WELCOME TO CAMBODIA… PART 4

OTHER TEMPLES in the ANGKOR WAT AREA… Part 1

Okay that was a lot of reading so let’s just rest our minds and let our eyes take in the beauty of some of the other temples that surround Angkor Wat.

There are many sources from the Internet to books giving great detail on the temples of Angkor Wat. I have decided to touch on the very briefly.

PRE RUP

Pre Rup origins date to 967 in the 10^thcentury under the reign of King Rajendravarman II. Its design follows some of the other temples in the area and considered one of the “mountain temples” which I am sure is due the many towers on its site.

BANTEAY SREI

Banteay Srei origins date to 961 in the 10^thcentury and the only temple that was not built by a monarch. The temple was dedicated to the Hindu God Siva. Its name, Banteay Srei means Citadel of Women or Citadel of Beauty. Its designed and built of red sandstone which is easily carved forming many of the temple’s beautiful reliefs.

dsc 1653 banteay srei_190 — Another View of the Central Shrine and the Mandapa

EAST MEBON

East Mebon was also built under the reign of King Rajendravarman II in the 10^thcentury. And dedicated in 953. The temple was also dedicated to the Hindu God Siva. It is built in the style of Pre Rup housing towers and in addition has several elephant statues acting as the temple’s guards.

dsc 1760 easy mebon_190 — Stairway to the Central Tower

dsc 1713 east mebon_190 — One of the elephant temple guards throughout the site

TA SOM

Ta Som is a smaller temple then most and was also built under the reign of King Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12^thcentury. It was dedicated to his father Dharanindravarman II who was King of the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160.

dsc 1830 ta som_190 — Interior of Ta Som

dsc 1833 ta som_190 — Interior of Ta Som exhibiting intricate Apsara Reliefs

NEAK PEAN

Neak Pean is a small monument that sits on a small island in the middle of a small pond. It was also built under the reign of King Jayavarman VIIat the end of the 12^thcentury. The temple or monument itself is not very impressive. If it were not for the lake that you cross on the way in my opinion it is not worth seeing. The lake is absolutely beautiful and believed to possess miraculous healing powers and the source of four great rivers.

dsc 1891 neak pean lake_190 — Lake at Neak Pean

dsc 1931 neak pean lake_190 — Lake at Neak Pean

PREAH KAHN

Preah Kahn was also built in 1191 by King Jayavarman VIIto honor his father Dharanindravarman II. It was his largest project having a flat design in the style of bayon. It is believed to be a Buddhist university with over 1,000 teachers.

dsc 1976 preah khan_190 — An entrance to Preah Kahn

dsc 1990 preah khan_190 — Interior of Preah Kahn and intricate reliefs

dsc 1994 preah khan_190 — Interior of Preah Kahn and intricate reliefs

Author: larry pannell

I started my career in photography as a professional photojournalist in 1979 at the time working with several newspapers and magazines in Southern California. What I loved most about photojournalism was its diversity and over my career I covered professional sports, concerts and travel. As life would have it mine took yet another turn and in 1988 I developed an interest in holistic medicine. I became a professional massage therapist specializing in sports medicine. In 1991 I decided to go to medical school and obtained a medical degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine and stared my career as a licensed acupuncture physician. After medical school I moved my practice to northern Idaho for a year before settling in the resort area of Sun Valley, Idaho. I’ve always been an outdoor person and hiking and backpacking the Rockies and fishing the pristine river waters and high altitude lakes offered me a wonderful photographic opportunity. In 2010 I left Sun Valley and I once again found myself on a cruise ship, this time working as an “Acupuncturist at Sea”. For the past seven years I have traveled to 85 countries, which has allowed me to photograph much of the world. View all posts by larry pannell