Private Day Angkor Wat Temple and Banteay Srei Temple Tour

Ta Prohm’s original name was Rajavihara, meaning “monastery of the King”. It was built as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. The construction of the temple is dated to 1186AD, but it is generally considered to have been added to and embellished over a period of several years. As Maurice Glaize comments in his appraisal of the temple, “While for some time all the various temples in the style of the Bayon were attributed to a single king – Jayavarman VII – during his twenty or so years reign, today it seems more likely that he could not, in such a short time, have done more than just transform, extend or complete already existing religious establishments with his mark.”

Pre Rup was built as the state temple for King Rajendravarman in the late 10th century in either 961 or 962 AD. It was built only 9 years after East Mebon which is exactly 1.3km north. It’s not known exactly what the temple was used for, but the modern name “Pre Rup” suggests that it was used for funerals. French historian, Philippe Stern, thought that Pre Rup stood at the centre of a new city built by King Rajendravarman. However, this also hasn’t been confirmed. Pre Rup is historically significant because it was the second temple built after the Khmer capital city was moved to Angkor Thom after a period of turbulent politics. The capital was moved back from Koh Ker and then again to Angkor Thom where it remained until the end of the Khmer empire. Like most other temples in the area, it’s thought that Pre Rup was abandoned at some point in the 16th century.

Banteay Srei temple (Pink Ladies Temple) is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km (16 mi) north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone,a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale,unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. The sefactors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a "precious gem", or the "jewel of Khmer art."

Approaching Angkor Thom you are first met by the grand causeway that crosses the 100 m wide moat which is flanked on either side by a naga balustrade beginning with a massive stone carving of a seven-headed Naga (mythical serpent) being held by a multi-armed and multi-headed giant. On each side, there are 54 stone giants pulling on the body of the Naga serpent. On one side, the giants represent Devas featuring slender oval eyes and a casual smile, on the other side, depicting Asuras with round bulging eyes and grimacing faces, together representing an endless tug of war between good and evil, the polar forces generating the dynamism of life itself. Some will also connect it to the ancient myth, Churning of the Sea of Milk, as so famously depicted on the southern gallery wall of Angkor Wat, and go even further to say that Angkor Thom represents a giant mandala with the Bayon at its center, representing the famed Mount Meru.

There are 173 gigantic faces remaining on Bayon’s towers with debate and theories going on to this day over who the faces actually represent. Many local Khmer believe that they represent the Four Faces of Prohm (Brahma) carved in the image of the Jayavarman VII himself as the Buddhist God-King, while others believe they are a representation of the Buddhist deity, Avalokiteshvara/Lokesvara. A google search will surely turn up even more theories. The temple is positioned at the center of Angkor Thom with roads leading directly to the north, south, east, and west gates of Angkor Thom which provide the site with an outer wall and moat. According to the hypothesis of some experts, this completes the site from the viewpoint of the mix of architecture and mythology in the ancient Khmer world with Bayon at the center in a grand representation of the Churning of the Sea of Milk, while other experts negate this theory entirely.

The Baphuon is the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II. It is located in the old Khmer capital city Angkor Thom, between the Royal Palace and the Prasat Bayon. The sandstone monument that was dedicated to Shiva is in the shape of a stepped pyramid. When the temple was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 15th century, part of the Baphuon was demolished and the stones used to build a Buddha image on the West end of the temple. The very large reclining Buddha image, which shape is difficult to make out, was never completed.

Phimeanakas is a temple with a story and everyone loves a good story! It’s also part of the royal enclosure, so it’s likely that you’ll pass through at some point during your visit. The area surrounding the temple is thick with trees and ponds which make it feel a little cooler which is great if you’re visiting in the hot afternoon.

The Elephants terrace was built by King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century. The terrace stretches out over a length of more than 300 meters from the Baphuon in the South to the Leper King terrace to the North.

The Royal Terraces, comprising of the Terrace of the Elephants to the South and the Terrace of the Leper King to the North, form the Eastern boundary of the Royal Palace grounds. They face the parade grounds where processions, parades and other events were held. The King would watch the events standing on the Elephant terrace, which he also used as an audience hall to listen to the complaints and problems of the citizens of Angkor. Both terraces contain extensive sculptings of Devatas, Apsaras, mythological animals and demons. The Elephants terrace and the Leper King terrace were restored during the 1990’s and 2000’s by the EFEO.

Representing the abode of Hinduism's ancient gods, the spectacular temple of Angkor Wat is quite literally heaven on earth and the jewel in the Khmer archaeological crown. It's the largest of all Angkor's temples and one of the best preserved. Surrounded by a huge rectangular reservoir and an outer wall measuring over 3km in length, the temple consists of three tiered galleries and five towers shaped like lotus buds. Such is the national pride in the site that the outline of the temple features on Cambodia's national flag. Little can prepare you for the sheer scale, splendour and symmetry of Angkor Wat, a perfect blend of artistic genius and spiritual devotion. Although somewhat neglected after the 16th century, Angkor Wat is unique in that it was never completely abandoned and the moat safeguarded the temple against the encroaching jungle. Aside from its size and remarkable condition, Angkor Wat is also famous for its extensive decoration, specifically its bas-reliefs.