Cambodia is a unique and diverse country that boasts world-famous hotspots such as UNESCO World Heritage Site - Angkor Wat. There is a significance increase in the number of tourists travelling from India to Cambodia. In 2017, approx. 60,000 tourists travelled to India which was a 30% increase in the previous year and over 65,000 travelled in 2018.
There are several Indians who have settled in Cambodia and it is quite easy for Indians to get Vegetarian or Indian food in prominent tourist cities.
Siem Reap is a popular town in Cambodia and gateway to the Angkor region. Visitors from all over the world visit Siem Reap for Angkor Temples. Siem reap has a Colonial and Chinese Style architecture in the Old French Quarter and around the Old Market.
Siem Reap arrived on the map of our World in the early 20th century when the French Explorers discovered ‘Angkor Wat’. In the early 20th century, Angkor Was was merely a village and an area that was controlled by Thailand until 1863. ‘Siam Reap’ actually means ‘Thailand Destroyed’ referring to the centuries-old conflict between the 2 countries.
Siam Reap as it stands today is the getaway for tourists with interest to visit Angkor Wat. The primary interest of visitors is to see the Angkor Was temples, there is plenty to do in Siem Reap when you are templed out. Siem Reap has offers from party places for Backpackers to hip hop hotels, world-class spa and a variety of dining options with a range of several global cuisines and shopping. One can also visit handicraft shops, silk farms, rice paddies in the countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near Tonle Sap Lake.
Angkor is the earthly representation Mt. Meru, Mt. Olympus of Hindu faith and the abode of ancient gods. Visitors to Angkor Wat are fascinated by its
grandeur. A 800 metres long series of intricate and astonishing bas-reliefs - carvings depict the historical events and stories from mythology, this stretches around the outside of the central temple complex.
Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer empire and flourished from approximately 9 to 15th century. The magnificent ‘Angkor Wat’ was a part of Angkor city.
The runs of Angkor are located amid forests and farmland north of the Great Lake (Tonle Sap) and the south of Kulen Hills and near Siem Reap city. There are over 1,000 temples ranging from a nondescript pile of brick rubble scatted through the rice fields to the Angkor Wat. Angkot Wat is believed to be the world’s largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored and together they comprise the most significant site of Khmer architecture. Angokr Wat and Angkor Thom are the most popular and protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How was Angkor Wat built ?
The sandstone blocks were used in building the temple were quarried from holy mountain of Phnom Kulen, more then 50 kms away and were floated down the Siem Reap river on rafts. The logistics which would have involved at the time the temple was built would have been mind-blowing and consumed thousands of labour. It is believed that over 3,00,000 workers and 6,000 elephants were a part of the construction.
In the year 2007, a team of researchers used satellite photographs and modern techniques to conclude that Angkor had been the largest pre-industrial city in the world, this city had an elaborate infrastructure system connecting an urban are of at least 1,000 square kilometres to the well-known temples at its core. Angkor was considered to be a hydraulic city because it had a complicated water management network which was used to systematically stabilize, store and dispense water throughout the region. This network is also believed to have been used for irrigation in order to offset the unpredictable monsoon season and support the increasing population.
Some interesting facts about Angkor Temples - 50% of international tourists visit Cambodia only to see Angkor Wat
- Angkor Wat is featured not Cambodia’s national flag
- Angkor Wat was probably one of the first Hindu temples
- Angkor Wat is surrounded by a giant moat
- Angkor Wat was declared a World Heritage site in 1992
Angkor Temples have been attracting several tourist and has created a substantial increase in tourist to Cambodia and on top of a bucket list of several tourists.
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