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Angkor
Wat
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Built as a funerary
temple for King Suryavaraman II; Angkor Wat represents the pinnacle
of achievement in Khmer temple building. It is South East
Asia's biggest tourist draw; being visited by more than two million
tourists each year. Angkor's popularity is justified as it is
the worlds largest and arguably the most spectacular religious
monument.
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Cambodia is the only country in the world to depict
a building in its flag
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Google Earth Image
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Angkor Wat plan of central Area Click for detail |
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Angkor Wat is unusual as it faces West.
Visitors usually enter across a 200 metre wide causeway; spanning the
moat which extends 1.3 kms wide by 1.5Kms long. |
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Angkor Wat Reflecting Pool
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Angkor Wat Offerings |
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The photos above
was taken in November 2002 when tourists were noticeably absent. |
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The Upper level
of Angkor Wat consists of 5 towers which represent the mythical
Mount Meru . This was considered by Hindus as being the centre of
the known universe. The five peaks are represented in many of the
major Hindu monuments of that time. The outer grounds represent the
known world and the moat the oceans. The photo above was taken
prior to works that starts in October 2007 to repair the towers.
At the time of
writing this the upper level was closed to the public. |
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Window Detail |
The
Towers set against a dramatic sky |
Angkor Wat Apsara |
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LEGEND OF THE CHURNING OF THE
OCEAN OF MILK
The
centre section of the famous relief depicting the
Churning of the Ocean of Milk. This represents the
Hindu legend where gods and demons had a tug of war
with a Naga (snake). The Naga wrapped around the
pillar representing Mount Meru rotated the turtle
which miraculously turned the Ocean into the milk of
life
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Hundreds of visitors
heading west at the end of the day
All images and text © Dave Perkes 2009 www.peaceofangkor.com
Peace Of Angkor Tours 0435 Wat Bo Village, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
PO Box 93125 855 (0)63 760 475 |
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