| This ancient city's wonders were rediscovered in | | | | Bullet markings remind us of recent history of |
| 1860 by the French explorer Henri Mahout after it | | | | when the temple was used as a safe haven for |
| had been concealed deep within the Cambodian | | | | the infamous Khmer Rouge communist |
| jungle for centuries. Today it is now possible to | | | | movement. Indeed the entire top level of the city |
| experience this city's mystical wonders. At one | | | | would seem to have been designed specifically |
| time this amazing place was the Khmer | | | | with daybreak in mind. The sun slowly creeps |
| civilisations capital. The city's high of power came | | | | through the stone pillared windows of the temple |
| in the 12th century when the magnificent Angkor | | | | casting the beautiful morning light upon the |
| Thom was built which is a royal city within a city. | | | | apsaras in the sanctified Buddhist sanctuary fading |
| During this time King Suryavarman the second, | | | | into the shadows again less than 20 minutes later. |
| erected the temple which is said to be a symbol | | | | The Bayon and Ta Prohm are also two locations |
| of Mount Meru - the sacred core of the Hindu | | | | that are a must for any aspiring visitors to this |
| faith. This temple is truly a spectacular building in | | | | great city. The Bayon is a small temple which was |
| itself. It is encircled within a sizeable moat and | | | | built later than Angkor Wat. This temple is easily |
| bridged via a stone causeway. The three story | | | | distinguishable with its massive, expressionless |
| stone built structure faces west with the top floor | | | | stone faces resembling the Lord Buddha. |
| capped by four corner towers and a main level | | | | Historians think these were built at a time when |
| 65 metres high. When it was first built the temple | | | | the ancient Khmer civilization was making a |
| was bestowed to Shiva - one of the Hindu gods, | | | | transition from Hinduism to Buddhism. Ta Prohm |
| later this temple was used as a Buddhist | | | | on the other hand was a once beautiful temple |
| monastery. Nowadays carvings relics of the | | | | which has been ravaged by time. You may know |
| Buddha are present within its hallowed spaces. | | | | this temple by the huge roots that push their way |
| Today it is acknowledged as a spiritual monument | | | | through the stone. This part of the temple is well |
| by Cambodia's mainly Buddhist population. Eight | | | | known through photos around the world. |
| centuries of plundering and weathering have done | | | | The temples of Angkor are now more accessible |
| little to diminish the quality of the majestic detail | | | | than ever with Cheap flights to Thailand and onto |
| of the carvings of Angkor Wat. The carvings | | | | Cambodia. If its peace, tranquillity and jaw |
| depict scenes from the Mahabharata - a great | | | | dropping history and architecture you are after |
| Hindu story and shows scenes of great Khmer | | | | head to the main Buddha sanctuary on the top |
| battles and warnings of the sufferings of Hell. | | | | level of the temple. You can only reach this |
| The best time to view this unforgettable place is | | | | temple by climbing one of four flights of steep |
| in the morning, where you the carvings and reliefs | | | | and dilapidated stairs which the Khmers who built |
| really stand out in the morning light. The rising sun | | | | it equated to the demanding and tricky path to |
| highlights the aspsaras (celestial nymphs) carved | | | | heaven. This is perhaps the most spiritual place |
| into the walls ad pillars. The detail of these | | | | you could ever visit and uniquely offers tourists |
| sculptures is truly amazing given how old they are. | | | | the chance to feel inner peace. |