The most famous and best-preserved temple found in Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a south east Asian country with a population of 13 million inhabitants. The Cambodian territory consists mostly of plains, and borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Cambodia’s capital is the city of Phnom Penh.

During the 9th and 15 centuries Cambodia was the centre of the mighty Khmer empire. Its capital was situated in Angkor, which lies near the city of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is the most famous and best-preserved temple at the archaeological site, which nowadays is listed as a UNESCO World heritage site. After independence Cambodia went through a period of upheaval, suffering from a brutal regime and a subsequent civil war. Since then Cambodia has recovered and its economy is growing. The safety situation has also improved substantially, so that the country is now safe to travel for tourists.

The temples of Angkor were built between the 9th and 14th centuries when the Khmer civilisation was at the height of its power. Angkor was the capital of the mighty Khmer empire which ruled a large portion of South East Asia around 1000 years ago. After the collapse of the Khmer civilisation Angkor was abandoned and the temples were covered by the jungle. They were rediscovered in the 1860s by the French. Today there are around 100 temples in a large area around the city of Siem Reap. The temples of Angkor have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992.

Lying in the plains in southern Cambodia at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers, Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. With one million inhabitants it is the largest city in Cambodia and also its economic and political centre. Once considered the most beautiful of the cities in French Indochina, Phnom Penh has suffered during the dark years of the war and civil war, but has managed to preserve its rich colonial and cultural heritage. It has beautiful temples and palaces, colonial architecture, wide boulevards with immaculate parks, and a charming palm fringed riverfront with restaurants and cafes.

Siem Reap is a small city in northwestern Cambodia. It serves as the access point to the temples of Angkor and has as such transformed itself into a major tourist hub. While in 2000 most streets in Siem Reap were made of mud, in 2006 most streets were paved and modern buildings had replaced the simple buildings of the past. Siem Reap has an international airport with direct flights to some South East Asian capitals.

Tags: Angkor, Asian Countries, Cambodia, most famous and best-preserved temple at the archaeological site, Siem Reap

Category: Asian Countries