Angkor Wat History

The Angkor Wat temple complex represented the apex of Khmer creativity and splendor of the Khmer Empire. Its magnificence rivals the Seven Wonders of the World. Until recently, it was lost for nearly a quarter of a century, for the second time in history, Today once again; tourists arrive to see the "star attraction" of Cambodia. No tour itinerary to Cambodia is complete without a visit to Angkor Wat. It is located in Siem Reap, 311 km north of Phnom Penh.

Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century by King Suryarman ll who reigned from approximately 1113-1150. The purpose of the Angkor Wat was for the king to worship and pray for the protection of his people and kingdom.

The temple complex was dedicated to Vishnu, the Hindu Sun God.

The whole complex occupies an area of 1,950,000 square meters. The numerous temples found there were built with granite and sandstone. Not a single metal bar was used. The rocks used for building came from a place called Plon Klon Mountain, 40 km away.

Apart from human strength and energy, only buffaloes, elephants and carts were relied on to help transport the huge rocks, from, the mountain to the site during the dry season. During the rainy season boats might be used too. The numerous pagoda - like temples found at the site vary in height from eight to twenty stories high. How were the huge rocks carried up to the top? That will probably remain a mystery forever.

The whole Angkor Wat temple complex is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. During the wet season the water in the moat mirrors the splendid beauty of the complex. Unfortunately, I was there during the dry season.
There are two entrances to the Angkor Wat - the east entrance and the west entrance. Both entrances are guarded on both sides by the statue of Vishnu. Upon entering the Angkor Wat.

We were greeted by a huge and imposing square column. On all four sides of this huge column are relief sculptures - each tells a story. The first wall of relief sculpture, I looked at depicts how the Angkor Empire was built. Of how the king and his generals planned and fought battles.

The second wall depicts Hindu reincarnation - good deeds in this life will ensure a better life hereafter; similarly an evil life will downgrade oneself in the next. The third wall tells how Vishnu protracted the kingdom and her people. The last wall, which I was marveling at by then, shows how the people revered, praised and glorified their god-king. Inside many of the temples there is a steep staircase leading to the top.

However the steps are narrow and uneven in width and height - rather dangerous, quite easy to go up but difficult to come down. For those who are adventurous enough to climb to the top, they will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the whole area covered buy Angkor Wat. A reliable tale which I myself tried out was found to be true. If one were to stand at one corner of a temple and beats his own chest with the inside of his fist he will hear a sound. And if he moves over to the opposite corner and does the same thing, a different sound will be heard.

One will hear the sound of a gong beat at one corner and a drum beat at the opposite corner. Amazing? It has something to do with the structure of the beating of one's chest. The caretaker of Angkor Wat, at the time of my visit, emphasized to us that it was mandatory and still is today, for every Cambodian to visit the Angkor Wat, at least once in his or her lifetime.

However not every one could pay that visit. Puzzled, I asked him why. "Many died of sickness, exhaustion or exposure, during the journey, or somehow rather could not complete their journey," he replied.

About 3.3 km away from Angkor Wat at a place named Bayon, is another equally magnificent temple complex called Angkor Thom. It was built about 1200 by King Jayavarman VII. Angkor Thom is bigger in area and size than Angkor Wat. It has within its boundary, 54 big and small pagodas.

There are a total of 216 smiling faces at the site, all them resembling King Jayavarman VII. The entire area could accommodate up to one million people during its heyday. Both Angkor and Angkor Thom are situated at an archaeological site called Angkor.

Angkor City was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century. In 1431 (recent research put it at 1444) the Siamese captured and sacked Angkor.

Temples were destroyed and its inhabitants were driven to the south. From then on Angkor was abandoned and Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom were left to ruin. It was not until 22nd January 1860, that a French scholar discovered the past glory of Angkor. He read about Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom in a book titled cial envoy named Chou Ta-Kuan. At the time of the discovery, there were more than 600 tall temples and other structures at Angkor Wat.

It is sad to note that the history of Angkor Wat was sorrowful, for it was lost and closed again to the outside world from around 1970 - 80s. But today, the showpiece of Cambodia is once again open.

Blessed with peace and a stable government under King Norodom Sihanouk, the people of Cambodia are determined to work hard to regain the glory of their past, symbolized by Angkor Wat.