CULTURAL TOURISM

TEMPLE OF ANGKOR

Angkor Wat, Heritage of Humanity and World Wonder

The Angkor temple site in Siem Reap is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. It contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9^th century the two states united by Jayvarman II, who laid the foundations of the Khmer Empire, the major power in south-east Asia for some five centuries. One of the sites was in central Cambodia, to the north of Tonle Sap (Great Lake), where half a century later Jayavarman’s son, Yashovarman, was to establish Yashodapura (later called Angkor), the permanent capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15^th century.

The first city conformed to the classic form of a typical Khmer capital bearing certain fundamental elements: a defensive fortress and a surrounding moat with a state temple at its center, built from brick or stone and a wooden palace. There would also have been many secular buildings, constructed almost entirely of wood, in and around the enceinte. The state temple at Roluos, the Bakong, and the temple built in memory of the royal ancestors, Preah Ko, were erected around 880. Another essential feature of a Khmer capital, a large reservoir, was added a decade later, with in its center a third temple built to the north-west of Roluos, around the hill of Phnom Bakeng, now known as the Eastern Baray.

The second capital at Angkor was built by Rajendravarman in the 960s, the state temple being situated at Pre Rup. He also constructed a temple, the Eastern Mebon, on an artificial island in the center of the Eastern Baray. It was also during his reign, that the exquisite temple of Banteay Srei was built. Rajendravarman’s son, Jayavarman V, abandoned the Pre Rup site in favour of a new location with its state temple of Ta Keo, which was consecrated around 1000. Shortly afterwards he was overthrown by Sryavarman I, who was responsible for erecting the Formidable fortifications around his Royal Palace and state temple, the Phimeanakas, and also the construction of the great Western Baray.

In 1050 his successor created a new and more impressive state temple, the Baphuon. The succeeding rulers left little traces in the form of monumental buildings, and it was not until the accession of Suryavarman II in 1113 the next great phase of building began. He was responsible for the greatest of all Khmer monuments, the Angkor Wat, set within an extensive enclosure and dedicated to Vishnu.