6 Interesting Facts About Siem Reap: Uncovering the Wonders of Cambodia’s Historic City

Siem Reap is best known for housing the Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument, spanning 402 acres. It was built in the 12th century and was initially a Hindu temple. However, it was later transformed into an important Buddhist place of worship after several centuries, which speaks to the city’s vibrant religious history. Today, the temple is an important national symbol of Cambodia and a primary tourist attraction, drawing over 2 million visitors each year, who arrive on cultural tours by hotels like FCC Angkor by Avani.

Siem Reap was at the heart of the mighty Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The Khmer Empire was a major Hindu-Buddhist Empire that ruled over Southeast Asia and featured several capital cities of which Siem Reap was one. The magnificent temple city of Angkor served as the Empire’s base, and its ruins still stand in Siem Reap, as evidence of the Empire’s grandiosity and power. 

Standing right in the centre of Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple which features large stone smiling faces carved into its many towers. All of the faces are depicted with benevolent smiles and are said to represent those of the Lord Buddha and King Jayavarman VII, the temple’s founder. The temple has over 200 smiling faces positioned towards all the compass directions, making it one of the more intriguing places to visit when touring the city.

An eventful history is not the only thing Siem Reap is known for. The city has also earned a long-standing reputation as a producer of Cambodian silk, one of the finest materials in the world. The local weavers use traditional techniques passed down from thousands of years ago which help maintain the high quality of the silk. Visits to silk farms and workshops are a popular experience among tourists staying at the best hotels in Siem Reap. Visitors can learn every step of the intricate process of silk production and even purchase garments, bags, scarves and other decor from local silk boutiques.

Modern-day Siem Reap also has a thriving creative culture that goes beyond its magnificent temple artistry of old. Anyone exploring the main streets in the city will find various creative workshops and galleries that feature the vibrant work of local artists while also providing opportunities for upcoming creatives. The city also hosts the Phare Cambodian Circus, an iconic event that features several types of performances including music, dance, acrobatics and storytelling.

Cambodia was once part of French Indochina from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. Siem Reap still preserves various architectural elements and remnants from this period when European influences emerged amidst Khmer architectural styles. The city has several colonial shophouses that now function as trendy cafes and restaurants, and which feature various French and European influences that add to the unique atmospheres of these establishments.