This tour is bigger than the one showed on the map. Listing of temples :
Preah Khan :
Built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan temple is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the centre of a substantial organisation, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions. Like the nearby Ta Prohm, Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins.
Neak Pean:
Built in 12th century under Jayavarman VII’s administration, a big pond is surrounded with stairs and a sanctuary in the centre on a small island. The pilgrims came to the time there to make it their sacred ablutions. 4 overflows symbolize 4 rivers which took their source on the same lake meadows of the Kailash Mountain in Tibet.
Ta Som:
Jayavarman built this Buddhist temple in the 12th century. Three wall flanked by four-faced towers protect it. The small scale offers the chance to absorb fully the perfection of design. Don’t miss the picturesque East Gopura, held together by roots of a tree growing from the top. The Khmer Rouge reputedly once used the temple as a hospital.
Est Mebon:
In perfect alignment with the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, Victory Gate and exactly in the East, in the middle of a gigantic baray of 7 km by 2 km, is Mebon Oriental.
The baray, formerly supplied with Tonle Sap and which was used to feed the neighbouring cultures is entirely covered today with ground and sand so that you reache Mebon by the road. But formerly, the only manner of reaching this temple was to cross the baray in boat, which explains the presence of the four landing stages located at each cardinal point.
This temple mountain does not have a central pyramid which was replaced by a simple platform. It is supposed that they will not have wanted too much to charge this small island located at the medium with such a quantity of water.
This temple was built at the time when the country had been shaken by the usurping king Jayavarman IV and Rajandravarman II had just brought back the capital from Kho Ker to Angkor . Rajaendravarman II would have built this temple in the honour of his divinized parents and to protect the country and to contribute to the continuity of the royal line.
The elephants which decorate each angle of this temple are very realistic and recall us that this temple is related to a legend of a magic elephant.
Pre Rup:
Pre Rup is a simple pyramid surrounded by rings of perimeter walls. hours are required to stroll through it all. Built in the early Angkor era by King Rajendravarman II (944-968) it may have been used for cremations. The brick towers are subject to monsoon rains and lightning strikes so visit Pre Rup while it lasts. When was the last time you visited a funerary pyramid? Good lighting at the end of the day when the suns rays rake across the countryside.
Bantey Strey:
This temple of the magnificently preserved Xth century, is the most charming of Angkor, (served now by one good road). It’s a jewel sculptured in of wills pink who changes colour following the period of sunshine. Several very well preserved pavilions, facades of which are finely sculptured by a multitude of flowery motives and by scenes of the Indian mythology. Of real laces. The archaeologist Maurice Clay qualifies it of ” more beautiful of the Khmer temples “. Baptized ” the citadel of the Women ” he is completely decorated with reliefs of a surprising perfection. See the sculptures of the girders of doors and their magnificent details.
Duration : The all day, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price : 20$
