Best 10 Temples in Siem Reap

With hundreds of temples scattered throughout Angkor - World Cultural Heritage Site in Siem Reap province, you can only select a few priorities of the biggest, most beautiful temples lying in best locations to admire.

Angkor Wat means “Temple City” (Angkor: "city" or "capital city") while Angkor Thom means “Great City”. These are two the most important relics in Cambodia, which are considered as supreme constructions of Khmer art and architecture.

1. Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the greatest, best beautiful temple and situated in the best location among all temples in Angkor Complex Site. Angkor Wat was constructed under the dynasty of King Suryavarman II in the first half of 12th century, which is the pinnacle of Khmer architecture. This temple is well-known for long passage-ways carved with hundreds of Hinduism epic relievo statues along with thousands of absolutely stunning Apsara woman dancer statues.  

To walk and explore Angkor Wat entirely, you will have to spend a whole day. This is also the best place to contemplate sunrise in Angkor. 

2. Bayon

Lying in Angkor Thom ensemble, Bayon is remembered by hundreds of giant, spectacular four-faced-statues. Bayon was built in 12th century by Jayavarman VII, which is the only national temple in Angkor built for Mahayana Buddhism, dedicated to worship Buddha. After the death of King Jayavarman, Bayon was remodeled to Hinduism style.

This is the most impressive temple in Angkor Complex thanks to its majesty about scale along with mysterious, spiritual emotions when admiring this temple.

3. Ta Keo temple

Takeo temple was made of green sandstones, which is the sole temple not completed in Angkor Thom. Ta Keo was erected by King Jayavarman V, the son of Rajendravarman, as he was 17 years old. This temple is dedicated to worship God Shiva. However, Ta Keo was never accomplished due to the death of the king.

A legend was related that the temple had been struck by lightning while it had been constructing, and all work had been stopped in the period that primary structures had been newly completed.

4. Ta Prohm

Built in 1186, Ta Prohm is a Buddhism temple dedicated for the mother of King Jayavarman VII. This is one of a few temples in Angkor having proofs which provide information about inhabitants of the temple. Ta Prohm used to be home of over 12,500 people. After the fall of Khmer Empire in the 15th century, the temple was abandoned. Trunks have grown over the walls creating an occult, extraordinary beauty for the temple. 

Someone who used to watch the film Tomb Raider of the star Angelina Jolie will specially want to visit Ta Prohm.

5. Banteay Kdei

The temple located next to Ta Prohm is Banteay Kdei, meaning “A Citadel of Chambers”, also known as “Citadel of Monk’s Cells”. This is a Buddhism temple in Angkor, built in early 13th century under the reign of King Jayavarman VII. This Buddhism monastery now decays a lot due to incorrect construction and poor quality of sandstones. 

If you are ones who fancy culture and beauty, you will not miss these ruins with graceful carved motifs on walls of the temple.

6. Pre Rup

Pre Rup temple looks like a miniature Angkor with three towers in the center. The temple was made of grey sandstone, which is less durable than pink sandstone like in several other temples in Angkor. Pre Rup is used as a place to cremate bodies of the Royal lineage.

Undergoing many centuries it was abandoned, complicated carved details in this temple has been eroded. 

7. Preah Khan

This is one of biggest temples in Angkor, constructed by King Jayavarma VII to offer his father – Dharanindra, was also the temporary residence of this king as Angkor Thom was under construction. Preah Khan was surrounded by a layer of citadel. Many construction categories was connected each other by two plus-shaped-corridors divided the temple into 4 parts. At head of each corridor, there is a temple gate with two colossal statues standing guard.

This breathtaking temple has retained numerous invaluable masterpieces overlaid by moss through the years. 

8. Phnom Bakheng

This Hinduism temple was constructed in late 9th century, the architectural center of the new capital under the reign of King Yasovarman. The temple faces east, lying in a 6-story-pyramid. After accomplishment, Phnom Bakheng had 108 small towers surrounding the temple on the ground and on the floors. 

Located in top of a hill, Phnom Bakheng is one of best places to witness dawn in Angkor.

9. Banteay Srei

Located nearly 30 km from Angkor Wat, but Banteay Srei is the temple cannot forget in Angkor. This temple with delicate, charming contours was built to worship Gods of Hindu and Shiva. Banteay Srei or “the temple of women” is a wonderful picture about sculpture art on laterite and red sandstone.

The temple is rated as the pinnacle of art with relievo statues and motifs created in a subtle, ingenious way for every small detail.

10. Preah Palilay

Preah Palilay is a very small temple which is little known, situated in the behind precinct of Elephant court. This is a Buddhism temple based on Bayon style, although there are a number of Hinduism carved parts. The temple is striking with the chimney-shaped tower and sculpture statues of God Naga really fabulous from the gate. 

