Angkor Wat Photo Gallery

Angkor Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site stretching some 400 square kilometres near Siem Reap. It consists of remains from different capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to 15th centuries. This empire was heavily influenced by Hinduism, followed by Buddhism, so the ruins we see today contain elements from both religions. How these ruins came to light is also interesting. The Portuguese are believed to have been the first Europeans to stumble across this ancient city in the 16th century, but perhaps the most famous account came from Henri Mouhout, a French who visited in 1859 under the Royal Geographical Society of London's patronage and sketched detailed drawings of the ruins. You need at least 3 days to appreciate the vast site and the many, many temples on offer. When I visited in 2013 during the dry season, I paid USD $40 for a 3-day pass and hired a private driver. I saw many foreign visitors in tuk-tuks and motorbikes, but the roads are very dusty and it gets incredibly hot so I would recommend air-conditioned comfort. Never plan a full day of activities due to the hot weather. Start early, head back to the hotel for lunch and a break during the hottest part of the day, and resume sightseeing again from the late afternoon onwards, with a place in mind to watch the sunset. You can use the above map as a rough guide on how you can allocate your time. Each day's activities is denoted in its own colour. Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are the most impressive temples and those two alone will take up a whole day. Once past the ticketing gate, visitors have almost unrestricted access to the monuments. There were few barriers at the sites, even those in a ruinous state, so watch your step!
The Main Temples
Angkor Wat	Angkor Thom Part 1 Bayon
Angkor Thom Part 2 Baphuon	Angkor Thom Part 3 Elephant Terrace, Phimeanakas, Leper King Terrace
Eastern Circuit
Ta Prohm	East Mebon
Pre Rup	Preah Khan
Ta Som & Neak Pean
A Bit Further Away
Banteay Srey	Roluos Group
Beng Mealea