The Angkor Dynasty was the most prosperous and splendid era in Cambodia’s history. After its decline, for various reasons, records of this period gradually disappeared from Cambodian historical documents, and a glorious age was thus buried in obscurity.
Precisely because of this, “The Customs of Cambodia”, written in 1296 by Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, became one of the few surviving textual records attesting to the existence of the Angkor Dynasty. His account vividly documented the customs, daily life, and grandeur of Angkor, offering a rare glimpse into the glory of that era. This work played a crucial role in bringing the Angkor civilization back into the global consciousness, prompting many Western explorers to journey to Cambodia in search of the magnificent kingdom described in the text.
It wasn’t until 1861 that French explorer Henri Mouhot discovered the awe-inspiring ancient temple ruins hidden in the forests of Cambodia. After publishing his travel notes—complete with detailed observations and hand-drawn illustrations of the site—the world was astounded. The Angkor civilization, which had remained silent for over 500 years, finally reemerged into the light of day. In 1992, UNESCO inscribed the Angkor ruins on the World Heritage List and launched an extensive international restoration initiative.
1.Angkor Thom
The Angkor ruins are generally divided into Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat. Angkor Thom served as the capital city of the Angkor Dynasty.
Victory Gate: There are five gates leading into Angkor Thom. The Victory Gate, located between the East Gate and the North Gate, was specially built for the departure of troops. Today, it is the gate most commonly used by tourists to enter and explore the city.
Towers of the Twelve Judges: After entering Angkor Thom through the Victory Gate, the first structures you’ll see on either side are the Towers of the Twelve Judges. According to “The Customs of Cambodia”, when two parties were involved in a dispute that couldn’t be resolved, each person would be locked in a separate tower, guarded by the relatives of the other party outside. The one in the right would remain unharmed, while the one in the wrong would fall ill—within three or four days, the truth would reveal itself.
Today, Cambodia is a Buddhist country, but during the early period of the Angkor Dynasty, Hinduism was the dominant religion. As a result, many structures within the Angkor ruins bear strong Hindu characteristics. In the mid-Angkor period, the reigning king converted to Buddhism, leading to a rise in Buddhist influence. Later, Hinduism regained prominence for a time. Due to these shifts in religious belief, some structures were altered during construction to reflect the changing faiths. This blending of two rich religious traditions resulted in a harmonious fusion of Hindu and Buddhist elements in Angkor’s architecture.
Phimeanakas (Celestial Palace): This was the main structure within the royal palace compound. Deeply influenced by Hindu culture, its base is built in a stepped pyramid style using three stacked rectangular tiers, symbolizing Sumeru Mountain, the sacred mountain in Hindu mythology. According to legend, this palace served as the king’s private residence, where he was required to sleep each night with the naga deity, who took the form of a woman. If the naga failed to appear, it was seen as a sign of the king’s impending death; if the king ever failed to attend, disaster was believed to be inevitable.
Baphuon Temple: Located at the center of the ancient capital of Angkor Thom, Baphuon Temple was also designed to resemble Sumeru Mountain. A stone tower once stood at its summit, marking the highest point in all of Angkor Thom’s architecture and symbolizing the cosmic center of the universe. Today, visitors can see a large reclining Buddha image on the temple, which archaeologists believe was added later—possibly after the fall of the Angkor Dynasty, when the capital was abandoned and Buddhist followers modified the structure for their own worship.
Bayon Temple: Built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, Bayon Temple was the state temple of the Angkor Dynasty. It was the last state temple constructed during that era and is unique for blending both Hindu and Buddhist architectural styles. Originally, Bayon was planned as a two-story temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. However, due to the shift in religious beliefs during construction, it was converted into a Buddhist temple by adding an extra upper level. Today, visitors can see 54 towering stone towers on the top level, each carved with serene four-faced Buddha heads quietly watching over all beings. These smiling Buddha faces are famously known as the “Smiles of Khmer”.
2.Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat—meaning “City of Temples” in Sanskrit—is the largest religious monument in the world and the best-preserved, most famous part of the Angkor ruins.
Angkor Wat was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and is a prime example of early Cambodian architectural style.
The architectural layout of Angkor Wat is precise and symmetrical, forming an overall square shape. The main temple structure is also influenced by Hinduism’s pyramid-shaped Sumeru Mountain, composed of three rectangular terraces that rise step by step. These terraces are surrounded by a gallery corridor. At the top stand five towers symbolizing the five peaks of Sumeru Mountain — one large central tower with four smaller towers positioned at each corner.
Angkor Wat is renowned for many remarkable features.
Firstly, there is the spectacular sunrise, where the sun rises behind the ancient towers, gradually illuminating the sky and awakening the ancient Angkor civilization. Especially on the two equinox days of the year, the sun rises directly behind the central tower, resembling a precious gem atop a crown.
Secondly, inside the temple’s galleries are a series of breathtaking bas-reliefs that are a must-see for visitors to Angkor Wat. These carvings not only hold immense artistic value but also provide rich information for studying ancient Khmer society. The bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat are the most representative sculptural art achievements of the Cambodian Khmer people, primarily including decorative floral motifs, apsara (celestial dancer) decorations, and narrative reliefs—with the narrative reliefs being regarded as the highest artistic accomplishment.
3.Other Angkor Ruins
Beyond Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat, there are many other fascinating structures worth exploring.
Ta Prohm Temple: Located just outside the East Gate of Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm is a unique and striking site famous for its giant trees entwined with ancient temple ruins and the mysterious Buddha images growing inside tree hollows. Hundreds-of-years-old towering trees grow atop, within the foundations, and in the crevices of the ancient temple complex. Their massive, tangled roots wrap around and cling to the stone structures, sometimes making it difficult to tell whether trees are growing on the temple or a Buddha shrine was built inside a tree hollow. Ta Prohm was also a filming location for the movie Tomb Raider, and its weathered, mysterious atmosphere has captivated countless visitors.
The Queen’s Palace: It is a small but exquisitely crafted palace, rich in intricacies and treasures within. Its elaborate and exquisite carvings have earned it the titles “The Pearl of the Angkor Ruins” and “The Diamond of Angkor Art”.
