This is my fourth and final post from Cambodia. I’m sure you feel ‘templed-out’ already, without even being there! Therefore, bringing the curtain down and following with a short review on our stay in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Hello you!
Ta Phrom temple is the famed and familiar backdrop of even more famed and familiar Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider.
They say, even the people who’ve never been here recognise the site and some of them even haven’t seen the movie (Okay, that’s me!)
There was a great build up for this temple prior to the visit – by everyone from lonely planet to google to our guide.
Though mostly in ruins, it is the most visited temple in Siem Reap.
Described as a unique and other worldly experience but to us the crowd was such an anti climax! Okay, few other gatherings can beat the crowd at sunrise in Angkor Wat but this was different. It was more or less organised which should be good but it took the spontaneity out and made it more drill like. People queued up at the particularly popular spot just to take a picture. You are allowed to be at those spots for as long as it took the camera to blink its cycloptic eye! And then you have to scoot away cause…just look over your shoulder, you’ll know.
This was one such spot! and with an audience we are clearly very conscious subjects.
Our guide invariably kept on taking us to the famous ‘spots’ and took our pictures. It was best to keep following him from getting lost.
There is another crowd puller these days in Ta Phrom and it’s the ‘stegosaurus’ carving behind me!!
Well, the Smithsonian mag calls it a hoax based on several facts one of which is that the temple is only about 800 years old – much much younger than last of dinosaur species. They believe it is more of a boar or even a rhino against a leafy background.
It is in utter state of despair being strangulated by ‘ficus strangulosa’ and visitors alike. Well, honestly, I don’t know if it’s holding it together or crumbling it down. But it’s definitely a sight to behold.
An Indian team of archeologist is working to restore and reclaim the temple from being devoured by the jungle.
Other than those tomb raider trees some of the temple galleries are accessible to visitors but they are dark, narrow and almost feel like they are closing in on you! I didn’t want to spend much time in there.
There are remnants of intricate carvings on outer facade of temples that would have been something in their heyday.
And then we followed our guide to the last of our temple visits – to Preah Khan temple.
We walked for about 10-15 minutes on what looked like a path cut through a jungle with overwhelmingly loud cicadas breaking the silence and there was no other being in sight and all I thought was – this one better be good!
And to our delight it was! This one is with one of the 72 guarding Garuda statues along the temple boundary. This temple is supposed to be a fusion of Hindu and Buddhist architecture and philosophies. 72 is said to be a magic number in Buddhism and Garuda is a divine being of Hindu mythology.
This temple draws fewer visitors and by evening there are only a handful left.
Abundant scenes of Hindu mythology are found as are the shrines of Goddess Lakshmi and Shiva.
Giant muscular tree roots entwine the temple in its tight embrace – almost choking it down. I mean its a sight to be seen with your own bare eyes to truly feel the power of nature.
Another elephantine tree root.
Well, that brings me to say bye again!
It had been an exciting journey through temples and time and all I looked forward to was a well earned trip to spa.
The temples of Angkor are like onion peel – one could go on exploring skin after skin of mystery and history.
Temple Viewing Tactics
- First things first : ONLY US dollars are accepted in Siem Reap. Make sure you have some for passes, taxis, rickshaw and other expenses.
- Temple passes are available as one day, three day and week long passes. We opted for a three day one as we do like to go back to some of the spots for pictures.
- Important to have a guide for touring the temples although you can do it on your own. But the guides keep you from getting lost which is very much possible considering the scale of Angkor. They do speak English among other languages with an American roll and do fill you with interesting trivia and some (like ours) are enthusiastic shutter bugs!
- A temple guide could be booked by you independently online or you could have it arranged by your hotel – we did latter.
- It is NOT possible to see all of the temples of Angkor so be realistic and choose the ones you are interested in or discuss with your guide the number of days you have and in what order you’d like to do that or let him take the lead entirely.
- You must have heard about being ‘templed-out’ – that happens – well, look at my posts!! Angkor might satiate your temple diet for a long time after or it may even work up the appetite! For latter Plan a trip for its sister site at Borobudur.
- Sunhat + Umberella+ Factor 50 + Loose breathable fabrics covering shoulder and knees recommended.
- Don’t let the sun sap your energy. Keep a water bottle close like an extension of your arm.
- November, December and January are peak time to visit, although for photography a bit of clouds do wonders. Rainfall could saturate the green foliage and make the moss clad temples even more picturesque. Therefore if its your camera that brings you to Angkor choose a time between May – November.
- Highly recommended for History buffs, Culture vultures, all kinds of photo artists and beauty gazers. People with babies, toddlers, young children could hold it, may be.
Bravo! to you who made it this far and hope you found is helpful and encouraging to make that trip after all!! 🙂
Okay then, lets meet again somewhere exciting!
Ciao!!