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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Cambodia >> Angkor Wat, Cambodia (November 2006) >> Angkor Wat (Temple Complex) November 2006 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Angkor Wat (Temple Complex) November 2006

The Angkor Wat Temple was built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as the state temple of the capital city. The temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is the largest and best-preserved temple of ancient Angkor and is the only one to have remained a religious center, first, for Hinduism and then Buddhism. The temple at Angkor Wat is the epitome of the Khmer architecture and is a symbol of Cambodia. It appears on the Cambodian flag. (Cambodian flag link: https://pbase.com/taboo5/image/73157741).
Angkor Wat (the Temple Complex) cover page.
Angkor Wat (the Temple Complex) cover page.		 Map of Cambodia with the star indicating Angkor Wat.
Map of Cambodia with the star indicating Angkor Wat.		 Lion statues at the entrance of the Angkor Wat Temple.
Lion statues at the entrance of the Angkor Wat Temple.		 Closeup of one of the lion sculptures with 200 meter wide moat in the background.
Closeup of one of the lion sculptures with 200 meter wide moat in the background.
View of the entrance causeway that crosses the moat and leads towards the temple.
View of the entrance causeway that crosses the moat and leads towards the temple.		 This is where the entrance causeway crosses over the moat.
This is where the entrance causeway crosses over the moat.		 I am starting my walk along the causeway towards the temple.
I am starting my walk along the causeway towards the temple.		 I am getting closer.
I am getting closer.
Getting closer still, with a lot of tourist traffic.
Getting closer still, with a lot of tourist traffic.		 A Cambodian worker at the Angkor Wat Temple causeway carrying a ladder.
A Cambodian worker at the Angkor Wat Temple causeway carrying a ladder.		 The structure ahead of me is now very close.
The structure ahead of me is now very close.		 As I am approaching, there is a wonderful mythical snake-like animal sculpture called naga to my left.
As I am approaching, there is a wonderful mythical snake-like animal sculpture called "naga" to my left.
Finally, I am at the entrance.
Finally, I am at the entrance.		 As I arrived at the entrance, these monks were leaving.
As I arrived at the entrance, these monks were leaving.		 Me posing in front of the entrance.
Me posing in front of the entrance.		 After departing this entrance, I realized that I was not at the temple and that the causeway still continued to the main temple!
After departing this entrance, I realized that I was not at the temple and that the causeway still continued to the main temple!
Looking through the passageway towards the main temple.
Looking through the passageway towards the main temple.		 From this vantage point, the temple still looks a long way off.
From this vantage point, the temple still looks a long way off.		 I am making progess towards the temple.
I am making progess towards the temple.		 The oppressive heat that day did not keep the tourists away.
The oppressive heat that day did not keep the tourists away.
I passed by these monks in their colorful orange robes.
I passed by these monks in their colorful orange robes.		 The main temple is getting closer as I walk down the causeway.
The main temple is getting closer as I walk down the causeway.		 As I approached the main temple I passed this building on the right with this monk on horseback in front of it.
As I approached the main temple I passed this building on the right with this monk on horseback in front of it.		 Closeup of the monk on horseback.
Closeup of the monk on horseback.
I am getting closer to the temple. There was a lot of tourist traffic.
I am getting closer to the temple. There was a lot of tourist traffic.		 These wooden steps lead up to the temple.
These wooden steps lead up to the temple.		 This is view looking back towards the first entrance.
This is view looking back towards the first entrance.		 Side view of the temple as I get closer.
Side view of the temple as I get closer.
I am finally at the main entrance of the temple.
I am finally at the main entrance of the temple.		 This side view is from the entrance.
This side view is from the entrance.		 These tourists were leaving as I was entering.
These tourists were leaving as I was entering.		 I am finally inside the temple. View of an interior courtyard.
I am finally inside the temple. View of an interior courtyard.
A busty bas-relief inside the temple.
A busty bas-relief inside the temple.		 One of many tour groups on the inside. I was on my own.
One of many tour groups on the inside. I was on my own.		 Columns and architectural details off of the courtyard.
Columns and architectural details off of the courtyard.		 Another courtyard view inside of the Angkor Wat Temple.
Another courtyard view inside of the Angkor Wat Temple.
As you can see, there are many courtyards inside.
As you can see, there are many courtyards inside.		 Considering that the temple was built 900 years ago, it is still in remarkably good shape.
Considering that the temple was built 900 years ago, it is still in remarkably good shape.		 Striated walls with some renovation going on above.
Striated walls with some renovation going on above.		 More doorways, windows and columns.
More doorways, windows and columns.
Interesting stone carvings that must be part of the temple's architecture.
Interesting stone carvings that must be part of the temple's architecture.		 A smaller tower inside the Angkor Wat Temple.
A smaller tower inside the Angkor Wat Temple.		 These stairs lead to the central (middle) tower. They are even steeper than they look!
These stairs lead to the central (middle) tower. They are even steeper than they look!		 This was taken as I was climbing up the stairs (I almost lost my balance at the top)!
This was taken as I was climbing up the stairs (I almost lost my balance at the top)!
If I fell down these steps, it would have ended more than my vacation!
If I fell down these steps, it would have ended more than my vacation!		 View from the top of the stairs of the courtyard below.
View from the top of the stairs of the courtyard below.		 From the top of the temple, I got a panorama of many sides of it.
From the top of the temple, I got a panorama of many sides of it.		 View from the central tower.
View from the central tower.
Another tour group can be see down below.
Another tour group can be see down below.		 A very old looking tower (possibly a lookout tower) at the corner of this courtyard.
A very old looking tower (possibly a lookout tower) at the corner of this courtyard.		 Looking down at one of the temple's passageways from above.
Looking down at one of the temple's passageways from above.		 View of the right tower of the Angkor Wat Temple (there are three main ones).
View of the right tower of the Angkor Wat Temple (there are three main ones).
A slightly closer view of the right tower.
A slightly closer view of the right tower.		 Even more kids got into the picture with me. No, I don't want to adopt any!
Even more kids got into the picture with me. No, I don't want to adopt any!		 I captured this picture of the horse standing in the moat.
I captured this picture of the horse standing in the moat.		 This picture of the horse in front of the Angkor Wat Temple would make a good postcard!
This picture of the horse in front of the Angkor Wat Temple would make a good postcard!

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