Siem Reap 2-Day Itinerary

Angkor Wat is a Vaishnava Hindu and Theravada Buddhist temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and the largest religious complex in the world. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares within the ancient capital of Angkor, it was constructed between 1113 and 1150 CE during the reign of the Khmer king Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. From the late 13th century onward, the complex was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple and has remained an active center of Buddhist worship for centuries. Angkor Wat is noted for its monumental scale, extensive bas-reliefs, and architectural unity characteristics of Khmer architecture. Unlike most Angkorian temples, it is oriented toward the west. It is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on the Cambodian national flag.

The Bayon is a richly decorated Theravada Buddhist temple of the Khmer Empire located at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, it stands at the centre of Jayavarman’s capital city, Angkor Thom . The Bayon reflects the strong Buddhist orientation of Jayavarman VII’s reign. Originally conceived as a Mahayana Buddhist monument centered on the cult of the Bodhisattva of compassion, the temple later adapted to the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Cambodia. Its iconography, spatial organization, and emphasis on compassion and kingship illustrate the close relationship between Buddhism and royal authority at Angkor, while its continued use as a Buddhist sanctuary demonstrates the enduring influence of Buddhism in the region.

Wander through the atmospheric jungle-entwined temple famous from films, where massive tree roots embrace ancient stone.

Angkor National Museum is an archaeological museum in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is dedicated to the collection, preservation and presentation of Angkorian artifacts, also to provides information and education about art and culture of Khmer civilization, with collections mainly dated from Khmer Empire's Angkor period circa 9th to 14th-century. Most of the artifacts are discovered in and around the Angkor archaeological sites nearby.