Angkor Wat - Cambodia’s Most Iconic Temple

Greetings everyone from Cambodia! There are some experiences in my travels that I recall with the greatest clarity and magical time I spent exploring the Angkor Wat temple. Well, Angkor Wat is located inside Angkor Archeological Park and to visit we need to get to Siem Reap first (province of Cambodia). I have been to Angkor Wat since 2020, it was a hot season when I visit, but worth it because I could experience many stuff.

Watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat temple is a truly unforgettable experience that makes for spectacular photos. People who want to enjoy sunrise must need to arrive early about 5 am to beat the crowds and midday heat, beside that we can enjoy visiting the temples of Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, and Bayon Temple.

Angkor Wat exists with the pond nearby. Personally, I also enjoy the reflection in the pond since it is so gorgeous, the water is so clear which we can see how deep it is and the inside of this pond too. Sounds amazing of course Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world.

An early start will allow you have a nice spot to watch and take photos of the Angkor sunrise, but in some case if the sun has not yet risen, we will have a chance to be able to photograph Angkor Wat without the crowds blocking your view. This is a wonderful experience to do at Angkor Wat.

The Door 🚪 to enjoy an amazing view

Here, I would like to show you my favorite view of Angkor Wat. When we stand behind the door, thing we must see is the whole temple. I can enjoy watching people walking. It was an amazing feeling I lose all the stress while standing there. Absolutely the most enjoyable place!

Inside of the temple, we must be able to see the window design with a classic style and incredible look. I began to fall in love with the window of Angkor Wat, this is a unique thing inside this large area. I would definitely say the wall connected with the window is full of creativity, every time we take a look from one side to another side we see the different designing styles that we haven’t seen before.

Palm tree - national tree of Cambodia

The palms tree stand near the temple is actually has a deep history and meaningful. Palms tree is a symbolic tree for Cambodia. In Khmer we called it “Derm Thnaot”. Due to its numerous benefits for Cambodian daily life, the King decreed it as the national tree of the country in 2005. The Palm Tree is also on the Khmer Riel note.

Angkor Wat interior

Walking inside Angkor Wat is like being granted the keys to another world for a short period of time. While I was there, I often imagined in my head that, like a history book that I learned in my Khmer school about the culture of Angkor Wat. I feel myself in Angkor period.

The classical Khmer architecture majorly includes the use of sandstone in each building of the religious sites. It is said that the architecture of Angkor Wat is a work of power, unity and style.

So, what is it really like to visit? As Angkor Wat is a religious place, we allow to wear clothing (preferably light) we can wear any styles that covers our shoulders and knees both for national and international visitors. When I get in, I always keep in mind that this is a historic religious structure. At all times, our shoulders and knees must be covered.

Apsara - beautiful female creatures

Apsaras are female spirits of the clouds and water. They are always youthful and elegant. For me, apsaras is a beautiful site where I can feel and see they appear on the wall. They danced to the music of their husbands, in the palaces of the gods. Apsaras appear in stone in many Angkor temples.

Apsara dancers adorn the stone walls of the temples of Angkor mean that visitor both national an International will be able to see them. Cloud and water were traditionally associated with feminine beauty, elegance, and refinement in Hindu culture.