ANGKOR WAT – where I lost my heart

Amazingly beautiful, high level of art – Angkor Wat is beyond description. Angkor Wat – the temple city has so much to offer. Right after getting down from the flight I could breathe history in the air of Siem Reap. I saw international travellers thronging for the love of knowledge and travel. Being an Indian I was eligible for visa on arrival. Got my passport stamped and came out of the airport office.

It was July – very hot. I was sweating. There were many tuk-tuk drivers waiting for the passengers. They all were smiling and we hired one of them. The driver was very friendly. He charged $40 for two days including to and fro the airport.

The first thing we did after keeping our luggage in our hotel room was to rush to the Angkor National Museum. It contains the shortcut history of Angkor wat and other temples and the rulers of Siem Reap. The visit is must when you are visiting Siem Reap for the first time. Then we got our one day pass for $37 each. As much as I could I tried to check out the temple before it got closed for the day.

Then we went to the local market. I thought Thailand was the only famous place for massage but I was wrong. There are many good massage centres in Siem Reap offering high value service at reasonable rate.

Local market attracts the tourists with it’s products. I think Siem Reap is the best place for a traveller to get to know art and culture alongwith enriched history.

Siem Reap is a small yet beautiful town. While walking through the streets of this beautiful town in the afternoon I saw a dance class was going on in a field with music on. I watched for some time.

Sitting and having quiet time at local park and breathing nature will want you to ponder the deeper meaning of life.

King’s Road becomes vibrant and alive after sunset. A throng of travellers from all over the world move from one local shop to another. Music keeps on playing.

There are some restaurants organising orchestra.

When we visit Siem Reap only the picture of Angkor Wat comes in our mind but Siem Reap has much more to offer. Wat Preah Prohm Rath is an elegant temple. Visiting this temple was the best choice I made that time. It is less spoken on the internet.

Life of Lord Buddha is portrayed on the walls of the temple. I loved vibrant golden-red color of the temple and some mixture of art form of Angkor Wat.

Pub Street is full of restaurants and bars. Loud music, bright lights, cheap drinks, good food and great night life – this is the short definition of Pub Street.

There are shops from various countries showcasing their best products. I found few Indian shops there!

I was very much excited to visit Angkor Archaeological Park. Next morning I got up very early. Our tuktuk driver was already waiting outside the hotel.

I can’t count the number of tourists but definitely it was a large crowd and everyone was trying to capture the best shot of Angkor Wat from the other side of famous lotus pond. I found water was less.

Angkor Wat is a temple and there are many other temples at Angkor Archaeological Park. The visitors have to obey the code of conduct. There are temples where you are not allowed if you are not wearing dress covering shoulders and knees.

Roof arts always amaze me. The temples of this complex are full of beautiful roof arts. Even after hundreds of years the art looks magnificent.

People are always in search of happiness and peace of mind when travelling a new place. The monk in the photo below was blessing some tourists inside the temple.

Bayon temple is quite famous. The art is awesome. I don’t know why but after seeing the temples of the complex I felt this temple was either dedicated to Lord Brahma or Trimurti (Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwar).

There were temples with steep stairs.

Terrace of Elephants is a place to overview the complex. This complex was used by the kings to overview public ceremony and it was the base for king’s Grand Audience Hall (information source: Wikipedia/Google).

Archeological Survey of India is conducting many renovation projects at Angkor Wat temple complex. Seeing India’s contribution to save ancient architecture made me proud.

Cambodia has suffered a lot due to mine explosions. Many people lost body parts, many died. I saw some mine victims singing inside the temple complex.

There are maps showing temple locations. So you don’t have any chance to get lost 🙂

Ta Prohm is among top tourist attracts of Siem Reap. Every body wants to take pictures with root temple. I watched Lara Croft:Tomb Raider. At the temple I felt I was in the movie that moment! 🙂