The Incomparable Temples of Angkor

Mist hangs heavy in the early morning air, as two monkeys scamper across the road in front of us. Birds soar overhead, their staccato calls echoing off the forest canopy. The jungle fades, and in the distance multiple spires of ornate sandstone stand at attention against the crystalline sky. We have arrived.



Angkor is a word that conjures great images of romance and power, of brutal conquests and defeats, and of the brilliant ancient history of the Khmer people. From Angkor, the mighty Khmer kings ruled over a vast empire that stretched from the Gulf of Thailand north to China, and from Vietnam west to the Bay of Bengal. In its prime, the grand walled city of Angkor Thom had over one million inhabitants; London at the time had a mere 50,000.

Built between the 9th and 14th centuries, the 100-plus monuments of Angkor are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The names of the major temples are legendary:

Angkor Wat – the King of all Angkor Temples; perfect symmetry, perfectly maintained; the largest religious structure in the world.
The Bayon – hundreds of immense, enigmatic faces towering above ancient columns and sculptures.
Ta Prohm – dripping with atmosphere while fighting against, and co-existing with, the forces of nature.
The Terrace of Elephants – 350 meter-long terrace graced with a parade of massive elephant carvings.
The Terrace of the Leper King – expansive terrace littered with intricate carvings.
Banteay Kdei – vast Buddhist temple, sprawling 700 meters by 500 meters amidst dense jungle.
Preah Kahn – a maze of exquisitely carved columns and arched corridors; one of the biggest complexes in Angkor.
Angkor Thom – the great walled city of Angkor.
Rolous Group – the earliest Angkorian temples, built in the late 9th century.
Banteay Srei – considered to contain some of the finest stone carvings in the history of the world.



From its prominent role in ancient Asia to its recent theatrical role in Hollywood’s Laura Croft: Tomb Raider, the mysterious and grand temples of Angkor have held the world’s fascination for centuries. Yet, only recently with the cessation of Cambodia’s brutal civil war have the doors once again been opened to one of the greatest sights on the planet.

Enjoy the Angkor Photo Gallery.