
The fact is that initially the Khmers professed Judaism, but by the end of the twelfth century Buddhism supplanted it. The largest number of Buddhist temples in Angkor was built by Jayavarman VII, ruling the country Khmer at the end of the twelfth century. By the way, according to some historians, the emperor not only built temples, but also was a model for sculptors who sculpted the faces of Buddha in these temples.
ANGKOR THOM
Jayavarman VII's Masterpiece angkor thom temple complex. As planned by the emperor, Angkor Thom (translated as "Big City") was to become a separate city within Angkor, the capital within the capital of the Khmer Empire.
No sooner said than done. Angkor Thom was not just a complex of structures, this place was a reduced model of the universe, as the Khmer saw it. The "big city" is a square protected by a fortress wall and a moat filled with water. This is how the Khmers imagined the world - a piece of land surrounded by water.
Canals were laid around the city, and barai pools were created inside, in which, paradoxically, even women were allowed to bathe.
At least, the Chinese Zhou Daguan, who visited Angkor in the thirteenth century, tells about the collective bathing of the fair sex. On the towers of Angkor Thom and the walls surrounding the big city, you can see the faces of the Buddha. A road leads inside the city, which is “guarded” by sculptures of demons and gods.
There are several interesting objects inside the city at once. The first is the state temple of Jayavarman VII, it is rightfully considered the second temple of Angkor after Angkor Wat.
From afar, the temple seems like a simple heap of stones, but when you get closer to it, you realize that these are real pyramids, decorated with Buddha images. Bayon is crowned with 54 towers - it was from such a number of provinces that the ancient Khmer empire consisted. In the eastern part of Angkor Thom is the Terrace of the Elephants, which is easily recognizable by the sculptures of elephants and bas-reliefs depicting hunting scenes. According to the generally accepted version, it was here that the emperor sat during solemn ceremonies.
Now, near Bayon, one can constantly observe personalities depicting Shiva, garuda or apsaras. The price for a photo with them is the traditional $5.
TA PROHM
The second temple ensemble, erected by Jayavarman VII, was seen by all those who watched the film "Lara Croft - Tomb Raider", because the picture was shot just on the territory of this complex. The temple is dedicated to the emperor's mother.
During the time of Jayavarman VII, more than 12 thousand people lived in Ta Prohm, inside the temple was decorated with gold and precious stones, and on the territory of the complex there were hospitals, each of which served not only doctors, but also priests with astrologers.
In the photo: trees entwining the temple of Ta Prohm
Today, the giant temple complex is a ruin, and the roofs and walls of the buildings are entwined with tree roots. The sight is beautiful and creepy at the same time. .
In the photo: ruins and trees in Angkor
PREAH KHAN
The name Preah Knah is translated as "sword of glory" or "victory", because that was the name of the sword of the same Jayavarman VII. The temple is dedicated to the emperor's victory over the Chams, as a result of which the Cham country became a province of Cambodia.
Like all the occult buildings of Angkor, Preah Knah is huge, the temple complex, coupled with a hospital and an inn for pilgrims, occupied an area of approximately 56 hectares.
The peculiarity of Preah Khan is that the temple complex was surrounded on all sides by moats, through which water flowed into reservoirs and a reservoir, in the center of which a pyramid was erected.
In addition to the temple-pyramid, local statues (they are preserved in surprisingly good condition) and bas-reliefs deserve attention: sculptures depicting garudas and bas-reliefs with dancing apsaras are found here at every turn.
By the way, according to scientists, it was Preah Khan in ancient times that was the scene of a curious ritual. Celebrations were held here in honor of the Buddha: the Buddha statue was dressed up in luxurious clothes, cooks prepared food specially for the statue, and musicians and dancers entertained the statue with performances. Of course, now no such rituals are performed in Preah Khan, but the temple is not completely abandoned, incense and candles are still lit here.
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Julia Malkova- Julia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about traveling for my own pleasure and the pleasure of readers. If you are a representative of hotels, tourism office, but we are not familiar, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
Why did people leave the largest temple in the world? What is the connection of the Angkor Wat complex with the spiral of the constellation Draco? Why was a dinosaur depicted on the bas-relief of Angkor Wat? The article reflects the point of view of official history and chronology.
The temple complex of Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple not only in Cambodia, but also in the World, the largest religious building of mankind, created according to the traditional version by the Khmer king Suryavarman II about a thousand years ago. (1113-1150 AD)
The construction of the temple of Angkor Wat lasted 30 years, it became the largest temple in the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire - Angkor. The area of Angkor Wat is 2.5 sq. km. (This is almost 3 times larger than the area of the Vatican), and the size of the entire ancient Khmer capital of Angkor with a population of more than 1 million inhabitants exceeded 200 square kilometers. For comparison, for example, the second largest known city of the same ancient era was the city of Tikal - the largest city of the Maya civilization, located on the territory of modern Guatemala. Its size was about 100 sq. km., that is, 10 times smaller, and the population was only from 100 to 200 thousand people.
Tourist map of the location of the main temples of Angkor
Angkor Wat is the largest temple of the ancient capital, but far from the only one. The city of Angkor - being the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th centuries, included many Hindu and Buddhist temples, many of which are quite well preserved to this day. Each of them is beautiful in its own way and characterizes different periods the heyday of the Khmer Empire. Later historians will call this period of Khmer history - Angkorian.
Main entrance to Angkor Wat from the western side
The construction of Angkor lasted about 400 years. It was started by the founder of the Angkorian dynasty, the Hindu prince Jayavarman II in 802, who declared himself the "universal ruler" and "Sun King" in Cambodia. The last temple complexes were erected in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. After his death in 1218, construction ceased. The reason for this, according to one version, was that the Khmer Empire simply ran out of sandstone deposits, according to another, the empire found itself in a brutal war and it was impossible to continue construction. The Angkorian period of Khmer history ended in 1431, when Thai invaders finally captured and sacked the Khmer capital and forced the population to move south to the Phnom Penh region, which became the new Khmer capital. However, evidence true reasons the fall of the Khmer empire, historians are still looking for.
190 meters wide moat around Angkor Wat
In Angkor, the largest temple complexes stand out - Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (which includes several temples at once, the largest of which is the Bayon Temple), Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei and Preah Kan. The most remarkable temple was and remains Angkor Wat, which is still the largest religious building in the world. Its height is 65 meters. The temple is surrounded by a giant moat 190 meters wide, measuring 1300 meters by 1500 meters. Built during the reign of Suryavarman II (1113-1150) in 30 years, Angkor Wat became the largest sacred building in the world. After the death of King Suryavarman II, the temple accepted him into its walls and became a tomb-mausoleum.
