CAMBODIA: The Khmer's Empire and Other Temples

 ANGKOR THOM AND THE BANYON TEMPLE

Angkor Thom, one of the last capital cities built in the Khmer empire, was constructed in the late 12th century as the capital during Jayavarman VII's empire. 

It was the centre of the king's massive building program to outdo his predecessors and covers an area of 9 square kilometres. The city is believed to have had a population of 80,000–150,000 people.

The city was highly developed with a system of roads and waterways, as well as four hospitals.

The city is surrounded by high defensive walls, three kilometers long on each side. 

Access to the city was through five gopura gates, one at the center of each wall, and an extra one (the Victory Gate) on the road to the Royal Palace.

CAMBODIA: Angkor Wat

The Khmer kings ruled one of the largest, most prosperous, and most sophisticated kingdoms in the history of Southeast Asia. 

The Khmer dynasty lasted from the 9^th century to the 15^th century. 

The empire consisted of present-day Cambodia, as well as a lot of Thailand, southern Vietnam and Laos.

Over the 600 years, numerous construction projects were undertaken by the different Khmer Kings, each trying to outdo their predecessors.

Angkor, which served as the royal center, was once the largest pre-industrial city in the world with over a million people! 

Angkor Archaeological Park contains the remains of some of the Khmer Empire’s cities, buildings, temples, urban plans and water reservoirs. It comprises of more than a thousand buildings and it is one of the great cultural wonders of the world.

The Park is HUGE, stretching over 400 sq km’s and is a testament to the Khmer’s advanced civilization.

The park is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

CAMBODIA: Floating Villages Near Siem Reap

Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake.

The lake’s tributaries are home to between 2000 – 3000 residents who have built their houses on wooden stilts. 

The village of Kompong Phluk is located 16km, as the crow flies, southeast of Siem Reap and fishermen call it home.

Kompong Phluk and the greater Tonle Sap Lake is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve and contains unique plant species, fish, and animals, many of which are endangered.

CAMBODIA: Phnom Penh's Royal Palace

Phnom Penh became Cambodia’s capital in 1866.

It is situated where the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers meet, making it a historic trading hub for both the Khmer and the French colonialists.

The Royal Palace was started in 1866. 

Some buildings were dismantled and rebuilt as late as the 1960s. It is a complex of buildings including the official home to the Cambodian royal family.

The complex is divided by walls into four main compounds, the Silver Pagoda, the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the Throne Hall, and the Inner Court.