Angkor Wat overview
Angkor Wat is considered as a jewel and soul of Cambodia, this is also a famous site where UNESCO accepted as one of the cultural heritage sites in the world. Explore Angkor Wat, you will have a chance to find the beauty of the temples which have the unique architectures with unforgettable exciting experiences.
Located around 317 km from the capital of Phnom Penh to the north of Cambodia, Angkor Wat was built in the mid-XII century to worship Vishnu, a God of Hinduism by King Suryavarman II. Then, Angkor Wat is used as a place to worship the Buddha after Cambodia’s monarchy had moved to follow Buddhism in a few centuries later.
How about the weather?
The weather in the region of Angkor Wat is also the same as in Siem Reap town, there are two seasons at here is the dry and rainy season. It is very hot in the dry season, the temperature is around 27-38 degree, but you will not feel so terrible because there is a lof of the big trees and lakes around Angkor Temple (Angkor Temple is covered by lakes and large forests). In the rainy season, there are a lot of rain, but the lakes at here looks very nice in the rain season. By these features about the weather in Angkor Wat, the tourist is easy and convenient to explore this special site anytime in all year.
What should you wear and bring while traveling Angkor Wat?
According to the policy in this temple, you should wear the long dress because this is a hollow region where the antiquity kings of Cambodia lived. Besides this is not only a sacred place but also the weather in Siem Reap in the dry season is very sunny and hot, so the long dress also helps you to avoid the hard weather as well as feel more comfortable under the hard sunny at here. Besides, the relics of Angkor Wat are very large and high, you have to move and climb up to the stone stairs much, therefore, you should have sneakers, wide-brimmed hat, umbrella, sunglasses, drinks … Especially, you should bring a camera to capture the magical scenery, record the mysterious, ancient moments of temples….
Where to exchange money (exchange currency)?
You should exchange from your currency to USD or Riel that is the currency of Cambodia, you can exchange the currency at the border gate or since at the airport on your arrival date in Cambodia, or you are also possible to exchange currency at some banks in Siem Reap. But, if you do not want to exchange money, then it is fine for you to spend USD in this area, however, if you intend to buy some your small expensive items, it will be very complicated because you will have to pay it by Riel. Therefore, before traveling to Angkor Wat, you should exchange or prepare some Riel currency if you want everything goes throughout well with you.
Where stay?
All the best hotels from the cheapest hotels to the most luxury hotels are located in the central town of Siem Reap, so that you should book your room at one of the good hotels in this small town, then rent a vehicle by bus, motorbike, tuk-tuk even by bike to transfer from the town of Siem Reap to Angkor Wat because Angkor Wat is located not far from Siem Reap town, it is just around 7km for this distance only.
How to get to Angkor Wat?
In fact, the region of Angkor Wat Temple and Angkor Temples Complex is located nearby the town of Siem Reap, it takes just around 7km from Siem Reap town to these sites, among the roads are also very easy for you to move, you can transfer by bus, motorbike, tuk-tuk even by bike….It is very fast and easy even you move by any vehicle method from the town of Siem Reap to Angkor Wat, so not worry about this.
From the town of Siem Reap, there are just two main roads including Sivatha avenue and Pokambor road, the next stages include Tusamuth and Charles De Gaulle, the final path until Angkor Wat.
How to use the phone?
If you bring a phone from your home country, then you should buy a phone SIM card so that you can be able to easily and much cheaper for you to call and contact with your relatives from your home country or when it is necessary, you should buy SIM card which costs about USD 2-10/ SIM at the airport or the border gate.
What to eat?
You can choose the local restaurants along the streets in the town of Siem Reap, at here there are much more options as well as its prices are also much cheaper than at the restaurants and hotels.
Where to shop?
When you shop at any place around Angkor Wat, the locals at here often quote (tell) with the higher prices than its real prices, so that you should bargain anything you intend to buy from the local shops in this area.
How much is entrance ticket and What are rules of Angkor Wat?
Before entering Angkor Wat temple, visitors must buy a ticket. There are three kinds off ticket: the ticket for one day costs $ 20 / ticket, the ticket for three days costs $ 40 and the ticket for 7 days with $ 60. The tickets are for one person only for your photos have been printed on tickets. If you have much time, you should not buy a ticket for one day because Angkor Wat temple is the very large, so that you can not admire all of it within just one day.
Tourists can visit Angkor Wat from 5:00 am to 5:30 pm, the ticket office is about 2km from the temple. You should hold the ticket during your tour and it is allowed going freely in the visiting hours.
Visiting the ruins of Angkor Wat
The relic of Angkor Wat is nearly 6km in circumference, the total area of Angkor Wat is around 200ha, among the main temple is located on the highest peak with an altitude is 65m. The special thing of Angkor Wat is the main entrance is located to the west where the direction of sunset. Wart Angkor was built from stone, with 398 halls interconnected by the 1500m long corridor.
The 1st floor: The Hell
The specialists of this floor are the sculptures on the corridor walls. With the height of 2.5 m and stretching over 800 meters, the stone sculpture painting is made by hand is considered as the largest and longest one in the world depicting the historical references in Brahmanism scripture, the feats of arms of king Suryavarman II.
The innermost part of the picture is the legendary “Churning of the Sea of Milk” battle, monkeys and the battle of God Sita, the dances of Aspara fairies …
At the corners of Angkor Wat and each centimeter of the temple, nowhere is without sculpture. These sculpted patterns in stone are so meticulous that people think that they were sculpted on an available template.
The temple was built on the principle of arranging stone in advance, then the architect began sculpting. The proof is that there are still traces of the unfinished sculpture paintings on the pillars in the first floor.
The lowest floor of Angkor Wat where has the lakes in order for the king for bathed, but they are dry now.
The 2nd floor: Earth/World
This is a large courtyard surrounded by wall blocks, there are worship halls of the gods inside, the second-floor tower area is the drainage system for the temple.
On the 2nd floor, there are countless paintings depicting the Apsara dancers dancing with bare breasts.
The 3rd floor: Heaven
With a height of 65m, this is the top floor and is considered the home of the gods. The third floor consists two intersecting cross corridors. The meeting point of these two corridors is the central area of Angkor Wat Temple.
The central tower in Angkor Wat is the tallest tower in the temple, surrounding the tower has four square corridors. There is a tower at the corner of each lobby.
The central tower and four surrounding towers from the famous skyline of Angkor Wat. The stairs going up the central tower is divided into four faces, sloping, narrow and extremely difficult to climb.
In the chambers of Angkor Wat temple is a very magical hall. Travelers still often stand there against the wall, their first hands and pat lightly on their chest, immediately, they will hear an echo which is like the drum beat. There are also plenty of sculpture of fairies on the wall.