Facts About Angkor Wat: 26 Fascinating Things To Know Before You Visit

Have you heard about Angkor Wat? If you are reading this article then you probably have a slight inkling to the historic monument that I am talking about. Located in Cambodia, the temple has gained worldwide recognition for a number of reasons.

One of them is because it is a gorgeous structure that has stood the test of time. In fact, so great is the allure of visiting this monument that it is said that no itinerary is complete without a stop here.

While we added it to our own itinerary and tried to do our research, visiting Angkor Wat was experience that we wished that we were better prepared for. So, if you plan on heading out in that direction, here are some facts about Angkor Wat that you should know before you visit.

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History Of Angkor Wat

As I mentioned before, Angkor Wat is an old complex. How old? Well, the Angkor Wat temple was originally built in the 12^th century. One would think that it would have crumbled to dust but no, the structure is still very much standing. As you wander through the building you will know just how mind blowing it is. Since the building is so old, there are a number of fun historical facts that you should know.

1. It’s All In The Name

Did you know that the term ‘Angkor Wat’ loosely translates to ‘Temple City’? The name is so apt because one of the facts about Angkor Wat is that the complex is huge and has numerous temples. Every year, new ones are identified.

2. It Is The Largest Religious Monument In The World

Did you know that Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world? Pretty amazing especially if you consider when the temple was built.

The temple complex (note that I said complex because it isn’t just one temple but numerous religious sites) spans across more than 400 acres! That is a lot of land. A lot of the religious monuments are being restored and aid has come in from different countries for the conservation process.

3. It Is The Symbol Of Cambodia

Among the many cool facts about Angkor Wat is that it the one of the important symbols of Cambodia. Take a look at the Cambodian flag and you will see that the temple occupies the centre of the flag. The Cambodian currency also bears the image of the temple on it.

The 500 riel note does if I am to be more specific. The southern gate of Bayon (another important structure in the complex) is used on the 1000 riel.

4. It Wasn’t Always A Buddhist Temple

I’m not kidding. One of the facts about Angkor Wat that not everyone knows is that it was originally a Hindu temple which was dedicated to the God Vishnu. The temple was built by the Khmer King named Suryavarman. The temple eventually was converted into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12^th century.

5. It Is A UNESCO Heritage Site

Due to its historical significance, the temple was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1992. Restoration work on the temples in the complex is in process. New temples are continuously being discovered and restored.

Facts About The Angkor Wat Structure

Since I’m on the subject of history and the temple, let’s talk about a few facts about the Angkor Wat structure that we found fascinating.

6. They used a lot of sandstone and used elephants to transport it!

Almost five million tons of sandstone (that is a freaking lot of stone!) were used to build the temple.

Why is the amount of stone so significant? Well, it was built without using machinery. Elephants were employed (well forced) to help the labourers who built it.

7. They did not use cement

Khmer bricks were used to build the temple and they were held together by a vegetable compound. Try to see what holds the bricks together when you are there.

It looks as if they have been stacked one on top of the other without a binding agent. I found this particularly fact about Angkor Wat particularly interesting given the fact that so many years have passed and it has weathered a lot.

8. Angkor Wat Is West Facing

The Angkor Wat temple is oriented West. This is what makes it such a great spot for sunrise photography.

Almost all photographs of the whole façade of temple will show you a large moat in front. This moat is 200 metres wide and is seen around the perimeter of the temple which is around 5 kilometres long.

9. The Temple Was Damaged During The Khmer Rouge Regimen

One of the saddest facts about Angkor Wat that we learned while we were there was that during the Khmer Rouge, the temple was ransacked for wood. The people needed it for firewood. I say sad because the people who ransacked it probably considered the temple a religious site. The circumstances that pushed them to ransack the temple were severe. That however is a story from history that we will cover another time.

A shoot out that took place between the Khmer Rouge forces and the Vietnamese put bullets into the bas relief. That being said, this wasn’t the only damage that the temple endured. Art thieves had their go at the structure too.

10. There Is More To Explore Than Just The Angkor Wat Temple

Remember when I mentioned that one of the facts about Angkor Wat was that the temple complex is huge? 400 acres is a huge area. You don’t really realize just how big unless you try to explore it. I mean a lot of people try to visit Angkor Wat in a day. It helps you see the highlights.

I want you pause for a moment and think of this. Within this complex are numerous temples of which Angkor Wat is just one. Other temples that should be on your list are the Baphuon, Ta Prohm Temple, Bayon Temple and of course the Angkor Thom.

Note that these are some of the more popular temples and are not the only ones there. If you want to see them all it is going to take considerably more time!

