South Gopura of Angkor Wat , angkor wat

South Gopura of Angkor Wat ,,,,

The South Gopura of Angkor Wat is perhaps the primary sight of Angkor that almost all guests get to examine. And nevertheless it's one that they're unlikely to step foot on. The South Gopura of Angkor Wat is visible across the trench as you come back from the direction of Siem Reap. Upon seeing the South Gopura (or gateway), most guests circle the trench by turning left to approach the most entrance.

 

Description  reach the South Gopura :

To reach the South Gopura, the foremost simple thanks to to run towards it from the side of Angkor Wat. you ought to be able to reach it at intervals ten minutes. there's not a lot of to visualize here. The gopura is sometimes barren of guests - solely hardcore Angkor enthusiasts venture this way. you'll lie the fosse from here at the most road wherever traveler buses ply.

 

EAST GALLERY - CHURNING OF THE OCEAN OF MILK , angkor wat

EAST GALLERY - CHURNING OF THE OCEAN OF MILK,,,,

 This is the foremost far-famed panel of bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat and derives from the Indian epic Bagavata-Pourana. The Ocean of Milk is churned by gods and demons to get Amrta, the elixir of life. the aim of the churning is to recover lost treasures like the sourer of immortality, Laksmi the deity of fine fortune, the milk white elephant of Hindu deity, and therefore the nymph of beauteousness. The retrieval of those objects symbolizes prosperity. It takes place throughout the second ascent of Visnu, once he's incarnated as a turtle.

 

The three tiers :

The scene is set into 3 tiers. The lower tier includes numerous aquatic animals, real and legendary, and is bordered by a serpent. the center tier has, on one aspect, a row of ninety two demons (round bulging eyes, crested helmets) and, on the opposite aspect, a row of eighty eight gods (almond-shaped eyes, round shape headdresses). They work along by holding and churning the serpent. Hanuman, the monkey god, assists. Visnu, in his reincarnation as a turtle, offers the rear of his shell as a base for the mountain Biu-Mandara, and as a pivot for the churning. He sits on rock bottom of the Ocean. an enormous wire within the kind of the body of the serpent Vasuki acts as a stirring instrument to churn the ocean.

EAST GALLERY - CHURNING OF THE OCEAN OF MILK - outside :

 

 To begin the motion the gods and demons twist the serpent's body; the demons hold the top and also the gods hold the tail of the serpent. Then by propulsion it rhythmically back and for th they cause the pivot to rotate and churn the water.

The gods and demons square measure directed by 3 persons (identified by their larger size). Hindu deity is on high of Visnu. On the acute right Hanuman, ally of the gods, tickles the serpent. higher tier: throughout the churning numerous feminine spirits emerge. Visnu seems during this scene once more in yet one more reincarnation-as a personality's being-to control over the "churning "which, in line with legend, lasted quite one,000 years.

 Numerous different beings ar pictured like the three-headed elephant mount of Indra, Apsaras and Laksmmi, the deity of beauty. They churning provoke the serpent to vomit the mortal venom, that covers the waves. Afraid the venom might destroy the gods and demons, Brahma intervenes and requests Hindu deity to devour and drink the venom, which is able to leave AN unerasable trace on Siva's throat. He complies and, as a result, he Amtrak pours forth. The demon rush to capture all the liquid. Visnu hurries to the rescue and assumes one more reincarnation within the variety of Maya, a fascinating beauty, and is ready to revive abundant of the in demand liquid.

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INSCRIPTION , angkor wat

INSCRIPTION ,,,,

Just past the center of the East Gallery there's a motivating inscription of the first eighteenth century once Angkor Wat was a Buddhist religious residence. It tells of a provincial governor United Nations agency engineered atiny low grave wherever he deposited the bones of his woman and youngsters. The structure is in poor condition however recognizable in its original location, directly before of the inscription within the gallery.

History of  INSCRIPTION :

 VICTORY OF VISNU OVER THE DEMONS The bas-reliefs during this section of the Wast Gallery and also the south a part of the North Gallery were in all probability completed at a later date, maybe the fifteenth or sixteenth century. The stiffness of the figures and also the careless acquirement reveal this variation. a military of demons marches towards the middle of the panel. Center: Visnu (four arms) sits on the shoulders of a Hindu deity.

