Siem Reap - Angkor Wat

 Visited several temples in Siem Reap, largest being Angkor Wat which is impossible to describe in words, it is massive. Built in around 1100 by 300,000 workers and 6000 elephants it is the largest religious structure on earth - more stone was used than all the pyramids in Egypt combined, there is a huge moat surrounding the site, totals 3 miles, 300 feet wide dug by hand. The complex is loaded with structures all carved all over with images. Originally built by a king for his remains, Hindu was the prevailing religion so much of the detail show Hindu gods and icons - around 1600 Buddhism took over and the temple was converted to Buddhist with many Buddhas added. Pictures cannot capture the scale of the place. More impressive is that Angkor Wat is one of 100 temples in the area, some nearly as large. Angkor Wat has been continuously used and maintained, unlike many other area temples which were lost to the jungle and rescued later - more on that in another post.

Path from entrance to central structures.

Steps leading up onto main building

Built of sandstone, much of the detail is lost but some remains where weather could not get to it.

Huge murals surrounding a structure tell of the king who ordered the temple built.

One of many towers, shows extent of erosion, when built everything was white, now black due to age. Cleaning would be too harsh to the soft stone.

Entry 

Looking down stairway, very steep.

There was a troop of monkeys in the complex, always fun.

An area of pagodas where cremated remains are buried.

There were several couples in the temple taking wedding photos.

View of the moat and causeway over to the temple.

Area around main buildings.

Foot of the causeway guarded by lions and ten headed surpant.

View from within main temple structure toward entrance, same distance in opposite direction as this is the center of the site.

Shrine within temple.