Experience the World E-Book

• Herausgeber: Charles River Editors
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 50

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Hinduism is one of the world’s great religions, dominating the Indian subcontinent for most of the last millennium, and its largest temple is an unbelievably magnificent structure located in Angkor, Cambodia.

Known in English as Angkor Wat (“City Temple”), the gigantic complex was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to serve as the king’s state temple and capital city. Since it has remained so finely preserved, it has maintained religious significance for nearly 900 years, first dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and then Buddhist. Understandably, it has become one of Cambodia’s most potent symbols and tourist attractions, and it even appears on the Cambodian national flag.

Angkor Wat continues to fascinate the world, both due to its sheer grandeur and size, as well as its ornamental decorations both inside and out. With political strife in Cambodia having cooled, Angkor Wat is now a major tourist attraction, bringing upwards of over half a million foreigners per year, which accounts for over half of the nation’s tourists.

Although its popularity continues to increase, Cambodia will likely never be high on most Westerners’ destination lists, but Experience Angkor Wat can bring this incredible temple to you right at home. This illustrated guide introduces the history of Angkor and the Khmer, as well as the Sanskrit epics behind the architecture at Angkor Wat.  It contains over 130 images, including reliefs of scenes from the Ramayana, the temples of Angkor Thom, and more!

Whether you want to experience Angkor Wat vicariously, or are planning a trip there, let this be your guide to Angkor Wat today.

Leseprobe

Experience the World: Angkor Wat

By Charles River Editors

About Charles River Editors

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Introduction

Hinduism is one of the world’s great religions, dominating the Indian subcontinent for most of the last millennium, and its largest temple is an unbelievably magnificent structure located in Angkor, Cambodia.

Known in English as Angkor Wat (“City Temple”), the gigantic complex was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to serve as the king’s state temple and capital city. Since it has remained so finely preserved, it has maintained religious significance for nearly 900 years, first dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, and then Buddhist. Understandably, it has become one of Cambodia’s most potent symbols and tourist attractions, and it even appears on the Cambodian national flag.

Angkor Wat continues to fascinate the world, both due to its sheer grandeur and size, as well as its ornamental decorations both inside and out. With political strife in Cambodia having cooled, Angkor Wat is now a major tourist attraction, bringing upwards of over half a million foreigners per year, which accounts for over half of the nation’s tourists.

Although its popularity continues to increase, Cambodia will likely never be high on most Westerners’ destination lists, but Experience Angkor Wat can bring this incredible temple to you right at home. This illustrated guide introduces the history of Angkor and the Khmer, as well as the Sanskrit epics behind the architecture at Angkor Wat. It contains over 130 images, including reliefs of scenes from the Ramayana, the temples of Angkor Thom, and more!

Whether you want to experience Angkor Wat vicariously, or are planning a trip there, let this be your guide to Angkor Wat today.

Experience the World: Angkor Wat

About Charles River Editors

Introduction

Introduction to Angkor Wat

Suggestions

Background Reading

Who Were the Khmer?

Zhou Daguan

Angkor Wat West

East Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat Weddings

The Temple Perimeter

Bayon at Angkor Thom

Terrace of the Leper King

Houses of Fire

The Fall of the Khmer

References

Introduction to Angkor Wat

Most every educated person has some knowledge of Angkor Wat, if only to be able to recognize it in a photograph. The appellations of “largest religious structure in the world” and “architectural jewel of Asia” are frequently used to describe the site, and the mystery associated with a city lost in the jungle for 600 years appeals to the imagination. I recall reading about Angkor when I was 11 in Richard Halliburton’s, Book of Marvels and staring at the pictures of ruins in the grip of massive trees and complex towers reflected in enormous moats in what appeared to be a dense jungle. The author marveled at the fact that the remains of this complex society had been found in a country that no longer seemed to have the capacity for this level of sophistication, much like the Mayan civilization in Mexico and Central America. It is one of those locations that I promised myself I would travel to at some point in my life (along with another 50 places described by Mr. Halliburton). Political strife in the area postponed this trip for many years, but stabilization of the region has made it possible to finally accomplish a childhood goal.

Suggestions

One could conduct a tour of Angkor Wat if armed with a good guidebook (if it exists), but I assume most people would prefer not to venture into Cambodia with a rental car or bicycle.

My experience makes me suggest that you not visit this archeological site without doing some background reading. The second suggestion is that you plan on spending a minimum of three days in Siem Reap, the provincial capital that has the nearest lodgings. You don’t need hiking boots to negotiate the area, but the weather is hot and humid and there are lots of mosquitos and no-see-ums, especially in the morning and evening which make long sleeved pants and shirts and a hat preferable garb. Although anti malarial prophylaxis is not mandated by the CDC, malaria is a potential risk and is not a disease you want to experience first-hand. Insect repellant is provided by many hotels and is a good idea. Dengue Fever is common and is mosquito borne-another disorder best avoided. Cambodian food is very good, though not as highly spiced as the cuisine you will find in neighboring Thailand. Street vendors can provide inexpensive meals, but restaurants in Siem Reap are not particularly cheap and dinner will cost you $25 to $30 a person without an alcoholic beverage (at the Raffles hotel, a Cambodian 10 course meal will set you back $100 per person if you prefer white tablecloths, candles and a half dozen waiters). There are many new hotels in Siem Reap, reflecting the recent popularity of Angkor. The Raffles is highly recommended, and has been here for 90 years. It obviously has a historic appeal, but it is not lavish and its prices reflect a patrician status among local lodgings. The rooms are nice but its age is showing. It has a quaint cage elevator, the staff are very accommodating, and the air conditioning works but justifying the prices requires appreciation of its historic status. It is about a 20 minute walk to the market area of Siem Reap and there are a number of less expensive, good restaurants in the area.

Siem Reap has a night market, but the merchandise is shoddy and there are a lot of Chinese imports. If hiking in the archeologic site is not your major goal, you might want to stay at a hotel with a pool and spa since Siem Reap is not a tourist destination. Artisans of Angkor offers quality woven goods and silks at reasonable prices and has a store in the airport if you skip the market.