 Angkor Wat Inscription :

 

 There were uncounted wall reliefs and inscriptions in Angkor Wat. i believed this tiny inscription in Cambodian appeared fascinating and had a gun metal pity a fencing. I even have no plan what the inscription means that.

My lovely girlfriend and that i spent some weeks move around SE Asia in Jan 2010. we have a tendency to arrived in national capital and cosmopolitan around northern Vietnam for [*fr1] the trip. Later we have a tendency to went right down to Siem Reap to pay every week exploring Angkor Wat. whereas move, I conjointly brought my camera gear and took plenty of photos. Hope you relish them.

 

WEST GALLERY - BATTLE OF LANKA , angkor wat , tourism in angkor

WEST GALLERY - BATTLE OF LANKA,,,,

 The northern half the west gallery shows scenes from the Sanskrit literature. within the Battle of Lanka, avatar (on the shoulders of Hanuman), in conjunction with his army of monkeys, battles 10-headed
Ravana, seducer of Rama's lovely woman Sita. Ravana rides on a chariot drawn by monsters and commands a military of giants.

About  WEST GALLERY - BATTLE OF LANKA

 This scene from the Ramayana could be a long and fierce struggle between Rama and also the demon king Ravana (10 heads and twenty arms), close to the middle. it's among the best of the bas-reliefs at Angkor Wat. The battle takes place in Lanka (Sri Lanka) and ends with the defeat of Ravana, individual of mythical being, the attractive married woman of Rama. The central figures ar the monkey warriors WHO fight against the raksasas on Rama's aspect.

 The brutality of war is close with a swish rendition of lithe monkeys. Past the center: Rama stands on the shoulders of Sugriva enclosed by arrows; Laksmana, his brother, associated an previous demon, stand by Rama. Nearby, the demon king Ravana (10 heads and twenty arms) rides in a very chariot drawn by legendary lions.

 

 Further on, Nala, the monkey United Nations agency engineered Rama's bridge to Lanka, is between them leaning on the heads of 2 lions. He throws the body of 1 he has simply overwhelmed over his shoulder. A monkey aristocrat tears out the tusk of associate elephant, that is capped with a three-pointed vesture and throws him and also the demon to the bottom.

Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs , angkor tourism

Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs,,,,

When I first saw the Angkor Wat bas-relief gallery, I was astounded. Having seen and read only a little about it, I wasn't prepared for the great sight.
It would not have been such a shock if the reliefs were only on some small section of the temple, but they are on all four sides of the outer walls.
From one end to the other, from top to bottom!
One of the greatest things about these reliefs is that they're so detailed and very well preserved.
It is remarkable when you know that these were carved in the 1100s and that in this day and age, we can still see them, for the most part, very clearly!
They're not worn out with age (not really!), and they have not faded or chipped away. They're still there, in unbelievably great condition, for all of us to see.

 

 The Order of Viewing The Reliefs:

 

 The reliefs are meant to be seen in a counter-clockwise direction. Each section of the bas-relief depicts a story and most of them are about battles between the gods and the demons.

1. The Battle of Kurukshetra,,,

 The scene is taken from the Mahabharata text where Kauravas, from the left, and Pandavas, from the right, battle each other in a fierce fight. You can see the procession at the base of the panel, where musicians, foot soldiers, and warriors on horses and elephants advance to the center of battlefield.

At the center panel where the battle is being fought the hardest, you'll see wounded soldiers, horses, and chiefs. Some parts of the relief have been polished by visitors’ hands for many decades, leaving these parts shinier than the rest.

 

 2. The Army of Suryavarman II ,,

This Angkor Wat bas-relief gallery is dedicated to Suryavarman II, the king who built the Angkor Wat temple. This battle procession relief is carved into a single panel that is 90 meters long, and it is better artwork than the other bas-reliefs.

The king is seen riding on an elephant, wearing a royal crown and equipped with a battle axe, encircled by servants who were busy fanning and holding up umbrellas.

At the bottom part of the panel, you'll see palace women joining the processions. Further down the panel, you'll also see mercenary Thai warriors and Brahmin priests in the march.

 

3. Heaven and Hell,,,,

This panel is interesting. The upper part describes life in heaven, and the lower part life in hell. The panel is 60 meters long, and shows Yama, the God of the dead, sitting on a buffalo, assisted by his two assessors, Dharma and Sitragupta.

There are 36 short inscriptions which tell us that there are 37 heavens and 32 hells.

