Cambodia: A Siem Reap Temple Tour
- Lucy and the lens
- Sep 7, 2018
- 2 min read
These days, when you hear the name 'Siem Reap', you immediately think of Angkor Wat, with good reason. It's incredible, awe-inspiring, and 100% worth the visit. But in a temple complex that is spread out over 400 km squared, what other Khmer temples are on offer in the area? Here are a few of my experiences in Siem Reap a few years ago - my only regret is that I didn't have a decent camera to capture the immense beauty of its temples!
1. Bayon
This is possibly the second best-known temple after Angkor Wat - you'd recognise it for its gigantic carved stone faces - 216 of them, in fact. This temple is a labyrinth of archways, underground chambers and of course, faces that all look identical, so it's easy to pretend you're lost as you wander round. I visited before Instagram really took off as a travel inspiration tool, so when I visited Bayon it was relatively quiet. So quiet, in fact, that I managed to accidentally disturb a pack of sleeping bats as I wandered through a quiet corner of the temple. These days, if you want the sensation of getting lost, go as early as possible.
2. Ta Prohm
Perhaps the most mystical of all the temples, thanks to the fact that it's being reclaimed aggressively by nature, its walls burst apart by the ravenous roots of banyan trees. I've grown to love banyan trees for their complete disregard for manmade things: the thought of nature claiming back what rightfully belongs to it is kind of satisfying. Again, perhaps it's because I visited several years ago, but even at lunchtime the temple wasn't busy - just beautifully eerie. If only I'd had a decent camera to capture it with.
3. Banteay Srei
Also known as the Pink Temple, it is covered in intricate carvings of the Hindu god, Shiva. It gets its pinkness from the sandstone used to build it. Unlike the other temples on the list, it is thankfully well-preserved.
4. Floating village
Not a temple, but certainly worth a visit, this community floats on Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in southeast Asia. Take a boat tour on the lake to see the community in action. We saw locals paddling their canoes to floating stalls to buy food, and a floating school full of children in the middle of their lessons.
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