Angkor Wat.

Angkor wat which literally means ‘City Temple’ is a hindu temple complex built to replicate the heavens on earth. Constructed for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it is the best-preserved temple and is the only one to  have  remained  a  significant  religious  centre since its foundation-first Hindu,  dedicated  to  Vishnu,  then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the  high classical  style  of  Khmer architecture. This magnificent temple combines two  basic plans  of Khmer  temple  architecture;  the  temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture.  Constructed  within  a  moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 miles) long with three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next, it  is  designed  to  represent  Mount Meru,  home  of  the  devas  in  Hindu mythology.

At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is  oriented to the west and this has scholars  divided  as  to  its  significance.  The  temple  is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture. The extensive bas-reliefs and the numerous guardian spirits adorning its walls serve as evidence of the strong Khmer religious beliefs.

Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is home to the world famous heritage of the Angkor temples including  the  magnificent Angkor Wat.It is a vibrant city with manymodern hotels and old colonial buildings boasting awesome architecture. Much  of the town’s image, culture and traditions are conserved despite

the influx of tourists from all over the world.

There are restaurants of every culture and bars and cafes of nearly every fashion and size all about town. The Phsar Leu area is where one can find  great  bargains in jewellery and handicraft from precious stones to wonderful woodcarvings. There are also many shops ofering traditional massage and  reflexology  to  help  relieve those tired feet after a day’s tour of the temples.

Siem Reap Province is basically the cradle of Angkorean civilization and it  is the province that offers

plenty  of  opportunities to tourists enthralled by the Khmer culture.

The  ruins  of  Angkor,  located  amid  forests  and farmland, are now a UNESCO  World  Heritage Site.  There are over one thousand temples ranging   in   scale  from  nondescript  piles  of   brick rubble  scattered through  rice  fields  to the magnificent Angkor Wat which is said to be the  world’s largest  single  religious  monument. There  are  dozens of temple ruins in the Siem Reap area. Listed on this map are just a few of the  ‘must sees’.  However,  your  temple  itinerary  depends largely on 

how much time you have and of course your level of interest.  

Preah Sihanouk Ream National Park.

Preah Sihanouk Ream National Park is located between Koh Thmei and Sihanoukville, about 18 kilometers from downtown Sihanoukville. The park, which has been open since 1993, covers 21,000 hectares including 15,000 hectares of terrestrial and 6000 hectares of marine habitats.

The National Park features secluded beaches, mangroves forests, tropical jungles, 155 different species of birds, monkeys and during the months of December, January and February the infamous white fresh water dolphin. It also offers a good transportation service to some island such as Koh Ta Keav and Koh Rusei. Those tourists who do visit the islands should travel in groups and bring their own food.

Kbal Chhay Waterfall.

Kbal Chhay waterfall is located in Khan Prey Nup, about 16 kilometers north of downtown Sihanoukville, To reach the site from Sihanoukville, take National Road 4 toward Phnom Penh. About 7 kilometers outside of town, there is a sign announcing the site. Turn left and go 9 kilometers along a trail. The water at Kbal Chhay comes from many sources along the mountain range, although only three of these sources are visible. The waterfall, which is 14 meters high, is at the point where those three sources join.

Kbal Chhay was discovered in 1960. Three years later, it was developed into a reservoir to supply clean water to the city of Sihanoukville. The reservoir construction, however, was interrupted due to civil war, and the site became a hide-out for the Khmer Rouge. In 1997, Kbal Chhay was marked for development, and a year later Kok An Company was awarded a contract to construct a road and develp the site for tourism.