Angkor Magnets

Places and things that definitively you should visit or see before you die!

Angkor Wat sunrise

Part of the wall around Angkor Thom, Angkor archaeological Park, Cambodia

You need to get there early to see Angkor Wat at its best. The early morning light brings tranquility to this remarkably peaceful place. Of course, you are not alone. Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, it even appears on the national flag. But the place is so enormous that finding a spot without tourists is not difficult. The temple was originally dedicated to the Indian god, Vishnu, but became a Buddhist temple within a hundred years of its construction, which started during the early 12th century. This image is a view along the first inner gallery.

Within the wider Angkor Wat complex is Angkor Thom, which was a city constructed for King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. As a city, it consists of many sites, only the most durable of which remain. This image is of an open gallery in one of those remaining structures. I was really drawn to the wonderful warmth of the stonework. I hope you enjoy it as well.

This image was captured within Angkor Thom, which is a part of the overall Angkor Wat complex. Constructed during the 12th century, Angkor Thom was the Khmer capital city but was later abandoned. The image depicts a doorway within one of the remaining structures.

Angkor is an archaeological site in Cambodia made up of a set of 200 temples and numerous hydraulic installations (barays, canals) scattered over more than 400 km² which was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 14th century. It is the most important monument group of Khmer art.

Angkor Wat lake landscape

So what is this? The image depicts just one of the many, many screens that line the galleries surrounding the tiers in Angkor Wat. The screens allow light to enter the galleries during the day. These screens are essentially identical, the only real difference being whether they were intact or not. In some of the screens, one or more of the pillars were missing, but this one is intact. The pillars in each screen must have been turned on a lathe in order to create such perfectly formed spindles, both within each screen and from screen to screen. It is remarkable that such delicate structures could have survived for nine hundred years. Angkor Wat is not just a remarkable tourist destination, it is an architectural wonder.

Acrylic on canvas

I love taking pictures of details of our human heritage to see it declined in other forms. Art should be lived and worn and not only live on walls or museums.

A Hindu god and divine vanara companion of the god Rama.

This is one of the "face towers" that adorn the Bayon temple in Angkor Thom. The huge faces, 216 of them, at the various sites in Angkor Thom are often grouped in fours around towers. Each of the faces is very similar to any other, Scholars are unsure of who they might represent, a bodhisattva, Brahma, or maybe King Jayavarman VII, who was responsible for the construction of Angkor Thom. All that aside, when capturing the image I was really drawn to the power of these faces as they adorn the towers. The faces seemed so peaceful with closed eyes and gentle smiles.

So what is this? The image depicts just a small sampling of the incredible array of bas relief carvings that line the galleries in Angkor Wat. Apart from minor variations, each character in the carvings is the same. Although carved about 800–900 years ago, these carvings have been protected from the elements as they line the inner walls of the galleries that surround the tiers of the temple. Angkor Wat is an architectural triumph.

You need to get there early to see Angkor Wat at its best. The early morning light brings tranquility to this remarkably peaceful place. Of course, you are not alone. Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, it even appears on the national flag. But the place is so enormous that finding a spot without tourists is not difficult. The temple was originally dedicated to the Indian god, Vishnu, but became a Buddhist temple within a hundred years of its construction, which started during the early 12th century. This image is a westerly view along the first inner gallery.

You need to get there early to see Angkor Wat at its best. The early morning light brings tranquility to this remarkably peaceful place. Of course, you are not alone. Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, it even appears on the national flag. But the place is so enormous that finding a spot without tourists is not difficult. The temple was originally dedicated to the Indian god, Vishnu, but became a Buddhist temple within a hundred years of its construction, which started during the early 12th century. This image is the view along the southern gallery of the first inner wall.

Travel souvenirs showcasing an iconic view of Angkor Wat.

I was surprised to see the paintings of natural colors that the stones of the temples of angor take on. Green mosses, oxidation of iron contained in construction materials.

AI-GENERATED ARTWORK OF ANGKOR WAT

Colourful brush splatter illustration of the angkor wat temples in cambodia

Angkor Wat as seen from Prasa Prei, Siem Reap, Cambodia

This Khmer Cambodian Apsara Dancer design features a Cambodian Apsara Dancing girl.

2 Cambodian kids fishing near Angkor Thom in Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia

Bantey Srei temple in Cambodia at sunrise

Deep in the jungles of Cambodia lies the majestic temple city of Angkor Wat.

Deep in the jungles of Cambodia lies the majestic temple city of Angkor Wat.

Sunset at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap Cambodia

A vivid sunrise at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia, the royal destination is one of Asia's top tourist destinations.

a cute cambodian child near one of the Angkor Arcealogical Park temples

A typical view of Angkor Wat aside for the rubbish picking girl who is looking after her young brother. Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century. Estimated construction time of the temple is 30 years by King Suryavarman II, dedicated to Vishnu (Hindu), replica of Angkor Thom style of art.

long exposure sunrise at angkor wat

Watercolored Cambodian Priestess, With Angkor Wat Temple in Background, Sunrise on the Horizon, Some Exotic Flowers, And One Bird Flying In The Sky.

wild monkeys in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

This is an outline of the Country of Cambodia with a photo from Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia