Angkor Wat was a well-know temple that located in Sime Reap provincial town. Angkor Wat is a simple name to refer to this holy place. Khmer people, especially the people who living around Sime Reap, often refer to Angkor Toch. However, European authors decided on a common name, Angkor Wat.
The evolution of the name Angkor Wat can be dreause by histroy, the original name of this temple was called Prasat Paramavishnuloka. Nevertheless its original name has not been forgetten and is knowen by many people. Accordingto the 16th century inscription, its name was Preah Mohanokor Indrabrat Preah Visnuloka. In a 17th century inscription it was called Indrabratnokor Sreisodhara Visnuloka..jpg)
Some people believed Angkor Wat was designed by Divakarapandita, the chief adviser and minister of the king, dedicating to Vishnu Brahmanism, the khmer attribute the building of Angkor Wat to the divine architect Viscakarman. There has been considerable debate amongst scholars as to whether Angkor Wat was built as a temple or a tomb. But according to codes, Angkor is a replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world.
Angkor Wat was believed to have been built by gods rather than by human, because it was covers a rectangular area of about 200 hectares and defined by a late rite rampart which is sumounded by a moat that is 200 meters wide. The perimeter of the rampart measures 5.5 km, the moat is crossed by a hage causeway was built of sandstone blocks 250 meters long and 12 meters wide. The temple is 65 meters high, with it massive size and splendour, Angkor Wat was well-know all around the world since today.
The temple begins with a sandstone terrace in the shape of a cross. Giant stone lions on each side of the terrace guard the monument. End of the causeways at the gopura with 3 towers of varying heights, of which much of the upper sections have collapsed. A long, covered gallery with square columns and a vaulted roof extends along the moat to the left and right of the gopura. The causeway leads to the cruciform gopura or entry tower. The gateways at ground level on each end of the gallery probably served as passages for elephants, horses and carts, whereas the other entrances are accessed by steps and lead onto the central promenade. From the central entrance turn right and walk along the columned gallery coming to the end, where the quality of carving and intricacy of decoration on the false door is of e.jpg)
xceptional beauty.
Angkor Wat, forming a rectangle of about 1500 by 1300 meters, covers an area including its 190 meters wide moats of nearly 200 hectares. The external enclosure wall defines an expanse of 1025 meters by 80 or 82 hectares. It is the largest monument of the Angkor group.
The gallery of 1000 Buddhas, on the right, once contained many images dating from the period when Angkor Wat was Buddhist, but only a few of these figures remain today. The Hall of Echoes, on the left, is so named because of its unusual acoustics. Return to the centre of the cruciform-shaped galleries and continue walking eastward toward the central towers. The outer wall of the gallery of the second level, closest, is solid and undecorated, probably to create an environment for meditation by the priests and the king. The starkness of the exterior of the second level gallery is offset by the decoration of the interior. Over 1500 apsaras line the walls of the gallery, offering endless visual the spiritual enchantment.
The upper or third level of Angkor Wat were allowed only the king and the high priest. This level looks the stately covered galleries of the other two, but as the base of the five central towers. One of which contains the most sacred image of the temple it has an equally important role in the architectural scheme.
Here are the bas-relief's at Angkor Wat galleries. Its were designed for viewing from left to right, visitors should follow this convention this convention for maximum appreciation. Enter the gallery of bas-relief's at the middle of the west side, turn right into the gallery and continue walking counter-clockwise. visitors who start from another point should keep the monument on their left.
1. West Gallery (South): Battle of Kurukshetra (Scene from the epic Mahabharata)
2. Corner Pavilion (Southwest): Scene from the epic Ream Ke
3. South Gallery (West): Army of King Suryavarman II
4. South Gallery (East): Judgment by Yama/Heaven and Hell
5. East Gallery (South): Churning of the Ocean of Milk
6. East Gallery (Near the Entrance): Inscription
7. East Gallery (North): Victory of Vishnu over the Demons
8. North Gallery (East): Victory of Krishna over Bana
9. North Gallery (West): Battle between the Gods and the Demons
10. Corner Pavilion (Northwest): Scene from the epic Ream Ke
11. West Gallery (North): Battle of Lanka (Scene from the epic Ream Ke)