 Angkor Wat tours ` Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are justifiably regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world, ranking alongside such treasures as the Pyramids in Egypt and the Taj Mahal in India. Built between the 10th and 13th centuries, they were left abandoned to the jungle until their "discovery" by a French explorer in the late 19th century. Still as yet unravaged by mass tourism, the temples retain a sense of power and mystery in their overwhelming size and attention to detail. Our local guides speak excellent English and have superb knowledge of all of the temples to help you get the most from your visit. Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs?
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The Order of Viewing The Reliefs
The reliefs are meant to be seen in a counter-clockwise direction. Each section of the Bas-relief depicts a story and most of them are about battles between the gods and the demons.
Angkor Wat bas-relief map. Order of viewing.
1. The Battle of Kurukshetra
The scene is taken from the Mahabharata text where Kauravas, from the left, and Pandavas, from the right, battle each other in a fierce fight. You can see the procession at the base of the panel, where musicians, foot soldiers, and warriors on horses and elephants advance to the center of battlefield.At the center panel where the battle is being fought the hardest, you'll see wounded soldiers, horses, and chiefs. Some parts of the relief have been polished by pilgrims and later by Sam or visitors’ hands for many decades, leaving these parts shinier than the rest.
Angkor Wat
bas-relief: Battle of
Kurukshetra.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
2. The Army of Suryavarman II
This Angkor Wat bas-relief gallery is dedicated to Suryavarman II, the king who built the Angkor Wat temple. This battle procession relief is carved into a single panel that is 90 meters long, and it is better artwork than the other bas-reliefs.The king is seen riding on an elephant, wearing a royal crown and equipped with a battle axe, encircled by servants who were busy fanning and holding up umbrellas.
At the bottom part of the panel, you'll see palace women joining the processions. Further down the panel, you'll also see mercenary Thai warriors and Brahmin priests in the march.
Suryavarman
II fanned and shaded by
umbrellas.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
3. Heaven and Hell
This panel is interesting. The upper part describes life in heaven, and the lower part life in hell. The panel is 60 meters long, and shows Yama, the God of the dead, sitting on a buffalo, assisted by his two assessors, Dharma and Sitragupta.There are 36 short inscriptions which tell us that there are 37 heavens and 32 hells.
Life in heaven is shown by the rich palaces,A flying Apsara, and the lavish draperies. Life in hell is all about torture, which was rather gruesome with its breaking of bones, use of hot irons, and piercing of heads with nails.
Heaven above, hell below.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
4. Churning of the Ocean of Milk
The most magnificent Angkor Wat relief of them all.It shows 92 gods and 88 demons fighting for the elixir of immortality that meant (Amarita water in Khmer) and a snake caught up in the middle. The gods hold the tail, the demons hold the head, while the snake coils itself around Mt. Mandala. Each time the gods and demons pull from their sides, the mountain turns and the ocean churns.
According to one of the stories, the demons and gods were actually working together in creating the elixir. Once the elixir was created, the gods tricked the demons and took the elixir for themselves.
Not giving up, one of the demons managed to sneak into the god's residence and drink the elixir before Vishnu beheaded him. Because of the immortal elixir, the demon survived, but possessing only his head.
Angkor Wat bas-relief: 88 demons pulling
the snake.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
5. Vishnu Conquers the Asuras (Demons)
One of the inferior carvings depicting Vishnu riding a Garuda (a mythical bird), slaying all demons. Two armies approach the middle from both sides, where Vishnu sends them running after wreaking havoc.
Garuda, the mythical bird.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
6. Krishna and the Bana, the
Demon King
Supposedly this is the worst of all the Angkor Wat reliefs, but you can
be the judge. The scene depicts Visnhu, incarnated as Krishna with eight arms and multiple heads, riding a Garuda and confronting Bana at this palace. Krishna is assisted by Agni, the god of Fire, in putting out the defensive fire that surrounds Bana's castle.
After capturing Bana, Krishna pleads with Shiva for Bana's life at Mt. Kailasa, where the goddess Parvati and the elephant god Ganesha are also present.
Krishna with eight arms and many heads.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
7. The Battle of the Gods and the Demons
This Angkor Wat bas-relief shows a battle scene of 21 gods fighting the
asuras (demons). Here you'll see gods and their elements. Vishnu on his garuda; Yama, the god of the dead, on a chariot pulled by oxen; Shiva ready with his bow, Brahma on the sacred goose; Surya, the god of sun, standing on a sun disc; Indra standing on his elephants with four tusks; and Skanda, the god of war, perched on his peacock.
Angkor Wat bas-relief: Brahma and golden
goose.
Photoed by Mr Sam Tel:(855) 78 995944
8. Battle of Lanka (Ceylon /Sri Lanka)
Showing scenes from Ramayana in Mahabharata, whereupon Rama tries to rescue his wife Sita from Ravana (the kidnapper).You'll see Rama standing on the shoulders of Hanuman, the monkey god, with Lakhsmana (Rama's brother) and Vibishana
(a giant) behind him. On the opposite side, Ravana is standing on this war chariot pulled by lions. This panel is one of the prettiest carvings of all the Angkor Wat bas-reliefs.
If you are familiar with the Ramayana story, you'll be interested to know that there's a Cambodian version of it.
Rama and Sita.
Photoed by samcambodiatours.yolasite.com
Is It Better To Know The Story Before Visiting?
I definitely think so.When I first saw these bas-reliefs, I regretted not knowing the stories beforehand, because that meant I had to listen to my teacher explain me an my class mate the scenes. If only I had known more about the story, I could have appreciated the reliefs better and just enjoyed them without being distracted. Then there was also the case of information overload, which was not entirely pleasant.
Thus, to ensure maximum viewing pleasure, it is much better
knowing about the scenes beforehand. If I could
do it over, I'd definitely read more about these reliefs before I did become an official licensed tour guide.this is my duty that I have to not all the history of those,
And even if you take pictures, viewing them in person is so much better!
So In
Short...
Take
your time in enjoying the reliefs. Do not rush, because you'd want
these images embedded in your mind. Why? Because they're so pretty, of
course! Plus, it's not everyday or every year coming to Cambodia, you get to visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
Other than Angkor Wat bas-relief, there is another great place to see more wall- to- wall bas- reliefs, and that is at Bayon. If the Angkor reliefs depicts the 'life' of the gods, the Bayon reliefs show you the life of the common people. It's very telling, and like a journey back to the ancient times. You'll see fishermen fishing, women cooking, and children playing!
It's just amazing what great things that the ancient Khmer people have left us.
On my behalf of a Cambodian guide. I would like to create and publish to the web that meant for all of you, before you do come to Cambodia, So Please look on and read my website carefully. you will know how to see. how to take a photo. how to eat, how to stay, how to camp, how to trek, how circle around Siem Reap, and more...... with Mr Sam services
