Angkor Wat and Temples

INTRODUCTION

Angkor Wat and the other amazing Angkor temples are the main reason why people visit Siem Reap and you will understand why once you have visited them. Angkor is one of mankind’s amazing achievements built from around 800 to 1200 AD by the Khmer Empire. Over 200 of the temples have been restored in some way to allow visitors to imagine what it must have been like living during that period of time. There are actually over 1,000 temple sites of Angkor, but most of them are now barely standing, if even standing at all.

For information about Angkor tours, please visit our Angkor Tours section. If you would like us to recommend an Angkor tour for you then please email us at toursbyalocal@gmail.com to receive a suggested itinerary.

Who manages the temples?

The Apsara Authority are the organization that preserve, maintain, restore and take care of the day to day maintenance of temples. The Apsara Authority is an organization set up by the government after King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia and the World Heritage site asked the Cambodian government to set up an organization to manage and protect the Khmer heritage site.

The sales of tickets are controlled by a Cambodian Company. The ticket sales are shared between the Government, Apsara Authority and Cambodian with the Government getting the biggest slice of the pie.

Admission Fees to Angkor Temples

1. All foreign visitors are required to purchase an entrance ticket Angkor Archaeological Park.
2. 2. Ticket prices (new Angkor Pass guidelines effective from 1st July 2009):
   
   

   One day pass	US$20
   Three day pass - to be used within 7 days	US$40
   Seven day pass - to be used within 1 month	US$60

   
   Tickets are NOT valid after the expiry date.
3. Working hours of booths:
   
   5:00am to 5:30pm
   
   Entry tickets for a one-day visit are issued up to 5:00pm.
   Entry tickets issued after 5:00pm are valid for the next day.
4. The purchase of entrance tickets must be made at the ticket sales booths. Tickets purchased from a third party are NOT valid.
5. Entrance tickets are NOT transferable to third parties and can not be reimbursed. If a visitor loses his/her ticket he/she must purchase a new ticket.
6. Tickets must be produced at the check points.
   
   Visitors who are found without an entrance ticket or with a fraudulent ticket or a transferred ticket are subject to a fine of:
   
   

   US$100 for the value of a one day ticket	US$20
   US$200 for the value of a three day ticket	US$40
   US$300 for the value of a one week ticket	US$60

   
   
7. Visitors are asked to keep their tickets until they have completed their visit.
8. Foreigners of Cambodian birth or whose parents are Cambodian (father or mother) are exempt from paying the entrance fee providing that they show a << K >> type visa in their passports.
9. Foreigners which have been granted Cambodian citizenship must show their national identification card in order to be exempted from paying the entrance fee.
10. Vehicles carrying foreign visitors must stop at the check points.

ANGKOR TOURS & GUIDES

We use some of the best Angkor tour guides in Siem Reap for all of our Angkor Tours and Day Tours. If you are looking for an Angkor tour guide for your visit to Siem Reap then why not use our Angkor tour services? Please email us at toursbyalocal@gmail.com for more information.

ANGKOR TEMPLES

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom was built in the late 12th to early 13th century during Jayavarman VII reign and it is a Buddhism temple. Angkor Thom is a 3 km square walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. Angkor Thom has 5 entrances to it, with the south gate being very popular with the tourists before they head towards Bayon, which was the state temple of the city. Angkor Thom is a must to all Angkor tour itineraries.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the early to mid 12th century. Suryavarman II constructed Angkor Wat into a huge temple like mountain with 5 huge towers, which can be seen from afar and was dedicated to the Hindu God and Vishnu. Angkor Wat is the main temple on most visitors' list and gets very crowded in early mornings and late afternoons. Angkor Wat temple is one of the most photographed temples of Angkor. Angkor Wat is the most famous Angkor temple so it is a must for your Angkor tour itinerary.

Banteay Samre

Banteay Samre was built in the mid 12th century and it is about 3km off the main temple area. It is not a high temple, but some of the carvings are in excellent condition. Well worth adding to your Angkor tour if time permits.

Banteay Prei

Banteay Prei was built in the late 12th to early 13th century and it is a temple which receives a small amount of visitors, but the Apsara and lintel carvings are in quite good condition. This is a smaller Angkor temple but if you are really interested in the architecture then is worth adding to your Angkor tour itinerary.

Banteay Srey

Banteay Srey was built in the late 10th century and was dedicated to the Hindu God. Banteay Srey basically means “citadel of the women” and Banteay Srey has some of the best carvings of all the temples. Banteay Srey is best seen in the early mornings or late afternoons if you want to take some good pictures. Banteay Srey closes earlier than the other temples around 5:00pm. We strongly recommend you add Banteay Srey to your Angkor tours.

Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea was built in the early 11th century and was dedicated to the Hindu God. Beng Mealea was built in a similar style as Angkor Wat and, although the carvings here are not so good, many tourists like to visit it because of been overgrown by trees and other vegetation. The admission for Beng Mealea is separate from the main temples admission and it costs US$5 per person to enter. This is one of our favourite Angkor temples so we would well recommend you add it to your Angkor tours.

East Mebon

East Mebon was built in the late 10th century on an island in the middle of the East Baray and it was dedicated to Shiva in honour of the King's parents. Although East Mebon is a nice Angkor Temple, we would recommend you only add this to your Angkor tour itinerary if you have plenty time in Siem Reap.

Kbal Spean

Kbal Spean was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. Kbal Spean is around 55km from Siem Reap and most people go there to see the impressive 1,000 lingas, which are carved into the river bed. You not able to enter Kbal Spean after 3:00pm. The road to Kbal Spean is in good condition now, and a trip takes around an hour and half tuk tuk and just over an hour by car. You can combine Kbal Spean with Banteay Sreay and Banteay Samre. You need the normal temple admission ticket to enter Kbal Spean. Kbal Spean is well worth adding to your Angkor tour itinerary especially during the wetter months of the year.

