Siem Reap & the Temples of Angkor (Cambodia)
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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Siem Reap & the Temples of Angkor (Cambodia) Includes ¨ Why Go? Siem Reap .................. 418 Where to begin with Angkor? There is no greater concentra- Temples of Angkor .....426 tion of architectural riches anywhere on earth. Choose from Angkor Wat ................426 the world’s largest religious building, Angkor Wat; one of the Angkor Thom ............. 427 world’s weirdest, Bayon; or the riotous jungle of Ta Prohm. All are global icons and have helped put Cambodia on the Around map as the temple capital of Asia. Today, the monuments Angkor Thom ..............431 are a point of pilgrimage for all Khmers, and no traveller to Further Afield .............432 the region will want to miss their expressive architecture. Siem Reap was always destined for great things and of- fers everything from backpacker party pads to hip hotels, world-class wining and dining, and sumptuous spas. Best Temples Despite the headline act that is Angkor and the sophis- tication of Siem Reap, Cambodia’s greatest treasure is its ¨ Angkor Wat (p426) people. The Khmers have been to hell and back, but they ¨ Bayon (p431) have prevailed with a smile and no visitor comes away from ¨ Ta Prohm (p432) this kingdom without a measure of admiration and affec- tion for its inhabitants. ¨ Banteay Srei (p432) ¨ Beng Mealea (p432) When to Go Best Eating & Siem Reap °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm Drinking 40/104 16/400 ¨ Marum (p422) 30/86 12/300 ¨ Cuisine Wat Damnak (p423) 20/68 8/200 ¨ Haven (p422) 10/50 4/100 ¨ Charlie’s (p423) 0/32 0 ¨ Laundry Bar (p423) J FDM A M J J A S O N Nov–Feb Humid- Mar–Jun Temper- Jul–Oct The wet ity is low, there atures rise and in season: Angkor are cool breezes May or June the is surrounded by and little rain. monsoon brings lush foliage and Peak season for rain and humidity. the moats are full visitors. of water. 418 #4 Banteay Srei (15km) PREAH PREAH D KHAN DAK ANGKOR THOM Eastern Baray Bayon #2 Western #3 Ta Prohm Baray CHAU SREI VIBOL #1 /·NH6 Angkor Wat A ir po rt Rd SIEM REAP #5 /·NH6 ROLOUS Psar Char area BAKONG SIEM REAP THE& /·NH6 0 10 km e# 0 5 miles Siem Reap & the Temples of Angkor Highlights 1 Seeing the sun rise over enigmatic faces staring out delicate carvings adorning T one of the world’s most into the jungle. Banteay Srei (p432), the EMPLE iconic buildings, the one and 3 Witnessing nature finest seen at Angkor. only Angkor Wat (p426). running riot at the mysterious 5 Exploring the Psar Chaa 2 Contemplating the ruin of Ta Prohm (p432), the (Old Market) area (p422) S OF serenity and splendour of Tomb Raider temple. of Siem Reap, home to the Bayon (p431), with its 216 4 Staring in wonder at the funkiest restaurants and A bars in town. NGKO galleries. After a short presentation, visitors R SIEM REAP (CAMBODIA) enter the Zen-like ‘Gallery of a Thousand % 063 / POP 175,000 Buddhas’, which has an excellent collec- Life-support system for the temples of Ang- tion of images. Other exhibits include the kor, Siem Reap (pronounced see-em ree-ep) pre-Angkorian periods of Funan and Chen- is part of the new, cool Cambodia, a pul- la; the Khmer kings; Angkor Wat; Angkor sating place that’s one of the most popular Thom; and the inscriptions. destinations on the planet right now. At SIE its heart though, Siem Reap – whose name Artisans Angkor – M rather undiplomatically means ‘Siamese Les Chantiers Écoles ARTS CENTRE RE Defeated’ – is still a little charmer, with old (讶 ទ䞸សង់អង䮂រ; www.artisansdangkor.com; h F ap French shophouses, shady tree-lined boule- 7.30am-6.30pm) S Siem Reap is the vards and a slow-flowing river. epicentre of the drive to revitalise Cambo- dian traditional culture, which was dealt a 1 Sights harsh blow by the Khmer Rouge and the oAngkor National Museum MUSEUM years of instability that followed its rule. Les (羶រមន្ 䞸រអង䮂រ ; %063-966601; www.angkor Chantiers Écoles teaches wood- and stone- nationalmuseum.com; 968 Charles de Gaulle Blvd; carving techniques, traditional silk painting, adult/child under 1.2m US$12/6; h8.30am-6pm, lacquerware and other artisan skills to im- to 6.30pm Oct-Apr) Looming large on the road poverished young Cambodians. Free guid- to Angkor is the Angkor National Museum, ed tours explaining traditional techniques a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer are available daily from 7.30am to 6.30pm. civilisation and the majesty of Angkor. Tucked down a side road, the school is well Displays are themed by era, religion and roy- signposted from Sivatha St. alty as visitors move through the impressive .