Angkor Wat - The story of the discovery of the lost city of Angkor
widely known in modern world After the publication in 1861 of the diaries and reports of the French traveler and naturalist Henri Muo, Anchor Wat received after the publication of his expeditions in Indochina. The following lines can be found in his diary:
“The monuments of building art that I have seen are enormous in size and, in my opinion, are an example of the highest level in comparison with any monuments that have survived from ancient times. I have never felt so happy as I do now in this magnificent tropical setting. Even if I knew that I would have to die, I would never trade this life for the pleasures and comforts of the civilized world.”
View of Angkor Wat from the northwest side (reflection in the water)
Henri Mouhot (fr. Henri Mouhot) was born in 1826 in France, and from the age of 18 he taught French and Greek at the Russian military academy in St. Petersburg. After returning to his homeland, he married the daughter of a famous English explorer and moved to Scotland. And already in 1857, Henri Muo decided to travel to Southeast Asia (Indochina) to collect zoological specimens. During his time in Asia, he traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. Perhaps he had a presentiment, a few months after the last visit to Angkor Wat, in 1861 he died of malaria, on his fourth expedition to Laos. He was buried in the same place, near the capital Luang Prabang (Luang Prabang), the location of his tomb is known even now. The diaries of Henri Muo are stored in London, in the archives of the Royal Geographical Society (Royal Geographical Society, London).
grave French explorer Henri Muo (1826-1861) in Laos
The greatness of the Angkor Wat temple he saw for the first time shocked Henri Muo, in his notes he wrote the following about Angkor Wat:
“The temple is incomprehensible to the mind and beyond all imagination. You look in embarrassment and confusion, admire and, seized with respect, freeze in reverent silence ... How sublime must have been the genius of this Michelangelo of the East, the genius of the creator of such a wondrous creation! He managed to connect the various parts into a single whole with such art that one can only be surprised at this. He followed the fulfillment of his dreams and achieved, both in general and in particular, such completeness of details worthy of the whole, which only the most gifted can do.
The majestic central tower of Angkor Wat
The etymology of the name of the temple of Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is not original name temple, since neither the stelae of the foundation of the temple, nor any inscriptions regarding the name of that time were found. What the ancient temple city was then called is unknown, and it is likely that it was called "Vrah Vishnulok" (literally "Place of Saint Vishnu"), in honor of the god to whom it was dedicated.
View of Angkor Wat from the northeast side of the building
Most likely, the name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara", meaning "city". In Khmer, it is read as “noko” (“kingdom, country, city”), however, in common speech, it is much more convenient for Khmers to pronounce “ongko”. The latter is very consonant with the concept of harvest close to the peasants, and can be literally translated as "harvested rice grains."
The young descendants of the almighty demigod king Suryavarman II
Over the centuries, the reduced common people "ongko" acquired the meaning of a proper name, which was fixed in the name of the ancient metropolitan area of Angkor (or Ongkor), the former capital of the Angkor Empire, angkor thom and the temple of Angkor Wat.
Everything in this world is subject to nature - even the walls of the great Angkor
The word “Wat” comes from the Pali expression “vatthu-arama” (“the place where the temple is built”), which denoted the sacred land of the monastery monastery, but in many countries of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia) it has long had a broader meaning , referring to any Buddhist monastery, temple or pagoda. In Khmer, "woat" can mean both "temple" and "reverence, admiration." Indeed, Angkor Wat - the largest temple of the city of the gods of Angkor, is a symbol of national pride of the Khmers.
Sculptures of seven-headed snakes on the way to the temple
In Khmer, the name of Angkor Wat is pronounced "Ongkowoat". In the vast majority of sources, it is interpreted as a "temple city". Since the name "Angkor" has been used in the meaning of a proper name since the 15th-16th centuries, a more accurate translation can be assumed - "the temple of Angkor".
In the backyard of Angkor Wat
Why did people leave the largest temple in the world?
The reason why the Khmers left the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat, at the mercy of the jungle about 500 years ago and left Angkor to explore the new capital of their kingdom, Phnom Penh, is still the subject of discussion among historians and archaeologists. For more than 100 years, hundreds of archaeologists from all over the world have been trying to lift the veil of secrecy over the ancient Khmer capital - the city of the gods Angkor. The fact is that the past has left us a negligible amount of written evidence related to the history of the construction of temples in Angkor. The painstaking work of many years of researchers is gradually revealing to us the secrets of the sacred temple of Angkor Wat, making new adjustments to various historical theories related to its origin and purpose.
A rare shot of the temple wall when there are no tourists and a contrasting sky
Khmer temples were never intended for gatherings of believers, they were built as a dwelling place for the gods. Access to the central buildings of the complexes was open only to priests and monarchs. The largest temple in the city of the gods, Angkor Wat had an additional function: it was originally planned as a burial place for kings.
Top view of Angkor Wat (Height 200 meters)
It is noteworthy that the successors of Jayavarman II followed his building principles. Each new ruler completed the city in such a way that its core was constantly moving: the center of the old city was on the outskirts of the new one. So this giant city gradually grew. In the center, each time a five-tower temple was erected, symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the world. As a result, Angkor turned into a whole city of temples. The splendor of the Khmer Empire was somewhat dimmed during the hard and long wars with the Tyams and Tays. In 1431, Thai (Siamese) troops completely captured Angkor: the city was depopulated, as if a ruthless epidemic had swept through it. Over time, the humid climate and lush vegetation turned the capital into ruins and the jungle completely swallowed it up.
The entire territory of Angkor was swallowed up by the jungle, only the area around the temples was cleared
Hard times (external and internal wars) in the history of Cambodia (Kampuchea) did not allow foreigners to visit the brilliant masterpiece of Asian architecture. Long time the temples of Angkor were difficult to access for a wide range of researchers, archaeologists and historians. The situation changed in December 1992, when the temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, which deservedly added to the list of one of the largest temples in the world, were included in the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage sites, and a year later the International Coordinating committee, which set as its goal to revive the former splendor of Angkor. Sources of financing for the project were found and active restoration work began. cut down huge trees that destroy walls, restore entrances, ceilings, walls, paths. Scientists from different countries take an active part in restoring the history of Angkor. There will be enough work for everyone for many decades.