The small temple ruins, hiding deeply inside Angkor Thom area but it is really attractive under cool shade of a green tree garden.

TIP: To discover Angkor Complex site, you can trek or bike over Angkor. Animated activities will make your discovery more interesting and bring you new experiences, especially as you go through forests and encounter amazing ruins. 

New Draft Law Banning Travelers from Touching Angkor Wat

The new draft law of conduct, which stipulates prohibitions for travelers like banning from wearing scantily and touching ancient constructions, can be executed by the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA).

APSARA notifies that they are completing the new draft law which has been built for 2 years to apply for tourists visiting this historic site. According to Mr. Sok Sangvar, the head of tourist management of APSARA, in this early June, they will send the draft to experts of International Criminal Court to review the code’s legality.

“Basically the code directs to regulations of things that tourists not to do when visiting Angkor Wat like not dressing inappropriately and not touching ancient constructions.” – said Mr. Sok Sangvar. When the process of drafting this new code is coming to the final step, many indecent, illegal actions of some tourists happened as they took “naked” photos inside this sacred, ancient temple site. 

Following to Mr. Long Kosal, the spokesman of APSARA, when being accomplished, the rule books will able to be distributed to people who work in tourism indusstry. “We will propagate this new law widely to related authorities, departments and organizations, and hand the rule books to tourism workers such as tour guides, travel companies, hotels, etc. We need cooperation from them to achieve good results in enforcement of this law.” Mr. Kosal added.

Mr, Sangvar told that APSARA also find all ways to disseminate things must not to do for travelers. The law is mainly about the sustainable development of Angkor. This code will be also executed for other historical sites in Cambodia, but Angkor temple complex is first.   

Active Travel Asia Introduces New Website Interface

ACTIVE TRAVEL ASIA (ATA) – the travel company offers real adventure travel in Asia excitedly introduces the new website interface www.activetravel.asia. So as to serve customers better, this website was redesigned. It now has an easy-to-use interface with an eye-catching appearance and a plain structure. 

Compared to the old website interface, this new one has some dominant features following:

• One-stop booking for adventures to all Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

The new website is the synthesis of all tours from four main satellite websites: Active Travel Vietnam, Active Travel Myanmar, Active Travel Laos and Active Travel Cambodia, but divided by destinations (countries) and activities.

With a new general and united website, it is expected that the view of tours will be more convenient.  As users can see the whole of tours, they will have more appropriate choices for their likes, time or budget. 

• Allow visitors easy to search for adventures by destinations, activities and duration.

A new search tool was created on this new interface for users to seek tours they need. Users can search by places of departure, types of tours (activities), duration and special keywords. With this new search tool, users can find out quickly in a simple and time-saved way. 

Beside the search tool, this new website also supplies a “sort tool”, which allows to sort by Price and by Day that help visitors easily look up to the most suitable adventure to their schedule as well as budget. 

• User-friendly and responsive interface to mobile and tablet screen.

The new interface is eye-catching though on desktop, mobile or tablet screen. Specially, it is really easy to access and use regardless of which devices users employ. It is also friendly in interaction with users via contacts, requests and feedback. 

Applying the newest technology, this new interface is fully responsive to all mobile devices. It means that the interface automatically “adjust” itself about image, text, buttons, icons and others to match to every screen resolution. That makes the online shopping of visitors can be proceed anytime, anywhere as long as their mobile devices are connected to internet. 

• Many options of booking and payment. 

Many choices of adventure tours are suggested and given which users can see as accessing a tour site of the web. Beside, customers can customize tour or create own trips then send requests to the company. 

There are many payment policies on the new website that creates favorable conditions and stimulate customers to book adventure tours like paying immediately only 25% out of total, balance later, paying later, etc. The payment system is secured with the SSL standard which encrypts the information that users provide online.

• Many deals and offers updated.

Deals and offers are updated frequently and set at easy-to-see places. Many tours have a clear table of prices for 1 pax, 2 pax, 3-4 pax, 5-6 pax and single supplement. Particularly, discount prices are counted right on price tables in time of a sales promotion program. 

• Permit users add Feedback right on website.

Users are likely to give their ideas publicly about ATA’s services. That is not helpful to other potential travelers but it shows the ATA’s open idea and confidence with its services. 

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With exceptional features in comparison with the old website interface, ATA hopes that this new one will bring simple, convenient and active experiences for users. If you realize any problem when using this new website, please send your comments to ATA. We really thank for this.

ACTIVE TRAVEL ASIA TEAM