At the heart of the Royal Enclosure—the remains of the royal palace complex in the city of Angkor Thom—Phimeanakas was the king’s private temple. Carved mainly from rust-colored laterite rock, with sandstone elements, it ascends in three stepped tiers that represent the Hindu sacred mountain, Mt. Meru. It once had a golden spire.
With shaded pavilions and elaborately carved stone pieces, Baphuon is one of the most magical temples in Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set within the grounds of Angkor Thom, a huge 12th-century site that dwarfs even Angkor Wat in size, Baphuon attracts visitors with its reclining Buddha and dilapidated charm.
This great lake covering 1,000 square miles (2,600 square kilometers) is not only the largest body of fresh water in Southeast Asia, it’s also a UNESCO-designated biosphere due to its remarkable natural features. The flow of water in Tonlé Sap changes direction twice during the course of the year, expanding and contracting with the seasons.
A heavily restored 12th-century temple, Banteay Samré feels more like a citadel. The Khmer emperor Suryavarman II built the complex, which includes a hall, two libraries, a temple, a dry moat, and fringing walls. Though Banteay Samré is smaller than many other Angkor-era monuments, it boasts some impressive carvings.
Also known as the Royal Bath, Srah Srang is an artificial lake in the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Complex. Especially picturesque at sunrise and sunset, the 10th-century reservoir is also a popular lunch spot—the ornately-carved terrace and lush trees provide respite from a busy day of temple-hopping.
The absence of carving shows that Ta Keo, a sandstone mountain temple that stands almost 164 feet (50 meters) tall, was never finished. Started by Jayavarman V during the 10th century, the vast structure, with four corner towers around a central turret, would have been one of Angkor’s most impressive. It still offers sweeping views.
Often overlooked by visitors exploring Angkor Archaeological Park, Bakong is a 5-tier temple with its own unique charm. One of the earliest temples in the region, Bakong was built within a strict geometric matrix, a style recognizable in the later Angkor Wat. The temple grounds, home to multiple freestanding satellite temples, provide a welcome break from the crowds of nearby Angkor Wat.
Yasovarman I, who would found the first city at Angkor, built this small brick temple in the late ninth century. It’s one of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples about 12 miles (19 kilometers) from Angkor Wat. With its four crumbling brick towers, Lolei is similar to, but smaller than, the group’s best-known temple, Preah Ko.
A 10th-century Hindu temple, Prasat Kravan bucks the Angkor trend: It’s built from brick, not stone. The five brick towers may seem unimpressive from the outside, but it’s the carvings within that are the draw. Brick bas-reliefs here include Vishnu riding his sacred bird, Garuda, and Lakshmi, his wife, holding lotus flowers.
Carved apsaras dance across a cluster of temples at the Roluos Group, atmospheric buildings that mark the site of an ancient Khmer population center. Bakong Temple is the centerpiece, between Preah Ko and Lolei. While the Roluos Group is smaller in scale than the landmarks of Angkor Archaeological Park, it’s a fascinating place that’s rarely crowded.
One of the Roluos Group, a cluster of temples surrounding an early capital of the Khmer empire, Preah Ko is a small brick-built temple with six sanctuaries. Indravarman I built it in the late ninth century and originally dedicated it to Shiva. Its name means “sacred ox,” and you can still see statues of Nandi, the bull that Shiva rides.
South of Siem Reap and the major Angkor temples, hilltop Phnom Krom Temple (Prasat Phnom Krom) was built during the reign of Yasovarman I, who moved the Khmer capital to Angkor. Three ruined towers and an active monastery stand atop a hill with sweeping views across Tonlé Sap lake and the West Baray reservoir. It’s a popular sunset spot.
The 10th-century Khmer king Harshavarman I likely built the 43-foot-high (13-meter-high) brick pyramid temple Baksei Chamkrong in honor of his parents, who founded Phnom Bakheng. There’s not a great deal to see here, but the pyramid strikingly proportioned with four ascending tiers. The top sanctuary has finely detailed lintel carving and false doors.
One of a set of three early hilltop temples built by Yasovarman I, who reigned 889–910, Phnom Bok Temple sits away from the main Angkorian monuments, on the route to Banteay Srei. It’s a small temple with towers, the ruins of two libraries, and the remains of a 13-foot-tall (4-meter-tall) lingam (phallic symbol). Most people come here for the views.
For about 500 years, a wooden palace stood near the center of the city of Angkor Thom, the former capital of the Angkor Empire. Today, a large walled area called the Royal Enclosure (or Royal Palace) is all that remains. It houses two bathing pools and the Phimeanakas, a small pyramid temple.