Internal passages in different temples of Angkor are very similar
The mysterious connection of Angkor with the spiral of the constellation Draco
In 1996, the British archaeologist and historian John Grigsby, exploring Angkor, came to the conclusion that the Angkor temple complex is an earthly projection of a certain section of the Milky Way, and the main structures of Angkor model the wavy spiral of the northern constellation Draco. To begin research in the direction of searching for correlations between heaven and earth in relation to Angkor, he was prompted by a mysterious inscription from the time of Jayavarman VII, the Khmer king during whose time Angkor Thom and Bayon were built in the 12th century. On a stele excavated on the territory of the Bayon temple, it was inscribed - "the country of Kambu is similar to the sky."
Constellation Draco and Ursa Minor in our time
A certain connection with the stars was also indicated by the inscription made by the builders of the large pyramidal temple of Phnom Bakeng, built during the time of King Yasovarman I (889-900 AD). The inscription says that the purpose of the temple is to symbolize "with its stones the celestial movements of the stars." The question arose whether there existed in Cambodia a correlation of heaven and earth similar to the Egyptian (connection of the pyramids of Giza with the constellation Orion)?
The exact layout of the main temples of Angkor
The fact is that the projection of the constellation of the dragon by the main temples of Angkor on Earth turned out to be not entirely accurate. The distances between the temples are proportional to the distances between the stars, but the mutual arrangement of the temples, that is, the angles between the segments connecting the temples, does not exactly repeat the picture in the sky. In addition, it should be noted that Angkor is not a projection of the constellation Draco on earth's surface, but a projection of a whole section of the sky around the Dragon, including several stars from the Northern Crown, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major, Deneb from Cygnus. All sacred places on Earth reproduce this or that part of the sky along the Milky Way.
The constellation of the dragon 10500 BC
In the same 1996, another British amateur researcher, John Grigsby, joined the scientific and historical work on Angkor. Having set out to establish the exact date when the sky pattern corresponded to a given location of temples in Angkor, they did a lot of research work using computer technology. The results of their research stirred up the world archaeological community. Computer research has shown that the main temples of Angkor are indeed terrestrial reflections of the stars of the constellation Draco and that the stars were in this position on the day of the spring equinox in 10500 BC. e.
Comparison of the layout of the temples of Angkor and the stars of the constellation Draco
Now few people doubt the fact that Angkor was really built between the 9th and 13th centuries. AD, however, how could the subjects of the Cambodian kings know the picture of the sky more than 10,000 years ago, because by their time the precession had already hidden part of the projected picture beyond the horizon. It was hypothesized that all the main temples of Angkor were built on more ancient structures, as evidenced by the huge slabs of facing artificial channels made of megaliths, the presence of polygonal masonry, high skill in stone processing, stone castles, but it is not known when those were built. However, if they were already projecting the constellation Draco...
Covered with kilometers of fine carving, the huge masonry stones of the temples fit perfectly to each other, are not fastened by anything and are held only by their own weight. There are temples where it is impossible to stick a blade between the stones, moreover, they irregular shape and bulges, like puzzles, where none of modern technologies unable to recreate the experienced beauty of these temples.
Magnificent bas-reliefs on the outer walls of Angkor Wat Apsara - Sky Dancers
Stegosaurus at Angkor Wat. Could Khmers see dinosaurs?
The hypothesis of the creation of Angkor in the XI century BC. does not contradict the fact that the temples, as we see them today, were built between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. e. famous Khmer monarchs, but not everything is so simple. For example, the temple of Ta-Prom is full of intricately carved statues and stone columns with bas-reliefs carved on them. Along with images of gods and goddesses of ancient Hindu mythological scenes, hundreds of bas-reliefs depict real animals (elephants, snakes, fish, monkeys). Nearly every inch of gray sandstone is covered with decorative carvings. What was the amazement of scientists who discovered in Ta-Prom on one of the columns an image Stegosaurus - herbivorous dinosaur that existed 155-145 million years ago.
Researchers have proven that this bas-relief is not a fake. One can only guess where the Khmers saw the stegosaurus? How to explain it?
Bas-relief depicting a Stegosaurus on one of the columns of Angkor Wat
Sacred numerology of Angkor - coincidence or prophecy?
What is this mysterious date - the day of the vernal equinox 10500 BC? It was on this day that the stars of the constellation of the dragon were in the projection that the Angkor temple complex reproduces on earth, if you look at it from above. This date is associated with the process of precession of celestial bodies. The Earth is like a giant top, under the influence of the gravity of the Sun and the Moon, it makes a slow circular rotation. The Moon and the Sun, by their attraction, tend to rotate the axis of the Earth, as a result, the phenomenon of precession occurs.
The projection of the earth's axis, as it were, outlines in the North celestial sphere a giant circle covering the constellations Draco and Ursa Minor. At the edge of the circle are Vega, Alpha Draconis and Polaris. This movement of the earth's axis along a circular line, a kind of swaying of the axis of rotation, is called precession.
Schematic representation of the precession of the earth's axis
Astrologers believe that the cycle of precession is 25920 years, the so-called Great Year (the period during which the celestial equator pole makes a full circle around the ecliptic pole). During this time, the earth's axis passes a full circle in the Zodiac. Moreover, one astrological era is equal to 1/12 of the cycle (25920:12=2160) and is 2160 years. One month of the Great Year, lasting 2160 earth years and there is an astrological epoch. Each space epoch (2160 earth years) represents a whole stage in the development of mankind, associated with the sign of the Zodiac through which the earth's axis passes. This period was somehow mystically known to the famous Greek philosopher Plato, who believed that this (25920 years) is the period of existence of earthly civilization. Therefore, the period of precession is also called the Great Platonic Year (Great Year of Plato). One day of the Great Year is theoretically equal to 72 of our years (25920:360=72 years - the earth's axis passes 1 ecliptic).
Movement along the stellar spiral of time - Everything returns to normal ...