Life in heaven is shown by the rich palaces, the flying Apsara nymphs, and the lavish draperies. Life in hell is all about torture, which was rather gruesome with its breaking of bones, use of hot irons, and piercing of heads with nails.

 

 4. Churning of the Ocean of Milk,,,,

 The most magnificent Angkor Wat relief of them all.

It shows 92 gods and 88 demons fighting for the elixir of immortality and a snake caught up in the middle. The gods hold the tail, the demons hold the head, while the snake coils itself around Mt. Mandala. Each time the gods and demons pull from their sides, the mountain turns and the ocean churns.

According to one of the stories, the demons and gods were actually working together in creating the elixir. Once the elixir was created, the gods tricked the demons and took the elixir for themselves.

Not giving up, one of the demons managed to sneak into the god's residence and drink the elixir before Wishnu beheaded him. Because of the immortal elixir, the demon survived, but possessing only his head.

 

 5. Vishnu Conquers the Asuras (Demons),,,,,

 One of the inferior carvings depicting Vishnu riding a Garuda (a mythical bird), slaying all demons. Two armies approach the middle from both sides, where Vishnu sends them running after wreaking havoc. 

6. Krishna and the Bana, the Demon King,,,,

 Supposedly this is the worst of all the Angkor Wat reliefs, but you can be the judge.

The scene depicts Visnu, incarnated as Krishna with eight arms and multiple heads, riding a Garuda and confronting Bana at this palace. Krishna is assisted by Agni, the god of Fire, in putting out the defensive fire that surrounds Bana's castle.

After capturing Bana, Krishna pleads with Shiva for Bana's life at Mt. Kailasa, where the goddess Parvati and the elephant god Ganesha are also present.

 

 7. The Battle of the Gods and the Demons,,,

 This Angkor Wat bas-relief shows a battle scene of 21 gods fighting the asuras (demons).

Here you'll see gods and their elements. Vishnu on his garuda; Yama, the god of the dead, on a chariot pulled by oxen; Shiva ready with his bow, Brahma on the sacred goose; Surya, the god of sun, standing on a sun disc; Indra standing on his elephants with four tusks; and Skanda, the god of war, perched on his peacock. 

 

 8. Battle of Lanka (Ceylon /Sri Lanka),,,,,

 Showing scenes from Ramayana in Mahabharata, whereupon Rama tries to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana (the kidnapper).

You'll see Rama standing on the shoulders of Hanuman, the monkey god, with Lakhsmana (Rama's brother) and Vibishana (a giant) behind him. On the opposite side, Ravana is standing on this war chariot pulled by lions. This panel is one of the prettiest carvings of all the Angkor Wat bas-reliefs.

If you are familiar with the Ramayana story, you'll be interested to know that there's a Cambodian version of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JUDGMENT BY YAMA; HEAVEN AND HELL , angkor wat

JUDGMENT BY YAMA; HEAVEN AND HELL,,,

Judgement of Yama Gallery is a panel of bas-relief on the southeast section of Angkor Wat. The theme of the Judgement of Yama gallery is the judgement of the souls, and whether they are sent to heaven or to hell. 

 

Description JUDGMENT BY YAMA; HEAVEN AND HELL

 This gallery is 66 meters long, significantly shorter than the preceding Army of Suryavarman II gallery. That's because the temple's enclosures are not perfect squares, but rectangulars with the centre set closer to the east. The ceiling of this gallery has been restored to give present-day visitors an idea how it originally looked like over eight hundred years ago. It was reconstructed based on a small piece of wood found here.

 

 Three tiers recount the judgment of mankind by Yama and two tiers depict Heaven and Hell. Inscriptions have identified 37 heavens where one sees leisurely pursuits in palaces and 32 hells with scenes of punishment and suffering. Draperies and Apsaras separate the two and a row of Garudas borders the tier in the bottom. The roof was destroyed by lightning in 1947 and subsequently the ceiling of this gallery was restored by the French. Traces of gilt can be on riders on horses at the beginning of the panel. The lower section of the panel was badly damaged and liter filled with cement.

Lower tier: Yama, the Supreme Judge (multiple arms, wields a staff and rides a buffalo), points out to his scribes the upper road representing heaven and the lower one of hell. Departed spirits a wait judgment. Assistants to Yama shove the wicked through a trap door to the lower regions where torturers deliver punishments such as sawing a body in half for those who overeat. Lawbreakers have their bones broken. Some of the punished wear iron shackles or have nails pierced through their heads. Upper tier: A celestial palace is supported by a frieze of Garudas with Apsaras in the skies.

