Step into the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the ‘Great City’ and be transported back in time to a world of a forgotten civilization of the Khmer people. Located in Siem Reap, Cambodia this ancient city built of stone and surrounded by moats and forests is the perfect image of an ancient city with buried secrets and invaluable treasure. Many have heard of Angkor Wat but the significance of its neighboring city Angkor Thom was only recognized in the past few centuries. It is probable that close to one million people resided in and around Angkor Thom during its peak years before it was abandoned in the 1600s.
Founded by the greatest of the Khmer rulers, Jayavarman VII (1181-1219), the architecture of the city is stunning and the craftsmanship unbelievable. At first glance the city is just a pile of boulders placed to form a building, but they are actually massive stone bricks of around 300 kg each placed and crafted into fluid structures with no apparent mortar or cement! How they placed the stones at such a great height as to build the walls and all those great pillars is still a mystery.
Four 8 meter high great walls stretching a length of 12 km and 100 meter wide moats make the city an impenetrable fortress. This almost perfectly square shaped city has five 20 meter high gates placed at the center of each wall and an extra on the east wall. While the south gate is best preserved, it is also the busiest. Each gate is adorned on one side by 54 statues of gods and the other by 54 statues of demons illustrating the theme of ‘Churning the Milk Ocean’ of Hindu mythology. The royal palace believed to have been built in 11th and 12th century no longer stands.
At the center of the city is the Bayon temple. This temple found itself in the middle of a religious transfer from Hinduism to Buddhism and has a base of Hindu motif while the top is adorned with Buddha statues. It was supposedly a massive tower coated in gold leaf with 24 smaller towers flanking it from all directions. The four smiling faces of the Avalokiteshvara are seen not only at the entrance but all over the compound and seem to have been the favorite motif of the king.
The Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is one of the finest hotels in the city and a favorite among travelers. It is a luxury hotel Siem Reap and ensures a pleasant stay. Its beauty and exquisite services make it an exceptional Siem Reap hotel.