Today, the North Pole of the world is, as you know, the North Star, but this was not always the case, and in the III millennium BC. The North Pole of the world was located where the star α (Alpha) - the Dragon is located. The precession of the earth's axis is known to cause a visible change in the position of the stars with a period of 25,920 years, that is, 1 degree is 72 years. In 10,500 B.C. at the lowest point of the trajectory was the constellation Orion, and at the highest point - the constellation Draco. There is a kind of "Orion-Dragon pendulum". Since then, the precessional process has managed to turn the celestial pole half a circle relative to the ecliptic pole, and today Draco is near the lowest point, and Orion is the highest. Massachusetts History Professor technological university Giorgio de Santillana and his colleague, Dr. Herta von Dehehend, based on their research, concluded that the whole of Angkor is a huge precession model. The following facts speak in its favor:
At Angkor Wat, 108 nagas are shown pulling a huge spinning top in two directions (54 by 54);
On both sides of the 5 bridges leading to the gates to the Temple of Angkor Thom, there are huge sculptures in parallel rows - 54 Devas and 54 Asuras. 108x5 = 540 statues x 48=25920;
The Bayon temple is surrounded by 54 massive stone towers, each of which has four giant faces of Lokeshvara carved, oriented to the north, south, east and west, which in total is 216 faces - (216:3=72), (216:2=108 ). 216 - 10 times less than the duration of one precessional era (2160 years); 108 is 216 divided by two;
The central sanctuary of Phnom Bakheng is surrounded by 108 turrets. The number 108, one of the most sacred in Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is equal to the sum of 72 and 36 (that is, 72 plus half of 72);
A regular pentagon has an angle of 108 degrees, and the sum of its 5 angles is 540 degrees;
The distance between the pyramids of Giza in Egypt, where the wise men ruled, who walked the astronomical "road of Horus", and the sacred temples of Angkor in Cambodia, with a slight rounding, is an important geodetic value - 72 degrees of longitude. From the ancient Egyptian language "Ankh-Khor" literally translates as "the god Horus lives";
In total, Angkor has 72 main stone and brick temples and monuments.
The length of the sections of the main roads in Angkor Wat reflects the duration of the four yugas (the great world eras of Hindu philosophy and cosmology) - Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Their duration is respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years. And in Angkor Wat, the length of the main sections of the road is 1728, 1296, 864 and 432 huts.
They look at us from the walls of temples through the millennia and ... smile)))
The cosmic meaning of the number 72 and its power over humanity
Let us dwell on the sacred number - 72 in more detail, because there are too many coincidences associated with it in our lives:
The number 72 is considered sacred number in all religions.
The Khmer alphabet has 72 letters and the same number of sounds.
In the ancient Indian language "Sanskrit" (the language of classical Indian literature, sacred texts, mantras and rituals of Hinduism, Jainism, and partly Buddhism) the Devanagari alphabet is used. Devanagari means "writing of the Gods" or "Urban language" and there are 36 phoneme letters in Devanagari of classical Sanskrit (72:2=36). Devanagari uses 72 basic ligatures (combinations of consonants represented by an independent character).
The oldest runic system, the so-called "Elder Futhark" consists of 24 runes, each rune can represent a letter, syllable, word or image. Moreover, the image is of paramount importance. But in one rune, up to three images can be hidden, depending on the context (24x3=72). Moreover, all these images will be connected in one way or another. The ancient runic alphabet became the root for almost all existing Indo-European alphabets. Those 24 runes that they know today are the third part of the real language, because if you multiply 24 by three, you get just 72 runes. Because the ancients taught that the world is three-fold. One of them is the earthly world of Getig, the second is the intermediate world of Ritag, and the third is the upper world of Menog. Here are the three forms of runes.
In the ancient Avestan language (the language of the Avesta, the sacred book of Zoroastrianism) there were 72 letters for all possible pronunciations of sounds;
Most significant book Avesta - Yasna, which is a text read at the main Zoroastrian liturgy "Yasna", contains 72 chapters;
The number 72, both in Sanskrit and in the original Avesta, found its manifestation in the 72 threads of the sacred Kushti belt, which every Zoroastrian has, as a symbolic connection to religion, or rather, as an umbilical cord connecting a person with the Lord God.
In Judaism, the number 72 is considered sacred and is inextricably linked with the name of God, the forbidden name to which the universe is subject. These are 72 sequences of letters of the Hebrew alphabet, each of which corresponds to a specific sound, which have an amazing power to overcome the laws of nature in all forms, including human nature. According to legend, the name of God encompasses everything that exists, which means that one who knows how to pronounce it correctly will be able to ask the Creator for whatever he wants.
The unpronounceable name of God is the main subject of study of medieval Kabbalists. It was believed that this name contains all the forces of nature, it contains the very essence of the universe. The name of God is also depicted by the tetragrammaton - a triangle with letters inscribed in it. If you add up numerical values letters placed in the tetragrammaton, it turns out - 72.
In the legend about the Tabernacle (Temple), the ancient Jews mention 72 almond buds, with which they decorated the candlestick used in the sacred rite, it is a combination of 12 and 6 (that is, half of 12) and personifies realized harmony. The mystical root of the number 72 is also the legendary nine.
The number 72 is the number of the mother of God. She left this world at the age of 72. No wonder Vysotsky sings in one of his songs: “girl, 72nd, don’t leave the altar!”;
The human DNA molecule is a rotating cube. When the cube is rotated sequentially by 72 degrees according to a certain model, an icosahedron is obtained, which, in turn, is a pair of a dodecahedron. Thus, the double strand of the DNA helix is built on the principle of two-way correspondence: the icosahedron is followed by the dodecahedron, then again the icosahedron, and so on. This sequential rotation through the cube by 72 degrees creates a DNA molecule.
The points of intersection of the diagonals in the pentagon are always points of the "golden section"
Three-level device of the temple of Angkor Wat
The Angkor Wat temple complex has three levels. It consists of a series of concentric, rectangular enclosed spaces, including three rectangular galleries, each towering over the next with open courtyards connected to each other by cruciform galleries. In fact, Angkor Wat is a huge three-tiered pyramid.
One of the views of Angkor Wat
Climbing the stairs and passing through the first two of three successively ascending galleries, one enters the third gallery, famous for its bas-reliefs, most of which are magnificent in their execution.
One of the bas-reliefs on the wall of Angkor Wat - Scene from the life of the Khmer king
Apart from the bas-reliefs in the corner pavilions, they stretch for almost 700 meters, being almost 2 meters high, being the longest bas-reliefs in the world. Thousands of figures depict scenes from the Hindu epic Bhagavad Purana, palace and military life in the days of Suryavarman II, the founder of the temple of Angkor Wat.
Ancient warriors on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat
Since the perimeter of the main entrance to Angkor Wat surrounds a moat with water 190 meters wide, forming a square-shaped island, the temple grounds can only be accessed by stone bridges from the west and east sides of the temple. The main entrance to Angkor Wat from the west is a wide pavement built from massive sandstone blocks. Crossing the cruciform terrace, which is a later addition to the complex, we see ahead of us the entrance to the western gopura with the remains of three towers.
