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Angkor Temples

62 images Created 23 Jan 2010

Experiencing Angkor takes time. I spent nearly two weeks at it, which was not really enough to see and do everything within a day's excursion from Siem Reap. I got around conveniently and pleasantly by tuktuk. The Angkor Archaeological Park, managed by the APSARA Authority of Cambodia, is an enormous range (up to 1000 km square) of forest and field in which 1,000 temples, moats, and earthworks are found, dating from the 9th to 14th centuries AD. The core monuments are the ancient Khmer city of Angkor Thom, abandoned during the 15th century, and the enormous temple of Angkor Wat built by Suryavarman II in the 12th century. While European kings and bishops were building Romanesque and Gothic abbeys and cathedrals filled with images of saints, Khmer kings piled up huge boulders on top of one another to replicate the sacred Mount Meru of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology and filled them with images of Apsaras and Devatas. In trying to comprehend the vastness, I concentrated on the details.

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  • Detail of one facial portrait of a king; profiles of two others on either side. Festooned with leafy vines.  The sculpture sits on top of a gopura, or gate, to a temple precinct.  The figure faces in all four cardinal directionsin indicating protection all around.
    Angkor gopura head
  • Passenger's view from a Siem Reap tuktuk, beneath its roof,  with driver (in helmet), guide (in green official guide's shirt) and a scattering of other tourists on foot deciding where to begin their explorations.   The pavement is rain - slicked.
    Angkor_visitors_tuktuk
  • Bakong, near the town of Roluos, is the oldest temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park (9th century).  View of the central pyramid of five levels, of brick and sandstone, reconstructed during the 1930s from original building parts.  The pyramid symbolizes Mount Meru of Hindu cosmology.
    Angkor_temple_Bakong_Roluos
  • Distant towers of the Bayon (temple) seen from outside the west gate of Angkor Thom.  overhanging trees of the surrounding forest visible on either side in a picturesque aspect.
    Angkor_Thom_Picturesque-forest-scene
  • Angkor Thom : Naga balustrade on the entrance causeway over the moat.  Detail of first figure holding the naga's head.  Hand and foot discernible in foreground, in front of ferocious looking face.
    Angkor_Thom_bridge-Ferocious king po..rait
  • Angkor Thom: Naga balustrade along the entrace causeway, a line of asuras ( demons ) who oppose the gods.  They support the body of the naga (cobra) while churning the sea of milk.
    Angkor_Thom_bridge -into-cityKHM2006...jpg
  • Naga balustrade, Angkor Thom.  Side view of the demons (asuras) holding the body of the Naga (cobra), visible in pieces held by each figure.  City moat beyond.  Some of the heads are modern replacements.  The figures hold a squatting position as they pull o the body of the serpent as they churn the sea of milk.
    Angkor_Thom_bridge-into-city-KHM2006...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: Bayon temple: two Cambodian boys looking out one of the temple window embrasures, gazing at the camera as they are seated on the sill.
    Angkor_Thom_Bayon boys KHM200602-017.jpg
  • Angkor Thom, Bayon, four faced towers of the temple.  The giant heads, each facing a cardinal compass point as protection, may be portraits of Jayavarman VII, the king who built the temple XII century. A couple of tourists, one wearing a kaffiyeh, walk by the doorway in front of the sculptured tower.
    Angkor_Thom-Bayon -visitors-KHM20060...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: supporting wall of terraces of the elephants held up by a row of squatting caryatids in high relief. Top of the wall is uneven and Naga balustrade above broken in places, as the structure slowly deteriorates.
    Angkor_Thom_terrace_elephants_KHM200...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: reliefs of the king ( Jayavarman VII, 12th century AD) and deities under the Terrace of the Leper King. Seated posture with right knee upraised is unusual in Khmer art.  Each face shows a calm smile.  Elaborate headdresses, necklaces, and bracelets.
    Angkor_Thom_sculpture-Jayavarman-KHM...jpg
  • Angkor Thom, row of plastic chairs, waiting for tired tourists to rest and drink water, outside one of the ruined temples ( prasats )
    Angkor_Thom_visitors-KHM200602-287.jpg
  • Cattle grazing in the area of Angkor Thom.  Two white bulls, heads down, eat grass, while a third, brown bull walks past them along the path, ignoring them.
