The most prominent and religious temple in the World, Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, is a temple dedicated from the outset to the Hindu god, Vishnu, which was then changed into a Buddhist haven end of 12th century. Built-in the mid-twelfth century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer Empire, the Angkor Wat was a variation from the usual Shaiva part of the past Khmer rulers. The Temple epitomizes the traditional Khmer style of the plan and besides includes the Cambodian pennant.

Carving in Angkor Wat — Source: Unsplash

The Temple is a principal place of worship for the Buddhist monks. The Temple complex has different carvings and writings related to Hindu sagas. The haven used to be the State asylum of Suryavarman II, and its loftiness is unmatched among the state havens of other Khmer rulers. The Angkor Wat place of worship and the complex are critical occurrences of Khmer design. Even though time has recouped large parts of the complex and Temples, the Angkor wat remains standing tall and has become the icon of Cambodia. The Temple attracts a significant number of visitors every day, and the temple complex is of vital importance as it contributes significantly to the economy of Siem Reap. The abundant green trees, water on the channels add to the greatness of the place of worship. Also, there are many other mixes of elements that attract people from everywhere throughout the world.

Opening times: 5 am – 5.30 pm.
The Bakan Temple is open from 7.30 am.

Why Should You Visit Angkor Wat?

View from the entrance of Angkor Wat — Source: Unsplash

Angkor Wat is a Temple complex situated at the Northwest corner of Cambodia, a country surrounded by Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The whole of Angkor’s fine-scale, which is impressive when we consider the less-temple ruins, is all that anyone could need to match that of all the Egyptian pyramids joined, surpassing that of the present Paris. Angkor Wat, which converts into Capital Temple, is the most famous religious landmark in the world, possessing an enormous territory of 162.6 hectares. The Temple was developed by King Suryavarman II in the mid of the twelfth century and concluded its construction during the rule of King Jayavarman VII. The Capital Temple was initially a Hindu temple in gratitude for Vishnu. It was intended to turn into a state Temple just as the last resting place for Suryavarman II himself. In any case, towards the second half of the twelfth century, Angkor Wat changed from a Hindu religious focus into a Buddhist site. A great example of Khmer engineering at its finest, Angkor Wat is represented on the Cambodian National flag and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Most Ideal Way To Visit Angkor Wat

Assuming that you are not in a rush, you should visit Angkor Wat at Sunset on your first day to take in the wonderful climate of the Temple. Start your second day ahead of schedule by visiting Angkor Wat in the morning. Continue to explore it for the rest of the day. And on the third day, you can guide your focus toward different attractions nearer to the Angkor Wat, for example, The South Gate, The Bayon Temple, Elephant Terrace and Terrace of Leper King. And if you are hungry, take a break and have a great Cambodian feast at the restaurants nearby.

The Best Way To Get Around The Temple

As sightseers are not permitted to drive inside the premises, you should walk or hire vehicles. On the off chance that you decide to walk, then, you have a whole lot to cover by walking. There are services which offer rental bikes. A third choice is to get a tuk-tuk or van driver to take you around the complex. The vast majority of the drivers are excited as they will get the opportunity as it is a temple town. So know to bargain, and if the driver is friendly and welcoming, stick with him as bargaining with other local people can be exhausting.

The Best Time To Visit Angkor Wat

If you are on a tight timetable and can just explore the place in one day, which is a true pity, and, the best time to begin is around 5 to 6 am when you can watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. As the daylight gradually reveals the view, you can’t resist the urge to be overwhelmed by the significantly captivating perfection. The best season to visit is really from November to March, which brings a sunny and pleasant climate. The rainy season starts in June and finishes in September, during which Angkor Wat is lavish green and loaded with greenery.

Where to Stay While Visiting The Angkor Wat

Visitors in Angkor Wat — Source: Unsplash

Filling in as the famous entrance to the Angkor Temple, Siem Reap, the nearest city to Angkor Wat and the biggest city in Cambodia, is an ideal choice. Because of the growing travel industry, Siem Reap has created relentlessly to turn into a friendly and modern city with an incredible choice of resorts, stores, and attractions. If you are looking for a place to stay in Siem Reap, then, the Summer Villa Resort is an incredible decision offering a wide scope of amenities at a reasonable cost. Although the place is farther of town and somewhat hard to track down, it also implies a getaway from the clamouring tourists.

Dress Code at Angkor Wat

Much the same as many destinations of religious and cultural essentialness that carefully employ an attire standard and Angkor Wat is no special case in this regard. After a series of huffs by foreign visitors touched off reactions involving Cambodians and worldwide residents. And then came the strictest implementation of Dress Code in August 2016. You should also know that you have to keep your shoulders and knees covered and follow the promise of a simple dressing.

Things To Note

Tourists in Angkor Wat — Source: Unsplash

Showing up before the expected time morning puts you in front of the groups and offers a good chance to snap photographs.
Angkor Wat Pass – Everyone needs the pass to enter the Angkor temples except if you are Cambodian or when you are with a Cambodian. A 1-day pass would do the best, which is $37 USD. There is also a 3-day and a 7-day pass coming at 62 USD & 72 USD respectively.
Hire a tuk-tuk – It’s ideal to lease a tuk-tuk for a whole day to get around. It will help you to travel to every sanctuary and know the best ways.
You may experience industrious kids attempting to sell you many artefacts, and they may even turn out to be increasingly forceful if you don’t shop with them. But no worries, Simply ignore, if you do not wish to.
This is the religious place, so be aware of the Temple rules and dress accordingly.
Ensure you carry loads of water to keep hydrated during the hot days as well.
The last one, Be prepared to walk, a lot!

As you know, Angkor Wat is just the beginning! There are many fabulous things sitting tight for you, which can be customized for your Vacation to Cambodia. Log onto Pickyourtrail and create your Cambodian Itinerary by including all the “Must Visit Places” and make your trip a memorable one.