The multiple temples we were able to explore at Angkor Wat were easily one of the highlights of the trip, proven by how many photos I took of them! There is so much to learn and see -- please try to visit Cambodia -- I'll be happy to connect you with our guide Bomey and driver Mr. Li, who took excellent care of us. > [!info] Angkor Wat > **Angkor Wat** is a [Hindu-Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_Hinduism "Buddhism and Hinduism") temple complex in [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia "Cambodia"). Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) within the ancient [Khmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire "Khmer Empire") capital city of [Angkor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor "Angkor"), it was originally constructed in 1150 CE as a [Hindu temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple "Hindu temple") dedicated to the deity [Vishnu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu "Vishnu"). It was later gradually transformed into a [Buddhist temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_temple "Buddhist temple") towards the end of the century. Considered by some experts to be the [largest religious structure in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_Hindu_temples "List of largest Hindu temples"), it is regarded as one of the best examples of Khmer architecture and a symbol of Cambodia, depicted as a part of the [Cambodian national flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Cambodia "Flag of Cambodia"). > > Cite: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat) ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 1_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 2_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 3_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 4_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 5_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 6_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 7_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 8_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 9_web.jpeg]] These are believed to originally have been filled with water. There are four, which our guide told us represented the four elements of Air, Fire, Earth, and Water. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 10_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 11_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 12_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 13_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 14_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 15_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 16_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 17_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 18_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 19_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 20_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 21_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 22_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 23_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 24_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 25_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 26_web.jpeg]] # Ta Prohm Temple >[!info] Ta Prohm Temple >**Ta Prohm** is the modern name of a temple near the city of [Siem Reap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap "Siem Reap"), [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia "Cambodia"), approximately one kilometre east of [Angkor Thom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Thom "Angkor Thom") and on the southern edge of the [East Baray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Baray "East Baray"). It was built in the [Bayon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon "Bayon") style largely in the late [12th century](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_century "12th century") and early [13th century](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century "13th century") and was originally called **Rajavihara**. It was founded by the [Khmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire "Khmer Empire") King [Jayavarman VII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VII "Jayavarman VII") as a [Mahayana Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana_Buddhist "Mahayana Buddhist") monastery and center of learning dedicated to his mother.[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-lp-1) Almost 80,000 people were required to maintain or attend at the temple, including over 2,700 officials and 615 dancers.[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-lp-1) > The temple is referred to as the "[Tomb Raider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_Raider "Tomb Raider") Temple" or the "[Angelina Jolie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Jolie "Angelina Jolie") Temple" due to its depiction in the film _[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Croft:_Tomb_Raider "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider")_ (2001).[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-lp-1)[2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-2) > The temple was built without mortar and, after it was abandoned, trees took root in the loosened stones.[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-ao-3) The trees growing out of the ruins and the [jungle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungle "Jungle") surroundings have made it one of the most popular temples with visitors to the area.[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm#cite_note-ao-3) It has been on the [UNESCO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO "UNESCO") [World Heritage List](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_List "World Heritage List") since 1992. > >Cite: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm) ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 27_web.jpeg]] Preservation efforts underway at the East Entrance. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 28_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 29_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 30_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 31_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 32_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 33_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 34_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 35_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 36_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 37_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 38_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 39_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 40_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 41_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 42_web.jpeg]] Preservation efforts underway. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 43_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 44_web.jpeg]] # Bayon Temple >[!info] Bayon Temple >The **Bayon** is a richly decorated [Khmer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Empire "Khmer Empire") temple related to Buddhism at [Angkor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor "Angkor") in [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia "Cambodia"). Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of the King [Jayavarman VII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VII "Jayavarman VII"), the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, [Angkor Thom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Thom "Angkor Thom").[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon#cite_note-Higham-1)[2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon#cite_note-Higham1-2) > The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces of Brahma - probably modeled on the face of King Jayavarman VII - on every side the many towers that jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.[3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon#cite_note-Freeman_and_Jacques,_p.78-3)The main conservatory body, the Japanese Government Team for the Safeguarding of [Angkor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor "Angkor") (the JSA) has described the temple as "the most striking expression of the baroque style" of [Khmer architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_architecture "Khmer architecture"), as contrasted with the classical style of [Angkor Wat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Wat "Angkor Wat").[4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon#cite_note-4) ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 45_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 46_web.jpeg]] Bayon Temple had a lot of monkeys scurrying around -- within a minute or two one had stolen Doug's water bottle, bit it open, and was drinking the water inside. We were told to watch our possessions (including phones) as these mischievous rascals were all over the place. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 47_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 48_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 49_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 50_web.jpeg]] # Preah Khan Temple >[!info] Preah Khan Temple > **Preah Khan** is a temple at [Angkor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor "Angkor"), [Cambodia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia "Cambodia"), built in the 12th century for King [Jayavarman VII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayavarman_VII "Jayavarman VII") to honor his father.[1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khan#cite_note-Higham1-1): 383–384, 389 [2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preah_Khan#cite_note-Coedes-2): 174–176  It is located northeast of [Angkor Thom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_Thom "Angkor Thom") and just west of the [Jayatataka](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jayatataka&action=edit&redlink=1 "Jayatataka (page does not exist)") [baray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baray "Baray"), with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organisation, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular [galleries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Cambodia#Gallery "Architecture of Cambodia") around a [Buddhist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism "Buddhism") sanctuary complicated by [Hindu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism "Hinduism")satellite temples and numerous later additions. Like the nearby [Ta Prohm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm "Ta Prohm"), Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 51_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 52_web.jpeg]] In addition to the seven-headed snakes that adorn many bridges, bridges in Angkor will commonly feature deities lining both sides of a bridge. On one side, demons. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 53_web.jpeg]] On the other side, gods. ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 54_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 55_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 56_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 57_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 58_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 59_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 60_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 61_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 62_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 63_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 64_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 65_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 66_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 67_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 68_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 69_web.jpeg]] ![[2025-03-Angkor_Wat - 70_web.jpeg]]