Directly at the main entrance to Angkor Wat
Now the entrance to the gopura is on the right, through the sanctuary under the south tower, where the eight-armed statue of Vishnu fills the entire space. This statue, which clearly has little space in this room, may have originally been located in the central sanctuary of Angkor Wat.
Large statue of the ten-armed god Vishnu - Angkor Wat Temple
After passing through the gopura, a magnificent view of the main temple towers at the end of the road opens up. At sunrise they are surrounded by the radiant silhouette of the morning sky, and at sunset they glow orange. Continuing our journey inside Angkor Wat, we observe on both sides of the main road - two large, so-called "libraries" with four entrances to each side of the world. They were a kind of sanctuaries, and not warehouses of manuscripts, as the name suggests.
Breathtaking Sunrise Over Angkor Wat
Closer to the temple, on both sides of the road, there are two more reservoirs dug later, in the 16th century. Inside the temple you will be greeted by 1800 apsaras (celestial dancers).
Along with tourists, Buddhist monks are frequent visitors to Angkor Wat.
Climbing up to the second level of the temple, you can see a breathtaking sight - the peaks of the central towers rising from behind the courtyard. From the entrance, to all the central towers, as well as the two internal libraries of the second level, you can go over pedestrian bridges on short round posts.
View from the second floor of the temple
Gradually climbing the stone steps to the highest, third level of the Angkor Wat temple - the heart of the complex, huge conical towers are opened, located in the center and corners of the square, symbolizing the five heavenly peaks of the sacred Mount Meru - the center of the universe.
One of the four large corner towers of Angkor Wat
The highest level of Angkor Wat and its galleries only emphasize the perfect proportions. famous towers temple and make the overall view unforgettable. The central tower, or altar, was the abode of the god Vishnu, and since Angkor Wat was originally a Vishnu temple, and only later turned into a Buddhist one, it once stood a statue of Vishnu, perhaps the one that now stands at the entrance to the western gopura. It was an ancient custom among the Khmers to make offerings to the god in the form of gold sheets or small gems, which were left in a recess below the statue of the god. Unfortunately, these offerings have been looted over the centuries.
One of the buddha statues inside the temple
Today, only some of the statues of the god Vishnu or Buddha are displayed in the southern part of the galleries. The large reclining Buddha is still worshiped by local and Asian visitors.
"Buddha sleeps" - This Buddha statue, a place of special reverence for Buddhists in Angkor Wat
The entire temple capital of Angkor and the largest temple of Angkor Wat in particular is the soul and heart of the Khmer people, the people of free Kampuchea, a symbol of the prosperity of the Khmer civilization, which had a huge impact on the cultures of all the states of Southeast Asia. The image of the temple of Angkor Wat adorns the national flag of Cambodia (Kampuchea) and is its symbol.
State flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia (Kampuchea, Cambodia)
The era of Angkor lasted seven centuries. Many believe that the founders of the city of the gods Angkor were descendants of a previous civilization and this is a direct legacy of the great and mysterious Atlantis. Until now, the battles of historians over the officially announced dates for the construction of temples in Angkor and Angkor Wat have not ceased. There are more and more facts indicating that people settled in these places long before the heyday of the Khmer culture, but in the dates, many sources contradict each other, and quite significantly.
The great story of Angkor continues to save our souls...
However, all figures quite accurately reflect the peak of the heyday and greatness of the Khmer Angkorian era, in which the highest cultural achievements were achieved. The history of this period, which did not leave us paper manuscripts, is being restored with the help of inscriptions in Pali, Sanskrit and Khmer, found on the monuments and sculptures of Angkor Wat and other temple complexes of Angkor. Active archaeological and historical research in Angkor continues to this day, continuing to amaze the world with new discoveries of the secrets and mysteries of the great temple of Angkor Wat.
Documentary "Angkor Wat - Home worthy of the gods"
"Angkor Wat - Home worthy of the gods" - This is a popular science, documentary from national geographic from the "Superstructures of Antiquity" series, dedicated to the world-famous Angkor-Wat temple in Cambodia (Kampuchea). The authors of the film made an attempt to show the grandeur of the city of the gods Angkor and reveal the secret of the construction of the largest temple in the world, Angkor Wat. Abandoned by people under unclear circumstances more than 500 years ago, the Cambodian city of Angkor impresses with its scale - it is a giant stone map of the universe and one of the most remarkable creations of mankind.
I saw an excellent aerial panorama of the world-famous Cambodian temple, was impressed, and decided to tell you more. But for starters, be sure to fly over this ancient structure anyway. Soak up the spirit of an ancient civilization. The huge temple with pointed towers is a miracle of symmetry. Symbolizes the sacred mountain from Indian mythology. Around the temple are moats, which symbolize the oceans washing the foot of the divine mountain. Angkor Wat is the largest temple complex in the world. It is interesting for its galleries, towers, pavilions and gates, richly decorated with stone carvings, but all of them are inferior in grandeur to the central temple.
In 1150, the gigantic Angkor Wat complex was erected in Cambodia. Most likely, the construction took about 30 years, so we can assume that Angkor Wat began to be built somewhere in 1110. The ruins of Angkor lie about 240 km northwest of the capital of Cambodia (formerly Kampuchea) - the city of Phnom Penh, not far from the large lake Tonle Sap. Although, in theory, the temples of Angkor Wat are the place in India, as they are a typical example of Hindu architecture. 
Clickable 3000 px
Angkor Wat is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and serves as both a sanctuary and a tomb for Suryavarman himself. Angkor Wat for the Khmers, who ruled from the 9th to the 15th century in Cambodia, is something like a heavenly palace in which the spirit of kings can reside. In front of the temple is a moat 200 meters wide. During the rainy season, which in Cambodia can last up to 4 months, the moat is filled with water. In addition, several more lakes have been dug within the city. The only way to get inside is through the main portal in the wall that surrounds Angkor Wat in a 260 square kilometer area. 
