Angkor Archaeological Park

Angkor is the vast archaeological park in Siem Reap province that was the religious and administrative centre of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 15th centuries. The complex contains a concentration of monumental temples, hydraulic works and urban remains, with Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom the best-known monuments.

At the centre, Angkor Wat - built in the early 12th century - is the most famous individual temple and is widely described as the largest religious monument in the world. Nearby Angkor Thom with the Bayon faces and the tree-entwined galleries of Ta Prohm are major highlights; the full archaeological park covers many square kilometres with both major temples and smaller shrine groups.

Beyond the core temple complexes there are hundreds of smaller ruined temples, reservoirs and avenues to explore; some outlying monuments such as Banteay Srei lie several tens of kilometres from the central group and are often included on extended itineraries. The scale and variety of monuments make Angkor a multi-day destination for most visitors.

The Angkor complex lies immediately north of Siem Reap town in northwestern Cambodia, with the main temple clusters accessed by short drives from town and by roads linking the wider archaeological park.

• Size and tickets: The Angkor Archaeological Park covers an area of about 400 square kilometres; entry uses a timed ticket system with single-day and multi-day passes.
• Photo tips: Sunrise at Angkor Wat and late-afternoon light on the temple façades are the most popular photographic times; arrive early to avoid crowds.
• Practicalities: Temperatures and sun can be intense; wear sturdy shoes for uneven temple steps and respectful clothing for active religious sites.

What to See #

• Angkor Wat: The largest and best-known temple in the complex, built in the early 12th century by Suryavarman II and notable as the largest religious monument in the world and a principal sunrise viewpoint.
• Angkor Thom / Bayon: The walled city and royal centre built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII, containing the **Bayon** temple with its many carved stone faces and the city's causeways and gates.
• Ta Prohm: A late 12th-century monastery temple left largely unrestored with large tree roots entwined through galleries and towers, popular for its atmospheric, 'lost-in-the-jungle' appearance.
• Banteay Srei: A small, elaborately carved pink-sandstone temple distant from the central park, dating to the 10th century and prized for intricate sculpture rather than scale.