CAMBODIA -TEMPLE OF ANGKOR

TEMPLE OF ANGKOR

ANGKOR WAT: HERITAGE OF HUMANITY AND WORLD WONDER

The Angkor Temple site in Siem Reap is one of the most important archaeological sites in South East Asia. It contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from 9^th to the 15^th centuries. At the beginning of the 9^th century the 2 states that covered the territory of modern Cambodia were united by Jayavarman II, who laid the foundations of the Khmer Empire, the major power in south east Asia for some 5 centuries. One of the site was in central Cambodia, to the north of Tonle Sap ( Great Lake) , where half a century later Jayavarman’s son, Yashovarman, was to establish Yashadapura ( later called Angkor), the permanent capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15^th century.

The first city conformed to the classic form of a typical Khmer capital bearing certain fundamental elements: a defensive fortress and a surrounding moat with a state temple at its centre , built from brick or stone and a wooden palace. There would also have been many secular buildings , constructed almost entirely of wood , in and around in the enceinte. The state temple at Roluos the Bakong and the temple built in memory of the royal ancestors , Preah Ko, were erected around 880.

Another essential feature of a Khmer capital, a large reservoir, was added a decade later with in its centre a third temple built to the north west of Rulous, around the hill of Phnom Bakeng, now known as the Eastern Baray.It was also during his reign, that the exquisite temple of Banteay Srei was built. Rajendravarman ‘s son , Jayavarman V, abandoned the Pre Rup site in favour of a new location with its state temple at Ta Keo, which was consecrated around 1000. Shortly afterwards he was overthrown by Suryavarman I, who was responsible for erecting the formidable fortifications around his Royal Palace and state temple , the Phimeanakas and also for the construction of the great Western Baray.

In 1050, his successor created a new and more impressive state temple, the Baphuon. The succeeding rulers left little traces in the form of monumental buildings and it was not until the accession of Suryavarman II in 1113 that the next great phase of building began. He was responsible for the greatest for all Khmer monuments, the Angkor Wat, set within an extensive enclosure and dedicated to Vishnu.

LANDMARK: STORY ON THE WALL

The Khmer empire flourished for over several hundred years. At its heart was Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, built during the reign of the Khmer King Suryavarman III, in the first half of the 12^th century. The temple was dedicated to Vishnu and its magnificent architecture mirrored in microcosm and the entire Hindu universe.