subject: Siem Reap Attractions: The Temples of Angkor [print this page] One of the most famous tourist attractions in Siem Reap are the temples of Angkor. Located in the nor-western province of the region, along the Siem Reap river, the temples of Angkor are known the world over. Over a hundred temples, all built between the ninth and thirteenth century by the Khmer Empire, have been found in an area of around six hundred square kilometres, and they are among the most archaeologically and historically important Khmer ruins ever discovered in the whole of Cambodia.
The temples, now all that remains of what was once the centre of the Empire, have been compared to the pyramids of the Pharaohs in Egypt and have been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Believed to have been first discovered in 1860 by French botanist Henri Mouhot, the area, now known as the Angkor Archaeological Park, contains the ruins of temples such as Banteay Sray, Bayon and, most famous of all, Angkor Wat.
Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed on the entire planet, a hundred and ninety metres wide and with the whole structure covering an astonishing eighty one hectares of land, and is probably the best preserved of all the temples.
Those staying in Siem Reap hotels are well placed to take a trip to see these incredible sites. With bus tours running on a regular schedule, departing from Siem Reap Central Market, anyone staying in a Siem Reap hotel simply cannot pass up the opportunity to see this breathtaking piece of history.
