Established in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom Complex
was the last flouring capital of the Khmer empire. It is surrounded by a stupendous
wall with five entrance gates. The highlights such as the Bayon, the Terrace of
Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King are also stunning.
The side Angkor Thom covers an area of 9 km², surrounded by a stupendous wall with
five entrance gates. The city has five monumental gates, one in the north, west
and south walls and two in the east wall. The gates, which are 20 metres in height,
are decorated on either side of the passageway with stone elephant trunks and crowned
by four gargantuan faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Other than the Bayon,
all the main sites are located west or east of the Victory Square. From south to
north these are to the west Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, Phimeanakas and
the Royal Palace, the Terrace of the Leper King, Tep Pranam and Preah Palilay, to
the east, the Prasats Suor Prat, the South Khleang, the North Khleang, and Preah
Pithu.
When to go? The cool dry season is said to be the best time for visits to Cambodia.
But for temples’ exploration, the wet season (from May until Oct) is also a good
time as the moats will be full and the foliage lush, though being very soggy.
Travel tips: Touring the temples is a hot and sweaty job, so wear light, airy, covering
clothing to protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. The sun can be intense
so bring a hat, sunglasses and perhaps sunscreen. Consider buying a traditional
Khmer scarf (krama) to keep the sun off your neck. Carry a raincoat during the wet
season, though you will probably only need it in the afternoon. You should have
mosquito repellent for sunrise and sunset hours. Wear practical shoes for climbing
narrow steps and walking on uneven surfaces.