The temple itself is built from several platforms, following one after another. The first platform (180 by 180 meters) is 3.5 meters high, the second platform (110 by 115 meters) rises by 7 meters, and the third (75 by 75 meters) is 13 meters above the ground. All three terraces are surrounded by galleries with gable roofs. The towers are interconnected by absolutely symmetrical galleries. All buildings are symmetrically located. This is strange, because in ancient times the Khmers were not familiar with the laws of balance. All buildings in Angkor Wat are distinguished by the severity of lines and clarity. Lush jewelry does not match this. Each stone of the temple is covered with carvings or bas-reliefs. What is only the gallery of the first platform 600 meters long. There are 8 panels with a total area of more than 1000 square meters. Most of all, scenes from the life of the gods are depicted. Lots of erotic motives. The most popular figure found here is the dancing goddess Apsara. In the center of the complex on the Bayon temple is depicted the face of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, one of the main characters of Buddhist mythology. In addition to the images of the gods in the temples, there are historical paintings. For example, those that depict local rulers, warriors going to battle. 
There are 5 main shrines in the temple. The first is located in a 60-meter tower, which can only be entered through gates, stairs and open courtyards. Around this tower are four more, where the remaining shrines are kept. There are more than 200 small temples in Angkor Wat. 
Tourists usually start their journey through Angkor Wat from the western entrance. Climbing up a short flight of stairs to the first cross-shaped terrace guarded by giant stone lions, one enters a long sidewalk leading to the center of your journey. The gaze falls on the gopura (gopura - entrance, entrance in Hindu terminology) with three towers, top part which is half destroyed. The shape of this gopura is so developed and elongated that it almost looks like a separate building. A long closed gallery, through which one has to pass, extends along the moat in both directions. This is the main facade of Angkor Wat. In the middle there is a passage narrow enough for the main entrance, and along the edges of the gallery you can go through huge arches located at ground level. Arches used to serve as passageways for elephants, horses and carts. 
From the central entrance, the guides lead tourists to the right and lead them to the end of the gallery, paying attention to the windows with chiseled columns and skillfully carved bas-reliefs on the walls. At the end of the gallery you can see all five towers of Angkor. 
In the courtyard, on the left and right, there are two small buildings - these are libraries. They, like all the buildings of Angkor Wat, have the shape of a cross. Behind the libraries there are two swimming pools (65×50 meters). The left one is always filled with rainwater, while the right one is usually dry. Standing in front of the left pool, you can clearly see the 10 towers of Angkor (five of them are reflected in the water). 
Between the first and second levels of the complex there are cross-shaped passage galleries with square columns dividing the courtyard into four parts. Some columns are decorated with Khmer and Sanskrit inscriptions. All the rest of the free space is given over to elegant rosettes, cornices and bas-reliefs. In fact, there is no place that the carver's hand would not touch. Further up the stairs you can get to the gallery of the second level (100 × 115 meters). Her main feature is an image of more than 1500 sculptures of beautiful goddesses. 
The next third, and last, level was allowed to visit only the king and the monks. Twelve stairs with 40 steps each - one in the center of each side and 2 at the corners - rise at a 70 degree angle to the most important level. The steps are very narrow, so you need to go up sideways, and go down with your back, that is, facing the steps. 
Angkor Wat could not reach us. There were too many who wanted to destroy it, even after Angkor Wat was opened. Today, traces of shooting are visible on the walls of the temple. According to the political beliefs of the Khmer Rouge, the country needed to be freed from religious dependence, so numerous figures of the gods were beheaded. Now, after two decades, restoration work begins. Oddly enough, but about this powerful complex learned relatively recently - about 100 years ago. Lost in the Cambodian jungle near Lake Tonle Sap, the French traveler Charles Emile Buivo wandered for a long time among dense thickets, giant trees, frightened by predators and tortured by clouds of mosquitoes, but suddenly stumbled upon an ancient city. Prior to this, the existence of this complex was not even suspected. This is how Angkor Wat (“Capital Pagoda”) was “extracted from oblivion” - the pearl of the craftsmanship of the ancient Khmers, the world's largest religious building, erected in the middle of the 12th century, during the reign of King Suryavarman II. 
The history of the Angkor period dates back to 800 BC, when the Khmer king Jayavaman II declared the independence of Kampuchea (Cambodia) from Java and founded the capital of the new state - the city of Hariharalaya, located in the north of Lake Tonle Sap. From that moment on, Jayavaman II was active in seizing the territories of neighboring states, and by 802 BC Kampuchea owns lands that now belong to China and Vietnam. In the same year 802, he declares himself a full-fledged ruler and creates a cult of worship of the god Shiva.
In 889, Yasovarman I ascends the throne and decides to start building a new capital - Yasodharmapura, which in Sanskrit means "holy city". Keeping the tradition, he also, like his predecessors, builds a huge reservoir. The construction of reservoirs was associated not only with the life and needs of the city, but also with the observance of the tradition, the roots of which go back to the myth of the sacred Mount Meru, surrounded by a great ocean. Mount Meru in religious construction was symbolized by a temple surrounded by water, and the lingam *, located inside the temple, symbolized the ruler, who was the viceroy of God on earth. Yasovarman I built his temple on the hill of Phnom Bokeng and surrounded it with a moat, which was filled with water from the reservoir he created. During his reign, Yasovarman I built many temples and carried out no less reforms.
Over the next 300 years, the great rulers of the Khmer Empire built many temple complexes, which, after many centuries, brought to us the story of the life of a great civilization. The last temple was erected during the reign of Jayavaman VII. After his death, centuries-old construction stopped.
It is known that already by the year 1000, during the period of its highest prosperity, the city occupied an area of 190 sq. km, which meant that it was the largest city in the medieval world. The city of Angkor was the size of present-day Manhattan. On the vast expanse of its streets, squares, terraces and temples, 600,000 people lived, and in the vicinity of the city - at least a million more. The inhabitants of Angkor were the Khmers, who professed Hinduism, brought to Southeast Asia in the 1st century AD. e. The earliest references to Angkor in Cambodian chronicles date only to the 15th century. Unfortunately, there are no documents left from the most ancient people. They used a very fragile material as a record material that did not stand up to time. But big historical meaning have inscriptions carved in stone, there are more than a thousand of them, most of them are made in Khmer and Sanskrit. It is not known how the complex was built - not a single source has survived, except for a legend that speaks of divine origin cities. According to this legend, Prince Preah Ket Mealea was a guest in heaven with the god Indra. He lived there in a beautiful palace. However, the heavenly dancers did not like the prince, and they begged God to return him to earth. In order not to offend Preah Ket Mealea, Indra ordered the heavenly architect Preah Pushnuk to build a palace-temple on earth exactly the same as the one in which the prince was visiting. So, according to legend, Angkor Wat was born. 
