Ancient Asia DestinationsCAMBODIA: The country is leaving behind its troubled past and has reinvented itself into a great vacation spot for travellers to visit. From colonial architecture to exquisite Angkor Temples, Cambodia will provide travellers with an unforgettable adventure
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tylerdurden1
Angkor Wat is one of the most popular sites to visit in Asia. It is located about 192 miles northwest from the capital city of Phnom Penh. The temple is renowned for being the largest religious building in the world. It was first brought to the world's attention by French explorer Henri Mouhot in the mid 20th century. This extraordinary shrine measures 5000 feet by 4000 feet across (1500 by 1200 m). It was built by King Suryavarman (Khmer ruler) in the 12th century and was first dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu and then later to the religion of Buddhism. The complex covers almost 300 square kilometers and consists of 5 towers.
The highest tower of the temple represents the summit of Mount Meru. Meru is believed to be the home of the Hindu gods. The temple is surrounded by a wall and a large moat. Its buildings are adorned with beautiful statues and bas relief carvings. There are more than 100 stone temples at Angkor including the other massive complex of Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat is considered to be the better preserved temple and continues to remain a religious centre to this day. Recent studies carried out by alternative historians has brought to light that Angkor Wat does have a correlation to the constellation of Draco. (More Photos)
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Marc Loy Angkor Thom is the other enigmatic temple located in the province of Siem Reap. This incredible temple is 4 times larger than Angkor Wat. It was built by the Khmer king Jayavarman VII in the 12th century. The entire structure is surrounded by a moat 100m wide and is dominated by 3 notable temples from within its walls. The temples are the Phimeanakas, the Baphuon and the Bayon. Throughout the temple complex visitors will be confronted by numerous inscriptions depicting the king's life. The most dominant architectural feature of Angkor Thom is probably the Bayon Temple (a Buddhist temple). It lies at the center of the temple and symbolically represents the meeting of both heaven and Earth. This temple has 54 towers along with 4 enormous sculpted faces. Like Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom also has a mysterious connection to the constellations above. (More Photos)
A visit here can be a life changing experience for those seeking a spiritual or adventurous endeavour. Experience the presence of a mysterious Iron Pillar in Delhi or explore the beautiful Brihadishwara temple of Thanjavur. India promises to enchant travellers with its ancient and rich cultural heritage!
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Nataraja
One of the most fascinating and mysterious structures
in the world is the Iron Pillar of the Qutb complex in Delhi, India. The
pillar is believed to been built by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (a king
from the 4th century AD). Alternative historians estimate that the pillar could
be at least 1600 years old. The structure reaches a height of almost 7 meters
and weighs over 6 tons.
Located in the city of Thanjavur (aka Tanjore) India, stands an incredible Siva temple known as the Brihadishwara temple. The structure was built by the great Tamil Emperor Raja Raja Chola I in the late 10th - 11th century. The temple served as a place for both religious and economic activities. Known locally as the Big Temple, the structure stands 216 feet tall and is topped by a large Siva Lingam (a symbol used to worship the Hindu god). (More Photos) The lingam itself is composed of a large granite block that weighs 80 tons. Inside the temple visitors will be confronted by numerous Indian sculptures of female dancers in various poses. The Brihadishwara temple is a remarkable engineering feat and is considered to be the most popular temple from the Chola temple sites.
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