Facts About Angkor Wat: Tickets

Let’s talk about the tickets to the temple complex. There are a couple of facts about Angkor Wat that revolve around getting a ticket, the type of ticket best suited for you and more.

11.Tickets Are Expensive

One thing that everyone talks about is the fact that the tickets are expensive. You can buy anything between a one-day ticket to a 3 day or 7 day pass. Needleless to say that the longer the pass the higher the price.

The cost of a single day pass is currently 37 USD. Which is a lot when you think about it. What you really need to realize is that the ticket just doesn’t cover the Angkor Wat. It covers the entire complex.

12. There are different kinds of passes

We chose to go for the three-day pass but I understand that everyone is different. The question that everyone asks is how do you choose? Do you want to see just the Angkor Wat and breeze through the rest? Catch the famous sunrise pic at the entrance of temple? Then the one-day ticket is probably the best for you. It is also the cheapest should you be on a budget.

The three-day pass is great if you have loads of energy and want to explore the whole complex thoroughly. We thought that we did and boy were we surprised! Of the three days we used only two days of the pass and were just too exhausted to head out on the third.

I largely attribute this to the fact that we cycled all over and did not take a tuk tuk. It was enjoyable but the heat was what sapped all our energy away.

The seven-day pass is for those people who have time, want to take a chill pill and slowly explore the complex. I have to admit that if the cost and the time (i.e. seven freaking days!) were not an issue, we probably would have thought of taking this option.

One of the reasons why is because it would have allowed us to indulge like slow travelers but time isn’t always the luxury one has. It would have offset the temple fatigue that sets in. After a point, my mind went blank. It was more temples and more temples. I regret to say that I say but did not register everything.

13. They conduct surprise ticket checks

You are going to need your ticket whether you choose to take a single day ticket or a longer pass. The reason why I say this is because they do conduct surprise checks sometimes. It hasn’t happened to us per say but I have heard other travellers tell me that they have been checked. If you purchase the longer passes, then you will need to show the ticket when you enter on the following days.

14. You Can Enter And Exit As Many Times As You Like In A Day

Unlike many other places in the world, the ticket to the complex allows you to enter and exit at will. Within the specified time frame of the ticket of course.

Why is this important? Well, going about the complex in the heat is tiring. You may want to consider taking a break in the afternoon and heading to city. You can then head back in the cooler hours of the day.

15. The Ticket Price Is Different For Locals

Much like many other countries in Asia, there is a different price for International tourists and for local tourists. While that may seem unfair, I kind liked the idea that the poorer sections of the Cambodian society still had access to gorgeous monument that their country is famous for. That doesn’t take away anything from the fact that the tickets are costly for visiting non nationals.

Facts About Angkor Wat: Transportation

Let’s talk about transportation. How to get there, how to move around and what are the different things that affect your choice. These are all important facts about Angkor Wat that you need to consider when planning your visit.

16. How Do You Get To Angkor Wat?

First of all, the question that arises is how are you going to get to the Angkor Wat complex? One of the facts about Angkor Wat that you need to know is that the nearest place where you can stay is Siem Reap and Siem Reap is around 7 kilometers away.

So that eliminates walking unless you like a long hot walk. Most people choose to hire a tuk-tuk. Now you could choose to ask the driver to drop you at the entrance and collect you at the end of the day or you could ask him to him to be your guide for the entire day. The latter is the most popular choice.

We chose to be a little unconventional and chose to cycle to and fro. It also gave us the opportunity to move around the different temples at our own pace.

17. Scooters Aren’t Allowed Inside Angkor Wat

At first, we thought that we would roam around the temple complex on a rented Scooter. That would make the place easier to cover and the heat a bit more bearable. Unfortunately, we learned that tourists are not allowed to use a scooter in the complex. I have heard that electric scooters are an option though.

Facts About Angkor Wat To Help You Plan Your Itinerary

Before we win up and talk about the things you need to carry, let’s just take a cursory look through a couple of miscellaneous facts about Angkor Wat that will help you plan your itinerary in the complex.

18. Catching The Sunrise At Ankor Wat Means Braving The Crowds

One of the most common and most fascinating images that people see online with regards to the Angkor Wat temple is one involving the sunrise.

It is spectacular. If you have read my post on facts about Cambodia that you should know, you will remember that I mentioned that the skies in Cambodia are gorgeous. This is particularly true when it comes to sunrise and sunset.

Since the temple faces the west, it is easy to capture the splendor of the temple and the sunrise behind it. This however does come with a cost.

You have to get up early and you have to brave the crowds. Yes! It isn’t just you who stumbled across those gorgeous photographs on Instagram and Pinterest. Almost every tourist who heads to the complex has the same idea. That means crowds.