 

LAYOUT , angkor wat

LAYOUT

The general appearance of the wonder of the temple is beautiful and romantic as well as impressive and grand it must be seen to be understood and appreciated. One can never look upon the ensemble of the vat without a thrill, a pause, a feeling of being caught up onto the heavens. Perhaps it is the most impressive sight in the world of edifices.

 

Description of :

 

Angkor Wat occupies a rectangular area of about 208 hectares (500 acres) defined by a laetrile wall. The first evidence of the site is a moat with a long sandstone causeway (length 250 meters, 820 feet; width 12 meters, 39 feet) crossing it and serving as the main access to the monument. The moat is 200 meters (656 feel) wide with a perimeter of 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles).
The west entrance begins with steps leading to a raised sandstone terrace in the shape of a cross at the foot of the long causeway. Giant stone lions on each side of the terrace guard the monument. Looking straight ahead, one can see at the end of the causeway the entry gate with three towers of varying heights and with collapsed upper portion. This entry tower hides the full view of the five towers of the central group. A long covered failure with square columns and a curved roof extends along the moat to the left and right of the entry tower. This is the majestic facade of Angkor Wat and a fine example of classical Khmer architecture.
History of LAYOUT :

In the 1920 when RJ Casey walked on this causeway he noted it was an oddity of engineering The slabs were cut in irregular shapes, which meant that each had to be chiseled to fit the one adjoining. The effect as seen under the noonday sun...is like that of a long strip of watered silk'10 On the left side just before the midway point in the causeway two large feet are carved in a block of sandstone. They belong to one of the figures at the entrances to Angkor Thom and were brought to Angkor Wat in this century the causeway was repaired with reused stones.
The upper portions of the three sections on this tower-one each at the center and the two ends – have collapsed. The porches on each end of the gallery may have served as passages for elephants, horses and carts as they are on ground level.
When Helen Churchill Candee saw these entrances in the 1920 she remarked that architecture made to fit the passage of elephants is an idea most inspiriting. A figure of a standing Visnu (eight arms) is in the right inside the entry tower. Traces of original color can be seen on the ceiling of the entry tower at the left. Continue westward along a second raised walkway (length 350 meters, 1,148 feet; width 9 meters, 30 feet).
A low balustrade resembling the body of a serpent borders each side. Short columns support the balustrade. Looking west one sees the celebrate view of Angkor Wat that appears on the Cambodian flag. Standing at this point one teels compelled to get to the wondrous group of the five domes, companions of the sky, sisters of the clouds, and determine whether or not one lives in a world of reality or in a fantastic dream. Six pairs of ceremonial stairs with platforms on each side of the walkway lead to the courtyard.

The symbolism of Angkor Wat , angkor tourism

The symbolism of Angkor Wat,,,

 Angkor Wat is a miniature replica of the universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world. The central tower rises from the center of the monument symbolizing the mythical mountain, Meru, situated at the center of the universe. Its five towers correspond to the peaks of Meru. The outer wall corresponds to the mountains at the edge of the world, and the surrounding moat the oceans beyond.

 

 Symbolism wat :

 Angkor Wat is a microcosm of the Hindu Universe in stone and represents an earthly model of the cosmic world. The moat represents the mythical oceans surrounding the earth and the succession of concentric galleries represents the mountain ranges that surround Mount Meru, the home of the Gods. The towers represent the mountain’s peaks and the experience of the ascent, to the central shrine is, may be intentionally a fairly convincing imitation of climbing a real mountain.

 combodia vishnu :

 

 The headgear was shaped differently from that adorning deities in south India. A few flowers were placed at the foot and a middle-aged woman with tear-filled eyes was sitting and praying there. The place has an aura of its own.

There is just enough space to prostrate before the deity and to circumambulate. You look around for his consort, Goddess Lakshmi, and you shrink at the sight of a headless figure nearby! When I expressed my shock and disappointment, Chi observed, “The bad people caused all the destruction.”

Phnom Bakheng Hill , angkor wat tourism

Phnom Bakheng Hill , angkor wat tourism

 It is a testimony to the love of symmetry and balance which evolved its style....in pure simplicity of rectangles its beauty is achieved. It is a pyramid mounting in terraces, five of them ...Below Bak-Keng lays all the world of mystery, the world of the Khmer, more mysterious ever under its cover of impenetrable verdure.

