Angkor Wat and Bayon

Angkor Archaeological Park - There are just over 50 temples (or ruins) within Siem Reap Province and most are within the boundaries of the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap City.   Of these we visited four starting with the most famous: Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built by a Tamil king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Breaking from the Shaivism tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist.

Getting ready to embark on our temple adventures.

Looking out over the Angkor Wat complex

Temple monkeys

The boys are a bigger tourist attraction than the temple itself.

Michelle fits right in.  :)

Looking back as we left Angkor Wat

The second temple we visited was Bayon.  Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.

Bayon

The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.  The temple has been described as "the most striking expression of the baroque style" of Khmer architecture, as contrasted with the classical style of Angkor Wat.

Just some local transportation options

 Most of the temples have some sort of conservation happening and putting them back together is like working with a very large jigsaw puzzle.  With no picture as a guide and many of the pieces looking VERY similar.