It is absolutely certain that Angkor Wat was a thriving city. A completely incomprehensible reason - why did it turn into an abandoned city, where did all its inhabitants go? After all fertile soil yielded three harvests of rice a year, Tonle Sap lake abounded with fish, and dense forests with various game. There are currently two main theories. According to the first, in 1171 the city was defeated by the Chams - the neighbors of the Khmers. And in 1431, the Thais finally finished off the already weakened people. But, then it is completely incomprehensible why the invaders did not occupy the reclaimed lands ... 
There is a second theory, which is denied by the scientific world, as it is completely fantastic. It relies on a Buddhist legend: the emperor was so offended by the son of one of the priests that he ordered the boy to be drowned in the waters of Lake Tonle Sap. In response, the angry god brought the lake out of its banks and crushed Angkor along with all its inhabitants. 
Angkor Wat is perhaps the largest religious building ever erected by man. It is much larger than any Muslim mosque, European cathedral, any pagoda or pyramid. However, despite all the historical and cultural value, the complex is threatened by a serious problem. Unfortunately, they do not want to take seriously the reconstruction of Angkor Wat, as it requires very high costs. But this historical monument of ancient culture is in a very deplorable state. Very disastrous consequences for the monuments had a war waged here for two recent decades, as well as the looting of temples by thieves. But, in addition, the inexorably advancing jungle vegetation destroys the Angkor complexes, its stone buildings are covered with mosses and lichens. Today, the Angkor temple complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Interesting fact: all the temples of Angkor were built without the use of cement and any other binding materials. During the construction of temples, blocks of sandstone were most often used, which were interlocked according to the principle of a castle, and the fortress walls were laid out from tuff.
Angkor Wat is surrounded by a 190 m wide moat. In the old days, crocodiles were bred in it. On the western side of the moat, a stone dam crosses, which is the entrance to the territory of the temple. The territory of Angkor Wat is walled with a length of 1025 m by 800 m. A long and wide road leads from the gate to the temple, laid along an embankment that rises almost one and a half meters above the ground.
Angkor Wat has survived much better than many other buildings of the Angkor complex, which is explained by the fact that after the last settlements left these places, Buddhist monks lived in Angkor Wat. They live here and now.
The complex was discovered on January 22, 1861 by the French traveler Henri Muo. In the 1970s, some of the buildings and sculptures of the complex were vandalized by Pol Pot's soldiers. In 1922, along with other buildings, the city of Angkor was taken under the auspices of UNESCO.
A bicycle is a good idea for walking around the temples. Of course, only if you intend to stay in Siem Reap for more than a day.
Most of the local population prefer this mode of transport when visiting Angkor, which means you have the opportunity to be closer to local population, which entails not only joy and pleasure, but lower prices for food and drinks on the territory of the temple complexes.
White Bicycles is a fairly large local bike rental company. They are supported by many hotels and guest houses, because the main percentage of their income goes to charity, in support of educational programs for children from low-income families. 
Taxis are a fairly common option for traveling around temples. It is convenient for those who want to "touch" the treasures of Angkor, but prefer such trips in an air-conditioned car cabin. The negative side of such walks can probably be that you find yourself isolated from sounds, smells and many other delights.
The cost of one day taxi rental ranges from $25 to $35. Basically, the price depends on what time you plan to start walking around the temple complexes. If you prefer to meet the sunrise on one of the wonderful terraces of Angkor Wat, then the cost of renting a taxi will be higher.
Renting mopeds by foreigners in Siem Reap is prohibited by law. However, some manage to bring a moped from Phnom Penh. If you have found a way to rent a moped, then we strongly recommend that you leave it in paid parking lots, because. there is a huge possibility of theft or theft.
For those who want to get a bird's eye view of Angkor Wat, Angkor Balloon Company can offer you a trip in a balloon basket. The route is fixed and there is no possibility to change course, the flight altitude is about 200 meters above the ground. The cost of pleasure is $ 11 per person (up to 30 people are placed in the basket). Unfortunately, this type of travel is not always available due to weather conditions. 
Elephant travel was at its peak in the early 20th century. It was on elephants that the first routes through the temples of Angkor were laid. Now, of course, everything is more civilized and put on the track of organized tourism. You can ride an elephant from Angkor Thom gate to Bayon temple. The cost of such a trip will cost you about $ 10. But in a place called Angkor Village, you can not only book an elephant ride, but even get a real lesson from professional mahouts. They will teach you how to sit on the elephant confidently and you will learn some commands to control the elephant. The cost of such a course is approximately $50. Popular with group travelers. The cost of renting a minibus with a driver (for 12 people) is approximately $50 per day. 
Perhaps the most popular transport for moving around the Angkor complex. Rickshaw cabs are quite comfortable and an important bonus is that they can protect you from the rain. If you are lucky with a driver, he can be a good guide, and also, knowing the temporary flows of tourists on the main routes in the complexes, he can help you avoid the crowd of people taking pictures and screaming. The cost of renting a motor rickshaw ranges from $10 to $20 per day. 
As we said earlier, walking is not the most convenient way to travel, and for good reason. Firstly, Angkor Thom is located 8 km from Siem Reap. Secondly, a lot picturesque temples located at a distance of 15-10 km from Angkor Thom. It is also important to take into account the fact that after 11 am the sun is at its zenith and long walks can be a very serious burden on the body. However, if the facts described above did not scare you away, you decided to walk, then discover the road that lies behind the wall of Angkor Thom. This route will reveal to you not only little-known temples hidden in the thickets tropical trees, but will also give you the opportunity to enjoy the singing of birds and the music of the jungle. 
By the way, literally in August 2014
There are its temples, of which there are a great many on the territory of the country. Today we will tell you about the most interesting and majestic ones that amaze the imagination with unthinkable bas-reliefs and original masonry.
The complex of temples in Cambodia occupies vast territories, and it should be noted that many of them are still under research.
Country Features
Cambodia attracts tourists with its originality - this is not Thailand, a little embellished and convenient for tourists. Travelers are usually impressed by the wild lands, free smiling people and extraordinary temples of Cambodia. These are amazing ensembles that even Hollywood has not left without attention, which has repeatedly chosen them as decorations for its films.
Experienced tourists note features that are directly related to sightseeing in this country, which you need to know about for those who are just planning a trip:
- All temples are magnificent at different times of the day: some at dawn, others during the day, others at dusk.
- Inspection of the ancient complexes takes a lot of time, so the event should be given at least three days to see the most interesting places. At this time, you can rent a room in one of the hotels located nearby the town of Siem Reap.
- To view the Angkor complex, it makes sense to think about renting a car, since many of the buildings are at a decent distance from each other.
