Angkor Wat: The City of Temples

Instilled with the architecture of days lost in the barrows of time, Angkor Wat is as entrancing as it is a mystery for anyone not accustomed to temple-scapes (the image of what feels like a mirage). If this is you, don’t fret! There are firsts for everything and trust me in saying that everyone remembers the first time they lay eyes on Angkor Wat. In Khmer (Cambodia’s main form of dialect), the name Angkor Wat stands for "The City of Temples" which, as you'll come to realise, is very apropos, in what can only be described as a must see experience for anyone visiting the city of Siem Reap in hope of something new.

History

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, erected in hopes of pleasing the Hindu god Vishnu. It’s construction was ordered in the 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113 – c. 1150). In Asiatic mythology, its construction was ordered by Indra, the King of the Gods, to act as the home for his son Precha Ket Mealea. Production for the temple reached a halt in c. 1150 after the death of the Khmer King Suryavarman II. It took 27 years later, under the rule of a new king, Jayavarman VII, for Angkor Wat to finally reach its completion.

Towards the end of the 12th century, Angkor Wat slowly made its transition from one prominent religion to another. Even to this day, Buddhism is worshipped on the grounds of Angkor Wat, as seen by the various orange robes present on the grounds. Although never properly abandoned, Angkor Wat was seemingly neglected after the 16th century.

Throughout history, Angkor Wat was visited by explorers from across the globe in search of the validity of such a place. António da Madalena, a Portuguese monk, visited the temple in 1586. Being one of the very first Western visitors to the temple, it left its mark on António, as he stated it "is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world. It has towers and decoration and all the refinements which the human genius can conceive of.”

Architecture

No other religious monument can block out every recess of the sun quite like Angkor Wat. Even the sunsets appear only as an orange backdrop when hidden behind the temple. The architecture of Angkor Wat is one of a kind. Built with stones, as smooth as polished marble and sandstone, Angkor Wat was built in 30 years thanks to the use of elephants, bamboo scaffolding, and a lot of manpower.

The temple was designed as a representation of Mount Meru, otherwise known as the home of the Asiatic gods. The central quint of towers symbolises the five peaks of the mountain, with the walls and moat symbolising the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean. One can mistake Angkor Wat for an ancient symbol if looking at it from above. It stands in the middle of its own island, almost like its own country separating itself from the rest of Cambodia; it seems like something so reserved for imagination rather than reality.

Angkor Wat itself can be split into two separate distinct scenes: the outer enclosure and the central structure. The outer enclosure separates Angkor Wat to the rest of Siem Reap with a 620 foot moat that surrounds the location, forcing you to enter through two sets of sandstone steps that can be found on two adjacent sides of Angkor Wat. It is believed that wooden bridges were used to enter from both sides before renovations later on in the site's life cycle gave it a more accessible way across. The central structure is what you see from afar. Its cluster of towers can all be explored from within on foot. Inside the main column lies a statue of Vishnu which has managed to stand the test of time despite existing for centuries.

Carvings/Design

Seeing as Angkor Wat was modeled as a monument for Vishnu, it’s of no surprise that the images inside of the temple depict gods and their disciples. Carved into the stone itself, each image tells the tale of stories that are vital in documenting the history of not only Angkor Wat, but the gods themselves.

The inner walls of the outer gallery bear a reel of large-scale scenes depicting episodes from the Hindu epics, The Ramayana and The Mahabharata. From the north-west corner anti-clockwise, the western gallery shows the Battle of Lanka and the Battle of Kurukshetra, two very significant battles in the history of Angkor Wat . On the southern gallery you can follow the life of the creator: Suryavarman II. Follow the wall even further and you can see the 32 hells and 37 heavens of Hinduism still as prominent as the day they were chiseled by the artist.

On the east side of the gallery you can find the images of the Churning of the Sea of Milk. The carvings show 92 asuras (demigods) and 88 devas (gods) using the serpent Vasuki to churn the sea under Vishnu's assurance, taking the form of a turtle to help pivot the land, in an attempt to extract from it the Elixir of Immortality.

Restoration and Conservation

Its rich history coupled with its constant ability to leave people in bewilderment has allowed the temple to stand the test of time in large part thanks to generations upon generations of preservation. In Cambodia, a lot of temples feel the effect of encroachment from a combination of plant overgrowth, fungi, ground movements, war damage, and theft. The architecture and surrounding area of Angkor Wat allowed it to take significantly less damage from war and violence unlike other temples such as Phreah Vihear, which unfortunately did not share the same fate. That’s not to say that Angkor Wat avoided all forms of damage, as other elements of Angkor Wat’s design have been thought to be completely destroyed, either by looting or the passage of time. Destroyed items include certain patterns on the towers, wooden ceiling panels, and doors.

The current state of Angkor Wat is largely in its condition thanks to the action taken by UNESCO in 1992. Following an appeal for help by the then present king Norodum Sihanouk, Angkor Wat was listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage In Danger list. Zoning of the area took place in 1994 where structures and other parts of the land were renovated back to a more stable state. Angkor Wat was removed from UNESCO’s list in 2004 after years of putting a lot of the blocks back together. Sanctions were then put in place to stop the rapid deterioration of certain parts of the site. Considering the ever-fluctuating rise in tourism to Angkor Wat, it is right in thinking that the Angkor Wat you see today may not have come to fruition if not for the constant work in keeping it stable.

The Presence of the Temple

Many who visit Angkor Wat have said to have felt something of a higher power, and in some cases a severe level of déjà vu. Religion has always played a part in the history of the temple and is often used as a place of deep meditation for the many monks who seek quiet refuge within the temple itself. Cambodians often enter the temple to pray, leaving trinkets and flowers on statues and altars in a sign of appreciation for the temple. There is a never-ending aura when you walk through the grounds of Angkor Was, almost like there is something guiding you in the same way it has guided those who pray to the grounds itself. Whether you believe or not is hereditary, everyone leaves changed in some way or another, you just don't realise it yet.

Angkor Wat is one of those places you only hear about in legends. You see the pictures but never truly believe in its lure until you are finally caught in the reeling from seeing it in person. Angkor Wat attracts thousands of tourists annually, and with good reason. In Cambodia, there are a lot of temples that sit only for you to gaze at a distance. Most of these temples are in ruin or sit at the top of mountains. Angkor Wat is unlike anything you've ever seen before. It’s Cambodia’s mecca and your guiding light of exploration into the very soul of the country. Visit Angkor Wat now, you won’t regret it.