 The Monuments of Angkor stand as one of the greatest ruins of an ancient civilization. The ancient Khmers were so prolific in temple building that even today, archeologists are still discovering and studying ruins that had previously been lost under rubble and the jungle.
Today the ruins of Angkor now have a new life, as a major tourist attraction and top income earner for Cambodia. The majority of these ruins are located in the vicinity of the town of Siem Reap, especially the area to the north of the town, that today forms the Angkor Archaeological Park. But not all the ruins are confined within the archaeological park, Banteay Srey and Kbal Spean are to the north of the park. The monuments of Angkor were the first property in Cambodia to be described as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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 Banteay Kdei translates as the ‘city of the monks’ cells’. It is another temple that has been sensitively restored and makes you feel as though it’s just been discovered over run by the jungle. It is a Buddhist temple that was built in middle of the 12th century to the beginning of the 13th century by king Jayavarman II. Unlike the hustle and bustle at many of the other temples, Banteay Kdei has a sense of serenity and tranquillity. |
 Unlike the other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found. It has been preserved as an example of what a tropical rainforest will do to a building. Ta Prohm's walls, roofs, chambers and courtyards have been repaired to stop further deterioration but the temple has been left in the stranglehold of the trees. In places the tree trunks straddle the temple buildings. Ta Prohm has become famous as the 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider' temple. |
 Angkor Wat is a Hindu temple. It was built as both state temple and capital city for king Suryarman II in the early 12th century. It is the best persevered (restored) temple in the Angkor region. It was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and there is a large statue to Vishnu in the west entrance gopura of Angkor Wat. The temple is typical of classical Khmer architecture and has become a symbol of Cambodia. It even appears on the Cambodian flag. Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s most popular visitor attraction. |
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