Angkor Archaeological Park
We are very blessed to live so close to this UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Site, that stretches over some 400 square kilometers, including forested areas and the magnificent remains of several capital cities of the ancient Khmer Empire, dating back to the 9th century.
The word, archaeological means the “scientific study of material remains (such as tools, pottery, jewelry, stone walls, and monuments) of past human life and activities or the remains of the culture of a people.”
It is said that in the late 13th century, Angkor was still a large, thriving metropolis and one of the most magnificent capitals in all Asia. By the 16th century, it is written that the city was abandoned and all that remained were the jungle-covered remnants of the ancient temples and the ruins of the once-magnificent system of reservoirs and waterways.
During the more than four centuries between the demise of this ancient city and the beginning of the modern period, interest in Angkor was largely focused on Angkor Wat, although visitors to Cambodia showed a strong curiosity concerning the entire “lost city”. When the French colonial regime was established (1863), the entire site became the focus of intense scholarly interest. A group of French archaeologists and philologists initiated a comprehensive program of research uncovering the history of the city and the sophisticated religious and political systems that guided life in those ancient times. A program of painstaking reconstruction through the entire park resulted in various temples, reservoirs and canals being partially restored.
In 1992 UNESCO designated Angkor a World Heritage Site resulting in international organized preservation efforts and the restoration of the monuments at Angkor.
The restoration of Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, has resulted in this temple becoming a symbol of Cambodia and is frankly the major reason why most people visit Siem Reap.
In order to enter the Angkor Archaeological Park, you need to buy a pass. A tourist visiting Siem Reap, would usually pay $37 for the 1-day pass, $62 for a 3-day pass or $72 for a 7-day. This pass allows you to visit the park for the number of days you have paid for consecutively.
As tourists are few considering COVID and travel restrictions, the government has extended a special to all expats, residing in Siem Reap. For a limited period, expats with a long-term visa, can for $200 purchase a 6 month pass with an additional 6 months for free. So, $200 for a 365-day pass, is an absolute bargain and an opportunity for us to visit the Park at our leisure at any given time over the next 12 months.
When we first arrived in Siem Reap, and when we our friend Jean and my daughter Nicole came on holiday, we visited the main tourist temples. But now, with this 12-month pass, we can do an extensive tour of the entire park, including the hidden off-road temples, with an experienced tour guide. We are very interested in learning as much as we can about this ancient civilization of Angkor.
Sotinnea, our wonderful landlady, found us an English speaking, very knowledgeable tour guide with a fantastic sense of humour, at a reasonable rate.
So, please join us and Theoun Chan as we set off on a series of guided tours around the Angkor Archaeological Park, a spectacular World Heritage Site uncovered in the jungles surrounding Siem Reap.
We are super excited and would love to share this experience with all our readers. You can join us by following this and future blogs as we tour around this amazing Archaeological Park!
We are ready to go. Are you?
Love it guys. So glad you’ve been so happy there.