The Secret of the Fallen Empire: The Hidden City of Angkor Wat

The majestic, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Are you looking for an adventure like Indiana Jones? Or maybe to explore ancient temples and tombs like Lara Croft?

Siem Reap's Angkor Wat is the place to go.

Serving as the gateway and home to the famous temples of Angkor, it’s no wonder Siem Reap is one the most popular cities in Cambodia. Siem Reap has remade itself as the center of modern Cambodia, with everything from affordable lodgings to elegant hotels, fine dining restaurants that offer variety of cuisines, luxury spas, local markets to high end shopping districts and interactive cultural immersion that will suit every type of travelers from all over the world. 

Angkor Wat is said to be the largest religious building in the Guinness Book of World Records as it covered an area of approximately 1,626,000 m² with over a thousand temples located inside the complex. Compared to Vatican City – another famous religious structure, it is 4 times larger. Not only is Angkor Wat the largest religious structure in the world, but it is also one of the most complex monuments ever constructed in the history of mankind.

Angkor Wat Complex 

Numerous stones of Angkor Wat was carved with refined craftsmanship to depict historical events and stories from Hindu mythology. The temple is also admired for the magnificent architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for numerous devatas adorning its walls. 

Aside from its grand structure, intricate wall carvings, and finely crafted stone statues, Angkor Wat is known as the ancient city of the Khmer Empire hidden in the forest for over 400 years, deserted and forgotten by its people. The Khmer Empire was the most powerful civilization in Southeast Asia for over 600 years.

The breathtaking view of Angkor Wat surrounded with trees

Thus, the abandonment of Angkor Wat, their most important structure during the peak of their reign raises the biggest mystery of the temple to this day.

What made the powerful empire leave and abandon their home?

The fall of the Khmer Empire is a mystery that archaeologists and historians have been solving for decades. Some said that the capital was attacked by the Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya that killed the majority of its inhabitants while the rest flee for their lives leaving behind the Angkor Wat to witness the fall of its empire. While other scholars believed that the empire experienced severe natural disasters such as droughts and floods that stole away the livelihood of the people that made them packed up and journey to find a better land. But some believed that the Khmer Empire was swallowed by the jungle with the Angkor Wat never to seen and heard from again until the hidden city was discovered 400 years later with its inhabitants long gone.

Pursuit of Angkor Wat’s mysteries remains unsolved but even though, this so called “City of Temples” holds a lot of reasons to be visited. They said no visit to Cambodia is complete without including Angkor Wat in your itinerary. Here are some of the reasons why you must go to Angkor Wat. 

1. Angkor Wat is one of the most magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. 

 2. It is the largest religious structure in the world even bigger than the Vatican city in Italy. 

 3. Be in awe of the intricate and breathtaking architecture when you visit Angkor Wat. 

 4. Channel you inner history buffs with the long and colorful history of the City of Temples. 

 5. Let yourself be transported to the ancient times as you get mesmerized by Angkor Wat's structures. 

 6. Feed your eyes with Angkor Wat's elaborate art and wall paintings. 

 7. Get a chance to see a one of kind sunrise. 

8. Experience the warm Cambodian hospitality as you spend time being immersed in their culture. 

Some of the statues you will see around Angkor Wat

Visit Angkor Wat and get the chance to see the hidden city that changes the modern world with its magnificence and you may be the one to solve the 400 years’ mystery that shrouds the temple to this day.

What are you waiting for? Plan your Cambodia trip and fly with us soon.

Blog Contributed by: Jamie Ann Faye Serapio

Photos by: Rakso Travel

 

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