Discovering Angkor Wat

In the forests of Cambodia lies a mythical place that is unmatched in history, culture and spirit. This hidden beauty is Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is one of the two major temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is so enriching that the only souvenirs you’ll need to take with you when you leave are the memories of exploring it.

The Angkor Wat temple complex features over one hundred temples. Time has taken a toll on the complex as the earth has reclaimed many of the wooden outbuildings, public buildings, houses and palaces. Luckily, the temples that were built in the 12^th century to honor the Hindu god Vishnu are still standing. Angkor Wat is massive, yet most of the fascination surrounding it is due to the arrangement of its temples. Some researchers believe that the temples were arranged according to celestial patterns and sacred numbers, such as 108 and 72.

Angkor Wat is so special to Cambodia that is featured on their national flag. To get an intimate experience with this Cambodian treasure, it is recommended to visit the Angkor Archeological Park. Sprawling over 400 kilometers, this park welcomes millions of visitors each year. A visit to the Angkor Archeological Park can be very pleasant, but also very frustrating depending on what time of the year you go. The temples are full of tourists during the warm, dry months of November through February. If you don’t mind the rain, June through October is a good time to go. The temples are very quiet and it’s possible to tour them before the rain starts.

There are a few different ways to get around while visiting Angkor Wat.  Tour buses are available; however they might only stop at the larger tourist spots. Private cars, guides and biked are also available as well. A few particularly special ways to see the park are via helicopter, carriage or even elephant. No matter how you decide to get around, any trip to Angkor Wat is sure to be worth the effort!