    Angkor_Thom_cattle-KHM200602_270.jpg
  • Angkor, Prasat Kravan, 10th century. Interior of central tower, brick wall relief of Vishnu stepping across the universe.
    Angkor_temple_Prasat_Kravan_interior...jpg
  • Angkor: Prasat Kravan (10th century): interior brick wall relief of Lakshmi holding her attributes, with kneeling worshippers.  Seen from the side, from the entrance doorway.
    Angkor_temple_Prasat_Kravan_sculptur...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Prei: facade with banyan tree growing out of it.  This temple served as an encampment for government soldiers fighting the Khmer Rouge.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Prei_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Kdei, side view of west gopura in the afternoon.  Built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century of poor quality sandstone, the structure sags rather sadly.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Kdei_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor . Banteay Srei temple enclosure and moat, showing central towers.  Three quarter view from across its moat.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Srei_exterior_...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Srei:  cluster of central sanctuaries and other structures; two tourists in white hats in the foreground..
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Srei_interior_...jpg
  • Detail of a relief of the red sandstone sculpture that completely covers the temple of Banteay Srei, Angkor.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Srei_detail-KH...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Srei: cluster of sanctuaries in the center of the complex. Tiny chapels are sited close together, giving a somewhat claustrophobic feeling to some visitors.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Srei_interior_...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Srei, false door with carved fill and flanking pillars; a doorway to nowhere.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Srei_interior_...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Srei:  land mine victims' orchestra of stringed and percussion instruments plays for tourists and sells CDs of their performances.  The man with his hand to his mouth is playing a leaf as though it were a reed or flute. Man listening is seated on nearby bench.
    Musicians_Banteay_Srei_visitors_KHM2...jpg
  • Banteay Kdei : woman guard knitting quietly and alone in a corner of the ruins; Apsara dancer reliefs on nearby pillars.  Dappled shadows cast by overhead foliage.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Kdei_interior_...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: naked young boy about 6 years old fishing with aa ragged net in the rubble-filled remains of the moat outside the perimeter wall of Bayon, southwest side.  Rear view of the child lifting the net.
    Angkor_Thom_exterior_moat_KHM200602_...jpg
  • Angkor, Banteay Kdei: shallow relief of a pair of apsara dancers from the so-called "Hall of the Dancers".  The temple is said to have been built as a Buddhist monastery.
    apsara_Banteay_Kdei_detail_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Wat, closeup of two Apsara dancers and panel of foliage ornament.
    Angkor_Wat_Apsara dancers_KHM200602-...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: Bayon, sculptures of apsara dancers in high relief, with panels of carved foliage
    Angkor_Thom_Bayon_apsara dancer _KHM...jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Som: figure of a celestial numph or datara, in a niche, surrounded by ornamental detail, on an exterior wall of the Ta Som temple.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Som_KHM200602_253.jpg
  • Angkor Thom: entrance causeway with gods and demons holding naga.
    Angkor_Wat_detail_sculpture_KHM20060...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: Bayon, sculptures of apsara danceres in high relief, with panels of caraved foliage
    Angkor_Thom_sculpture-detail_KHM2006...jpg
  • Shallow relief of a trio of apsara dancers on a wall of one of the Angkor temples.  The center figure is larger and above the two other figures.  knees jutting out to the side.
    Apsara_dancer_KHM200602_286.jpg
  • Angkor Wat: view along a corridor  of one of its galleries.Parallel linear pattern of sunlight and shadow projected through balustraded window opening.  Successive doorways recede into the distance.
    Angkor_Wat_interior_KHM200602-071.jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm, perspective along an interior corridor toward a modern Buddhist shrine.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_interior_KHM2...jpg
  • Angkor Ta Prohm, perspective view down a corridor, orange-robed monk pausing in the distance.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_interior-KHM2...jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Som : view through a sseries of doorways, with bright sun and deep shadow.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Som_interior_KHM200...jpg
  • Angkor: doorways at Banteay Kdei recede in perspective.  Saturated colors of green moss, yellow sunlight, blue and aqua rock.  Not a realistic view.
    Angkor_temple_Banteay_Kdei_interior_...jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm temple walls and buildings clasped in vast tangles of tree roots.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_KHM200602-134.jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm temple walls and buildings clasped in vast tangles of tree roots.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_KHM200602-145.jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm temple walls and buildings clasped in vast tangles of strangler fig tree roots (ficus gibbosa).