Everyone jostling each other for the perfect shot. Is it worth it? Well this is something that you will have determine for yourself. We chose to forgo the experience because we had a very long journey to Siem Reap and because of the two facts about Angkor Wat that follow.

19. The Sunset Is Equally Spectacular

While you do not get the astounding image of the red sky and the Angkor temple, you can catch the sunset at many parts of the complex. You will still get the dramatic sky. The scenery however will be a tad different. It will however give you a bit of creative freedom to do something out of the box or just enjoy the view.

20. Most Temples Don’t Open Till Later

A lot of people do not realise that most temples in the complex open later in the morning. So if you head out for the sunrise, you probably will want to head to the town to catch a bite to eat before the day begins in earnest. Since we cycled and we wanted to conserve our energy, we decided to skip the sunrise and head to the complex little later in morning.

21. The Sun Is Hot!

I can’t emphasize this enough. The sun is hot. It drains you very quickly. Oh and did I mention that it is humid too? We thought that since we are generally used to the heat in India, this wouldn’t be a big deal. That was a big mistake. My advice would be to wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

22. Tour Groups Can Make The Experience Frustrating

Not everyone who heads to the monuments is an independent traveller. Many come to visit it as part of a group. Large tour groups however quickly occupy the lines to the popular temples and the wait in the hot sun can get long. Whenever this happened to us, we would skip ahead and then circle back.

23. Most Tourist Underestimate The Size Of The Angkor Wat Temple Complex

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the temple complex is enormous. Many people underestimate it. Heck, we underestimated it. Its one of those places that you have to see to believe. Plan your days out well and don’t start hurrying everywhere. You will only tire yourself out. Oh… And just an FYI: You can’t see everything in a day! The highlights… Probably. Everything? Nope!

24. Beware Of Temple Fatigue

Temple fatigue is real. I never really thought that it would affect me because I love visiting old historical sites but after a point it kind off sneaked up on me. Hours of wandering around the vast expanse of the complex, looking at temple after temple and the heat… Let’s not forget the heat.

So how do you deal with it? One thing would be to take it slow. Take a break. Don’t try to do everything at a breakneck pace. That’s how we started out.

If you have chosen to visit the complex for just a day, I would suggest doing your research and figuring out which temples you want to visit before you reach. One of the facts about Angkor Wat that you need to consider is the number of temples that are there. You can’t cover everything in a few hours unless you breeze through with a tuk-tuk and even then it is tedious.

Plan your small circuit route through Angkor Wat beforehand. You do get a map when you buy your ticket. Keep it handy.

25. Dress Code At Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a religious site that is still in use. Decorum demands that you should keep your knees and shoulders covered. Should you choose to use clothing that doesn’t follow these norms, make sure that you take a sarong.

This way, you can cover up whenever you enter a temple. Another factor that you will want to keep in mind is the fact that it is hot and humid. You are bound to get sweaty and tired. I would suggest using some light cotton clothing.

Another thing that a lot of people don’t always consider is the need for range of motion. You don’t always have a straight path that you follow. Steeps need to be climbed, monuments have loose rocks lying around and a lot of the area is overrun by trees.

Make sure that the outfit you choose is not too restrictive and don’t forget to use a sensible pair of shoes. Something that has good grip. The reason why I emphasize on this is because an elderly gentleman slipped right in front of us and injured his hand badly.

26. Stay In Siem Reap

If you want to explore Angkor Wat, you will find that Siem Reap is the closest place to stay in the area. It has some really good options. In fact, the best accommodation in Siem Reap does not have to be expensive. You will find everything from luxury hotels to backpacker hostels.

What To Pack For Angkor Wat

One of the facts about Angkor Wat that you need to realize is that while there are a few interspaced local vendors in the complex, there isn’t really a chance to buy any stuff should you need it. So what should you pack and take with you?

Carry Water And Food

There are a number of places where you can catch a quick bite to eat in the complex. A number of locals also sit around and sell bottles of water (at a price higher than outside ofcourse). There are however limited options when it comes to food and no options when it comes to refilling your water bottles.

Mosquito Repellent

Depending on which time of the year you decide to visit, mosquitoes could pose a problem. During our time there, we only had a problem towards the later evening. That being said, we did visit during the dry season and I assume like the rest of south east Asia, the rains would bring them in higher numbers.

Sunscreen And Sunglasses

Remember when I talked about the sun and how hot it could be? Well even if you choose to visit the monuments by tuk tuk, one of the facts about Angkor Wat that you need to consider is the fact that it is really really hot and you will walk in the sun. There is no helping it. So make sure that you travel prepared. Carry some sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses with you.

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