Private Full Day Tour of Angkor Wat and Surrounding Temples

Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The detailed carving of the sculptures, lintels, and friezes make it a beautiful structure. The walls are covered with deep, intricate carvings, each one carved with superb detail. Banteay Srei was built by a Brahmin counsellor to King Rajendravarman at a time when the Khmer Empire was growing in power and territory.

Ta Prohm is the undisputed capital of the kingdom of the Trees. It has been left untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of a path for visitors and structural strengthening to stave of further deterioration. Because of its natural state, it is possible to experience at this temple the wonder of the early explorers when they came upon these monuments in the middle of the nineteenth century. Shrouded in dense jungle the temple of Ta Prohm is ethereal in aspect and conjures up a romantic aura. Fig, banyan and kapok trees spread their gigantic roots over stones, probing walls and terraces apart, as their branches and leaves intertwine to form a roof over the structures. Trunks of trees twist amongst stone pillars. The strange, haunted charm of the place entwines itself about you as you go, as inescapably as the roots have wound themselves about the walls and towers.

“Angkor Thom” is sometimes spelt “Angkor Tom”. The name “Angkor Thom” has been used only after Angkor was not the Khmer capital any more, it means "Angkor Big" or "Capital Great". It was the last capital in the Angkor era. After Jayavarman VII recaptured the Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders and became king in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, part of it was constructing Angkor Thom as his new fortified capital. One inscription found in the city refers to Jayavarman as the groom and the new capital as his bride.

This gate is one of the most famous sites at these ruins of Angkor Thom, the former capital of the Khmer Empire.