lechua photography

Angkor Wat is without doubt the symbolic icon of Siem Reap. Literally translated as the ‘Temple City’ (Angkor means ‘City’ and Wat means ‘Temple’), this awe-inspiring monument is located in the middle of the complex of Angkor.

With its front entrance facing the west, this grand temple forms an amazing silhouette at sunrise. Enclosed by a square moat, there is a causeway across the water at the entrance. Built originally with the influence of Hinduism, the 5 magnificent towers of the temple represent the peaks of Mount Meru, the sacred home of Hindu gods.

sunrise at Angkor Wat

It is wise to reach Angkor Wat by 5.30am to allow time to find your way in the dark (bring a torch!) through the main gateway and along the causeway to the pond on the left where reflection of the 5 towers can be viewed at an angle. From total darkness, the sky lit up quite quickly at about 6am. Having visited in December, we were told that the skies are clearest during March-April when one would be able to see the sun rise gradually above Angkor Wat.

 one of the four quadrants of the Gallery of the Thousand Buddhas  (where a great number of Buddha statues were said to be stored in the old days)

apsaras carved on walls all round the temple

balusters along the gallery wall

carving at the top of the doorway leading to the second terrace 

the towers viewed from the second level terrace

Around the walls of the outer gallery are 600m long and 2m high of bas-reliefs. The carvings depict scenes from Hindu myths. The eastern half of the South gallery represents the 37 Heavens and 32 Hells derived from Indian tradition. The lower register represents torture in hell while the upper registers show two processions on the way to Heaven.

the Heavens and Hells

Another interesting bas-relief is the Churning of the Sea of Milk on the southern half of the East gallery. This is based on a famous Hindu legend where the gods and demons battle for the elixir of immortality, by pulling on the body of the naga (multi-headed serpeant). The pulling of the serpeant coiled around Mount Mandara in opposite directions causes the churn of the sea which in turn produces amrita, the elixir of immortality.

 Ravana holds the head of the naga and pulls along with a team of 92 asuras (demons) in the Churning of the Sea of Milk

causeway leading to the inner compound of Angkor Wat (notice the hot air balloon that provides an aerial view of the temple)

naga balustrade along the causeway

cracks between sandstone slabs on the causeway

 a lion statue on guard at the entrance of the causeway

view of the moat surrounding Angkor Wat