When one thinks of temples in Cambodia, the Angkor Wat immediately comes to mind. However, the ancient Asian nation is home to several other temples that can rival the majesty of Angkor Wat. Of these, the Bayon Temple is probably the most well-known. This famous site is located at the heart of the famed city of Angor Thom. It was built under the patronage of Jayavarman VII who instituted a large temple building program. The temple contains around fifty towers, many of them featuring a carving of a face on each of the four walls. The face depicted in the carvings has a peaceful countenance and an enigmatic smile. It is believed that the face either belongs to a Boddhisattva (an enlightened person) or could be a depiction of Jayavarman VII and the Buddha. The Bayon Temple is located at the centre of Cambodia’s Angkor Archaeological Park.
The Ta Prohm Temple is another place that should not be missed. Constructed between the twelfth and thirteenth century, the Ta Prohm Temple is a massive complex that echoes the architectural styles of the Bayon Temple. It is found roughly one kilometre away from Angkor Thom. Unlike the other Angkorian temples, the Ta Prohm Temple has not been renovated after its discovery.
The Angkor Archaeological Park is one of Asia’s most important archaeological spots and is primarily accessible through Siem Reap. A quiet town until the tourist boom arrived; Siem Reap means ‘Siam Defeated’. Although many consider it a ‘transit’ town it is a highly popular tourist destination and has a number of great attractions of its own. Visitors cannot stop by this boom town without visiting the Angkor National Museum, the Wat Bo and the Wat Preah Prom Rath.
The town is rapidly growing with infrastructure improving all the time. Tourists looking for a luxury hotel Siem Reap can try Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. The hotel is cloistered on sixteen acres of beautifully maintained land giving guests a feeling of seclusion and privacy. However, this Siem Reap hotel is not far from all of the town’s main attraction and is a mere eight kilometres from the Angkor Wat.