Koh Ker

Koh Ker was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. Koh Ker is a large complex located around 110km from Siem Reap. However, due to its location not many tourists make the journey to this distant Angkor temple. If you are real enthusiast then we would recommend making the effort to go out to Koh Ker as it has some very impressive Prasats.

Kulen Mountain

Kulen Mountain is a huge plateau which is around 70km from Siem Reap town. Kulen Mountain is a main attraction to many Cambodians as it is probably the most sacred mountain in Cambodia in the eyes of many Cambodians and it is often used as a place of pilgrimage during the weekend and public holidays. There is small Wat at the bottom of the mountain where there is a large reclining Buddha carved from sandstone. Nearby there is a nice waterfall especially during the rainy season and there a bathing pools which have carvings in the riverbed of a number of Lingas. Kulen Mountain gets very busy at the weekend with Cambodians, but it is a fun place to go. The trip takes a while and you will need to go by taxi or mini bus as the road conditions are not that good plus you also have to get up the mountain which a tuk tuk will struggle to do. The entrance fee is US$20.

Neak Pean

Neak Pean was built in the late 12th century. Neak Pean is best visited in the wet seasons as the pools that surround it are full of water, so are ideal for taking pictures. We would recommend adding this Angkor temple.

Phimeanakas

Phimeanakas was built in the late 10th and early 11th century. The carvings here are not very good, but it is the tallest temple which you can climb in Angkor Thom, so well worth climbing just for the views at the top.

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng was built in late 9th and early 10th century. Phnom Bakheng is located on a hillside accessible by a steep climb or by elephant up a path. Phnom Bakheng is extremely busy around 5:00pm, because all of the tour groups and other tourists scramble to the top to see the sunset from it. There are good views of Tonle Sap Lake and you can also see Angkor Wat in the distance. Phnom Bakheng is also know as Bakheng mountain and this is one of the most popular places for taking photographs of the sunset. Phnom Bakheng is on most people’s Angkor tours itinerary.

Phnom Krom

Phnom Krom was built in the late 9th and early 10th century. The 3 towered temples are in poor condition, but the view from the top is good one of the Tonle Sap Lake and countryside. If you are going to visit one of the floating villages, then you can see this at the same time as it is out towards the lake. Phnom Krom is a nice place to take photographs of the lake.

Prasat Suor Prat

Prasat Suor Prat were built in the early 13th century and they are 12 more or less identical towers which are more or less opposite the Terrace of Elephants. They are not much to look at close up, but are picturesque from the Terrace of Elephant and make some nice photo shots.

Pre Rup

Pre Rup was built in the late 10th century. Pre Rup is a temple with some nicely carved doors and from the top of the temple there is a great view of the surrounding area. Pre Rup is another Angkor temple which is great for seeing sunset plus you get some great photographs from this temple at most times of the day.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan was built in the late 12th century. Preah Khan is a huge complex with many carvings and passages and this is a temple well worth seeing. Preah Khan is a one of the nicest Angkor temples of on the Grand tour and it is best photographed in the early mornings or late afternoons. We recommend Preah Khan is included in one of your Angkor tours.

Roluos Group

Bakong is the main Angkor temple of the Roluos group and it was built in the late 9th century by Indravarman I, dedicated to the Hindu God. Bakong is the most impressive Angkor temples of the Roluos group, but other nice temples include Preah Ko which was the first Angkor temple to be built in the Roluos group and Lo Lei which was built in the middle of a Baray. The Roluos Group is about 13km from Siem Reap heading south towards Phnom Penh. The Roluos group temples are best photographed in the late afternoons.

Srah Srang

Srah Srang was built in the mid 10th and late 12th century. Srah Srang is in poor condition on an island in the Baray, but it is an alternative place to see sunrise other than Angkor Wat. Sras Srang is a great place for early morning photos.

Ta Keo

Ta Keo was built in the late 10th and early 11th century. Ta Keo is a plain towering temple which is well worth a visit if you have plenty of time, but there are very little carvings too see here.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm was built in the mid 12th and early 13th century. Ta Prohm should be near the top of every visitor's list as it is a large complex with passages and open plazas and it is also the temple where many people want to get the photo with the trees growing out of the walls. Ta Prohm is a must for all Angkor temple tour itineraries and it is one of the best places to get some great photos.

Ta Som

Ta Som is a very nice Angkor temple on the Grand tour circuit and the best time take photographs of this temple is around 10:00am in the morning.

Terrace of Elephants

The Terrace of Elephants was built in the late 12th century. The Terrace of Elephants is on everyone's itinerary, because it is a over a 2 meter wall with Elephants and Garudas carved in to the wall. It is best photographed in the mornings because of the light.

Terrace of the Leper King

Terrace of the Leper King was built in the late 12th century. Terrace of the Leper King is next the Terrace of Elephants which have carvings of Demons and Nagas, but the carvings are not as good as the carvings in the terrace of Elephants. The Terrace of Leper Kings is part of the Angkor Mini tour.

Thommanon

Thommanon was built in the late 11th century. Thommanon is only a small temple, but it is very good condition and it is well worth a visit, especially for photos during the wet season.

Wat Athvea

Wat Athvea was built in the late 11th century. Wat Athvea is not in the main temple area but around 8km south of Siem Reap and is a quite a good place to see the sunset.

West Mebon

West Mebon was built in the late 11th century. West Mebon are basically ruins on an island on the West Baray where it once stood. You can visit West Mebon by boat on a visit to the West Baray.