Photos

For those that don't recognise this incredible building, this is Angkor Wat, one of the best preserved and highly visited of the temples in the Angkor temple district, 5 km north of Siam Reap in Cambodia. Angkor Wat was built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple, dedicated to Vishnu, and as his capital city. By the 12th century Khmer architects had become more skilled and confident than before in the use of sandstone (rather than brick or laterite) as the main building material and the temple is considered the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. Angkor Wat has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag.

The charateristic redented towers are called ogival and represent lotus buds, a key symbol of the buddhist faith. These five towers (of which you can only see the tip of one...) are said to symbolise five peaks of Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

When you consider what must have gone into the construction nearly 800 years ago now, the level of preservation you can see today is incredible. Kinda puts our current "concrete slab and glass" architecture into persective too...

This picture was taken at sunrise with my dad's camera (prior to my own purchase) from the north edge of the causeway leading the to temple. It's been mildly sharpened and i've decreased the contrast to create a more intense silhouette. The rosy glow over the towers has been enhanced a wee bit too...