Joanna James
For those aspiring to be the next Lara Croft or Indiana Jones, or even ones who simply want to marvel at temple architecture, Siem Reap has plenty of temples to explore. Siem Reap boasts of a host of temples that hasn't been reconstructed or renovated in hundred years or more. Here's a list of the must-visit temples of Siem Reap.
Head sixty-six kilometres away from the city of Siem Reap to witness one of the biggest temples, the Beng Mealea. This temple is located in a vast area of land that has been overpowered by plants and vegetations. Some say the temple was constructed as a model. Whatever the purpose it might have been built for, you can't deny the sheer magnificence of this place. As the temple hasn't been renovated in centuries, accessing certain parts can be quite tricky. This means you might have to get down on your knees and climb atop windows to have a proper look through. There is a staircase taking you through to major parts of the temple, for those who aren't able to perform strenuous activities. If you're looking for boutique hotels in Siem Reap for accommodation during your temple adventure, properties the likes of Anantara Angkor Resort, offer a good experience.
Travel one-hundred and twenty-four kilometres from the city of Siem Reap, which will take you to another popular temple called the Koh Ker. Koh Ker was titled the capital city of the Khmer era for about sixteen years back in the days. The enormous pyramid and the surrounding grounds are often skipped during travels, as the temple is quite a journey, with over a hundred kilometres to cover. Having said that, it is all worth it once you witness the brilliance of it all. To boot, there are other temples and interesting places you can visit around the Koh Ker as well.
Located approximately forty kilometres away, is the famous Banteay Srei. The meaning of the name of this temple is 'the citadel of the women'. It was named Banteay Srei due to the slight touches of pink coloured sandstone the temple was made from. Inside it, you can see some of the brilliant artworks dedicated to god Shiva.
A journey of about one hundred and sixty kilometres will take you to the magnificent Sambor Prei Kuk, an ancient temple. Here you'll witness the very first bas-relief, a popular architectural design having roots from the Khmer empire. Do check out the Prasat Chrey, a tower that has been overpowered by a tree which makes people think the doorway takes you into the tree, and not the tower!
A short distance, of about ten kilometres from this city, will take you to Ta Nei. To reach the temple, you have to do some hiking of about one kilometre around unpaved pathway. Once you reach the temples, you can see some impressive structures that were built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII!
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