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_KHM200602-148.jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm temple building clasped in vast tangles of thitpok (Tetrameles nudiflora) tree roots. Some call this tree a strangler fig (ficus gibbosa), a different species.  Vertical orientation showing tree all the way to its top.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_KHM200602-151.jpg
  • Angkor, Ta Prohm temple walls and buildings clasped in vast tangles of tree roots. The perimeter wall of Ta Prohm is clasped by a silk-cotton or kapok tree's buttress roots.
    Angkor_temple_Ta_Prohm_exterior_tree...JPG
  • Angkor Thom, Bayon temple, wall relief with scenes of battle between Khmer and Cham warriors using elephants, horses, chariots, and various weapons.  They wear tunics and fitted shorts, with bare feet.
    Angkor_Thom_Bayon_sculpture_relief_K...jpg
  • Angkor Wat : carved wall reliefs showing the Kurukshetra War described in the Mahabharata; detail of two commanders on horseback, two more just behind them.  Extremely fine low relief sculpture.
    Angkor_Wat_interior_relief_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Wat: wal reliefs; Battle of Kurukshetra, details of charioteers, soldiers, horses, elephants.They run to the right in rhythm, holding lances and shields.
    Angkor_Wat_sculpture_relief_KHM20060...jpg
  • Angkor Wat : carved wall reliefs. West gallery, battle of Kurukshetra between Kauravas and Pandavas. Detail of leader in chariot
    Angkor_Wat_interior_relief_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Wat : view from the east just after dawn, showing most of the temple and platform on the south side.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior_east_KHM200602-3...jpg
  • Angkor Wat : view from the  east just after dawn, seen from the surrounding forest of trees and shrubbery.  The tallest tower dominates the scene.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior_east_sunrise_KHM...JPG
  • Angkor Wat, Naga figure on fence surrounding temple terrace, dirt road into forest beyond.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior-Seven-headed naga
  • Angkor Wat: west entrance gateway and the 820 foot long causeway, looking toward the temple.  Subsidiary buildings just visible in the distance.  The long approach is meant to convey the journey from earth to heaven in the temple precinct.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior_west_KHM200602_0...jpg
  • Angkor Wat: third or upper level with steep stairs up to the central tower and tourists struggling to climb them.
    Angkor_Wat_interior_towers_KHM200602...jpg
  • One tourist climbs and another descends the very steep stairway up to one of the towers on top of Angkor Wat.  A couple at the very top looks down.
    Angkor_Wat_interior_towers_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Wat: shrine worker collecting money offerings from a Buddhist altar within Angkor Wat. One of the sacred pools visible outside the doorways.
    Angkor_Wat_interior_KHM200602_089.jpg
  • Angkor Wat, visitors exiting along the causeway toward the west gate or gopura, visible in the distance.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior_west_KHM200602-3...jpg
  • Angkor Wat: figures of people leaving the temple are reflected in the moat as they cross it.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior_west_KHM200602_3...jpg
  • Vertical format view across moat in which temple towers are reflected.
    Angkor_Wat_exterior-sunset
  • Angkor Thom, Bayon temple approached from the west gate in morning sunshine.
    Angkor_Thom_Bayon_entrance_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Thom, west gate from the outside.  A hiker with backpack looks back toward the city.  Two other figures nearer the gate.  Gigantic heads on top of the gate.
    Angkor_Thom_gopura_visitor_KHM200602...jpg
  • Angkor Thom: North Gate, with a large tourist bus squeezing through, inches to spare on either side.  Ancient and modern things co-existing.
    Angkor_Thom_gate_KHM200602_306.jpg
  • Ta Som : gopura, closeup of the head and face
    Angkor_gopura-Ta_Som-KHM200602-251.jpg
  • Angkor Thom: Bayon, gigantic heads on the temple towers
    Angkor_Thom_temple_Bayon Smile KHM20...jpg
  • Angkor: Prasat Kravan (10th century): east facade in the morning sun, seen from the altar opposite.  Shadows of tree branches stretch across the grass towards the temple. Tourist figure visible in center and left hand doorways.  A small charming Hindu - influenced temple in the Angkor complex.
    Angkor_temple-Prasat_Kravan_KHM20060...jpg
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