Angkor: the ancient temples of Cambodia
This is a region of the country that has become the cradle for the largest empire in South Asia - the Khmer. Its greatness and prosperity dates back to the 9th-15th centuries. At that time, Angkor was one of the largest cities in the world, and its temples were already known far beyond the empire.
In 1431, the Siamese troops destroyed the city, and its inhabitants were forced to leave it. Since that time, Angkor, along with more than a hundred temples and palaces, have remained, in fact, abandoned among the dense rainforest. And only in late XIX century naturalist Anne Muo from France published several works that were devoted to Angkor.
Even Rudyard Kipling wrote his famous work about Mowgli - The Jungle Book - after visiting Angkor. Since 1992, the temple complex has been under the protection of UNESCO. This ancient Cambodian province was home to priceless architectural monuments of the Khmer Empire.
Angkor - ancient city
The temples of Angkor bear witness to the existence of the largest pre-industrial urban center on our planet, which was larger than today's New York City. Today it is a huge open-air museum with an area of 200 km². Here one gets the impression that stone temples with decorated walls seem to grow out of the impenetrable jungle.
Scientists today are trying to unravel the mysteries of their construction, but Angkor carefully keeps its secrets. As in the heyday of the empire, Angkor today attracts travelers and explorers from all over the world like a magnet. And if in the old days merchants came here, today's guests of this land are tourists.
Without exaggeration, we can say that the temples of Cambodia, and Angkor in particular, are the most impressive place in Southeast Asia. The kings of the Khmer Empire spared no expense to build a temple richer and more imposing than its predecessors.
angkor wat
The magnificent temple is the undisputed gem of Angkor. Its spiers have become a symbol and calling card Cambodia. The temple consists of five towers of shrines, three galleries that increase in height towards the center and are surrounded by a moat filled with water, 190 meters wide. The structure's profile imitates an unopened lotus bud.
The first gallery is the outer wall above the moat. It has square columns outside. The ceiling between them from the outer facade is decorated with rosettes in the form of a lotus, and figures of dancers are depicted on the inside. The bas-reliefs on the walls of all three galleries depict scenes from various myths and many historical events.
A long alley connects the first gallery with the second. You can climb to it by the stairs, which are decorated with sculptures of lions on the sides. In this gallery, the inner walls are decorated with images of apsaras, celestial maidens.
The third gallery consists of five towers, which crown the highest terrace. There are very steep stairs here, which symbolize the difficulty of climbing into the realm of the gods. Numerous snakes can be seen on the walls of the gallery. Their bodies end in the mouths of lions.
The stones of Angkor Wat, smooth as polished marble, are laid without any adhesive mortar. Main building material sandstone was used for this structure, which was delivered to the construction site from Mount Kulen, which is located 40 km.
Almost all surfaces, including the columns and lintels of the roof, are carved from stone. Between 1986 and 1992, the Indian Archaeological Society carried out restoration work in Angkor. We put the temple on the list world heritage UNESCO.
bayon
This temple was built in honor of Jayavarman VII. It has three levels. The main part of the decor of the temple is paintings depicting the daily life of the Khmers. The Bayon Temple in Cambodia also has one blank wall, 4.5 meters high. On it you can see scenes of a battle in which Jayavarman VII won a victory over the Chams.
In 1925 Bayon was recognized as a Buddhist sanctuary. In 1933, in the temple, more precisely, in the well of its foundation, they found in which resemblance with Jayavarman VII. During the Brahmin restoration, which was carried out immediately after the death of the ruler, it was defiled. Later it was restored and installed on the terrace.
Bapuon
The temples of Cambodia are completely different and they also amaze the guests of the country. After enjoying the extraordinary atmosphere of Bayon, go to the neighboring temple of Bapuon. For a long time, this territory was only a construction site, where restorers worked for several decades. They jokingly called their work putting together the most difficult puzzle in the world. Only two years ago, tourists got the opportunity to visit this ancient It is dedicated to Shiva.
It should be noted that all the ancient temples of Cambodia are very majestic. Historians say that in ancient times Bapuon was one of the most beautiful in Angkor. But in the early fifties of the last century, it was almost on the verge of destruction. French archaeologists, together with a team of restorers, decided that there was only one way to save it - to completely disassemble, strengthen the foundation, and only then reassemble the building.
In the early 60s, Bapuon was dismantled. During the dismantling, the blocks of the temple were transferred to the jungle, and each block had its own number. In the mid-70s, the Khmer Rouge came to power in the country, and restoration work was stopped. Later it turned out that the documents for the dismantling of the temple were destroyed, and there was no information left on how to collect 300 thousand stone blocks. The architects had to use photographs and memories of local residents.
Ta-Prom
Cambodia will probably never cease to amaze tourists. Jungle temples can be seen almost all over the country. But one of them - Ta Prohm - just fits Kipling's description perfectly. This is a huge temple-monastery, completely absorbed by the jungle.
Experts believe that it is the most poetic in Angkor, it has an amazing atmosphere created by huge trees that wrap around the walls. They have grown through the stones and hang over the towers. Over the centuries, the roots have become so fused with the walls that the trees cannot be removed without damaging the buildings.
Ta-Prom was built during the reign of Jayavarman as a Buddhist temple, occupying a vast area. However, in architecture it is not like other temples in Cambodia. It is a chain of one-story buildings, which are interconnected by through galleries and passages. Many of them are inaccessible today, because they are littered with stones.
The uniqueness of this temple lies in the fact that many ancient inscriptions are carved on the stone walls. On a stone stele, which can be seen today in the National Museum of Angkor, it is carved that at the time of its heyday 3,140 villages belonged to the temple, 79,365 people worked here, 18 high priests, 2,800 clerks served. More than 12,000 people lived permanently inside the temple.
On the site of the forest that today surrounds the temple, in ancient times there was a lively big city, and a large amount of jewelry was stored in its treasuries. Now it is difficult to believe in this, since many buildings have turned into ruins. There are two types of trees here: the largest is a banyan tree with thick, light brown roots, and the second is a strangler fig tree. It is distinguished by many thin, perfectly smooth gray roots.
The seeds of the tree fall into a gap in the masonry of the structure and the roots grow down, stretching towards the ground. We have already said that the temples of Cambodia are able to surprise even modern scientists with their mysteries. One of them is an image of a dinosaur carved on the wall of the Ta Prohm temple, to which guides like to lead excursion groups. However, until now no one can explain where the ancient Khmers could see the dinosaur.