Angkor Wat, in fact, was the site in our itinerary which we looked forward to the most. The place was known to attract great attention each year and the moment we set foot on its soil, we knew exactly why. The temple may be slightly younger than the Borobodur in Indonesia but it’s certainly the largest Hindu temple in the world and its age surpassed the great cathedrals of Europe. It was built under the rule of King Suryavarman II in the 9th century and later became a destination for Hindu pilgrimage until the Siamese took over the entire region in the 13th century (hence the name Siem Reap).
One glance at the entire architecture made us wonder how it was possible for the Khmers to construct such an astonishing monument out of sandstone blocks. This mystified us to no end. Its architecture splendor and grandeur definitely reflected the powers of Suryavarman II as a leader back in the day. Our guide Suvann told us that it took the people of Angkor thirty years to finish this massive architecture. Just imagine that! The people sacrificed most of their lives building the Angkor Wat in respect to their Khmer king and their faith in Vishnu, the Hindu god of preservation. In addition to that, the temple was also built for the purpose of storing the ashes of their kings so that they’d reach enlightenment long after their deaths.
We couldn’t believe our eyes as soon as we reached the courtyard of the temple’s complex. The entire grayish building appeared to be a very realistic-looking painting or something that you’d see straight from a postcard. We were finally standing right at the heart of early human civilization. We were told of how the entire structure is a replica of a cosmic universe. The protruding five towers were meant to resemble the sacred mountain known as Meru. The vast courtyard embodied the lands and continents whereas the man-made moat that surrounds the entire temple stood for the oceans. Every single breathtaking detail of the temple seemed to have its own philosophy that corresponds to the Hindu cosmology. Doesn’t that sound incredible?
We couldn’t help ourselves but to be photographed at almost every angle of the temple. Suvann had an eye for photography and knew the best angles to get a panoramic view of this sacred place. We were grateful to have him for the day. Soon, we entered the first level of Angkor Wat. Unlike the Bayon we’d seen earlier, this temple felt less of a giant puzzle. Instead of narrow passages, the temple featured four main walls that stretched for miles each together with many bas-relief panels.
The carvings extended throughout the walls facing the north and west, describing Hindu mythology and the civil wars led by Survaryarman II himself. The other walls illustrated the heavens and hells in great detail. We were impressed by Suvann’s knowledge of Hinduism and Khmer history— the man was so well-versed that he took the time to teach us the symbology of each carving. He was particularly fond of the apsara statuettes scattered throughout the temple. These beauties were known as female spirits, and just like what you’d imagine, they were particularly (ahem) voluptuous and even wore see-through clothing.
Suvann also mentioned how heavily interconnected Hinduism is to Buddhism. Those who practice these faiths believe in the importance of balance in life. The architecture embedded in the temple’s design reveals a sense of symmetry and preciseness. It’s no wonder that Angkor Wat is regarded as a valuable piece of art— its proportion and composition created perfection. The second and third levels of the temple were marked by towers with each appearing like lotus buds. You’d need to get in line just to climb to the summit and on top of that, the steps were the steepest we had seen. I still couldn’t get over my fear of heights so this was certainly not my cup of tea. To pass the time, we lounged in one of the chambers where a few young monks clad in orange robes stopped for a smoke and watched the rest carefully ascent on the stairway to heaven.