Angkor Wat View from Phnom Bakheng :

 

Enter and leave Phnom Bakheng by climbing a long steep path with some steps on the east side of the monument (height 67 meters, 220 feet) In the 1960 this summit was approached by elephant and, according to a French visitor, the ascent was "a promenade classic and very agreeable

Arrive at the summit just before sunset for a panoramic view of Angkor and its environs. The golden hues of the setting sun on this vista are a memorable sight. When Frenchman Henri Mouhot stood at this point in 1859 he wrote in his diary: 'Steps.. lead to the top of the mountain, whence is to be enjoyed a view so beautiful and extensive, that it is not surprising that these people , who have shown so much taste in their buildings, should have chosen it for a site.

Faces of Avalokiteshvara at Bayon temple:

 History of Phnom Bakheng Hill , angkor wat tourism,,,

The city of Angkor Thom was founded by Angkor's greatest king, Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1219), who came to power following the defeat of the former Khmer capital by the Chams. At its height, Angkor Thom may have governed a population of one million people in the surrounding area.

Angkor Thom was built in a nearly perfect square, the sides of which run north to south and east to west. It was surrounded by a square wall (jayagiri) 8m high and 12km in length and further protected by a 100m-wide moat (now dry), said to have contained ferocious crocodiles.

A gate opens exactly in the middle of each wall, from which a bridge extends over the moat to the area outside the royal city. The original royal palace at Angkor Thom, built in the 10th and 11th centuries, was probably built of wood and no longer stands.

One of five gates with Hindu gods and demons. Public domain,,,

 Bayon Temple (circa 1190) is a Buddhist temple but retains elements of Hindu cosmology and imagery. Standing in the exact center of the walled city, it represents the intersection of heaven and earth. It is known for its enigmatic smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara and its extraordinary bas-reliefs.

Just north of the Bayon is the stalwart Baphuon, a temple built in 1066 that is in the process of being put back together in a way that gives visitors an idea of what original temple construction might have been like.

video Phnom Bakheng Hill , angkor wat tourism ,,,,,,

 

 Phnom Bakheng at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu temple in the form of a temple mountain. Dedicated to Shiva, it was built at the end of the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman (889-910 A.D.). Located atop a hill, it is nowadays a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat, which lies amid the jungle about 1.5 km to the southeast. The large number of visitors makes Phnom Bakheng one of the most threatened monuments of Angkor.

BACKGROUND, angakor wat tourism

BACKGROUND, angakor wat tourism

Angkor Wat, the largest monument of the Angkor group and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece. Its perfection in composition, balance, proportions, relief's and sculpture make it one of the finest monuments in the world.

 

History of BACKGROUND, angakor wat tourism :

Wat is the Khmer name for temple (the French spelling is "vat "), which was probably added to "Angkor "when it became a Theravada Buddhist monument, most likely in the sixteenth century. After 1432 when the capital moved to Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat was cared for by Buddhist monks.

It is generally accepted that Angkor Wat was a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II and oriented to the west to conform to the symbolism between the setting sun and death. The bas-reliefs, designed for viewing from left to right in the order of Hindu funereal ritual, support this function.

 The French ascertained a general plan of the Royal Palace (see map opposite). It included the temple-mountain of Phimeanakas and surrounding pools together with residences and buildings for administering the capital, which were probably at the back of the enclosure. Jayavarman VII reconstructed the original site of the Royal Palace Palace to erect the city of Angkor Thom, which was centered on the temple of Bayon and surrounded by a wall.
Apsara Statue at Angkor Wat :

 

 The overall profile imitates a lotus bud, Several architectural lines stand out in the profile of the monument. The eye is drawn left and right to the horizontal aspect of the levels and upward to the soaring height of the towers. The ingenious plan of Angkor Wat only allows a view of all five towers from certain angles. They are not visible, for example, from the entrance. Many of the structures and courtyards are in the shape of a cross. The. Visitor should study the plan on page 86 and become familiar with this dominant layout. A curved sloping roof on galleries, chambers and aisles is a hallmark of Angkor Wat. From a distance it looks like a series of long narrow ridges but close up from identifies itself. It is a roof made of gracefully arched stone rectangles placed end to end. Each row of tiles is capped with an end tile at right angles the ridge of the roof.