The reclining lord Buddha

The temple complex Preah Ang Thom is worth a trip to Phnom Kulen/Kulen Mountains in itself. But a large experience within Ang Thom is the 8 meter long statue of a reclining Buddha.

It is the largest in Cambodia and among the 20 largest reclining Buddha-status in Asia. It rests on top of a sandstone formation, and the statue is carved out as part of that sandstone.

Meaning someone saw the Lord Buddha in the stone and carved until he was set free. The classics motivation in art works in any human civilisation.

A holy area
The surrounding Preah Ang Thom temple was built after the Buddha was carved. Getting to this site is easy by car from Siem Reap, and the area carries a lot of other excursion worthy sites.
This includes walking trails for the day trip trekker, a river with a thousand lingam carvings and holy waterfall. The conglomerate of holy sites on the Kulen Mountain was proposed as an official World Cultural Heritage site by Cambodia just when the pandemic started.

An approval of this request seems like a proper next step. This is the national mountains and cradle of Khmer imperial culture after all. Here the first god king of the Khmer Angkor Empire declared the establishment of the Empire in 802 CE, establishing an empire lasting for the next 630 years.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/07/somewhere-to-run-to-someone-is-eager-to-visit/

#Phnom #Kulen #Mountain #KulenMountain #Khmer #ភ្នំគូលែន #Phnum #Kulên #Lychee #Mountain #Preah #AngThom #Reclining #Buddha #classickhmer #angkor #siemreap #visitsiemreap #cambodia #dirttrack #backcountry #Apsara #ApsaraAuthority #siemreab #reclining #buddhism #stairs #statue #hinduism #cambodia #nationalpark #worldheritage #cultural #architecture #2018CE #classic #Phnom #Kulen #recliningBuddha #cultural #craddle #Kambuja #khmerempire #Ancient #art #ភ្នំគូលែន #Bluesky #Countryside #daytrip #mountainPagoda #roadtrip #Sculpture #southeastasia #visitcambodia #worldculturalheritage

Hunting red bananas in the woods

The red bananas from Kulen mountains are a treat and a sweet surprise. They are easily available visiting the sacred mountain and cradle of the Khmer civilization.

Along the hillside road to the Kulen sites, including Preah Ang Thom with Cambodia’s largest reclining buddha, the thousand lingams river and the waterfall in these holy mountains, there are market stalls. Here the locals are selling veggies and fruit, as well as food, drinks and miscellanies like flip flops, hats and krama scarf.

Chek!
These red bananas, “chek leak” in Khmer looks and taste great and is a must-have among the produce offered. The Chek Leak is a bit more expensive than the more ordinary bananas, chek, in Cambodia. Expect prices up to 5 USD a kilo.

For the banana lover, Cambodia is where to make out big time. There are at least 27 different chek/banana versions available in different sizes and colours, and they are often very inexpensive. They vary from the immediately snackable to the savoury plantain version best known for different cooked dishes in various cuisines around the globe.

You may even find a typical Cavendish banana in Cambodia, if that is your craving.

It all ads into the extensive list of fresh fruit easily available for people living or travel in the Kingdom of Wonder.

Open markets are affluent on the road to Kulen Mountain, attracting a lot of different customers. It is an hour-hour and a half drive from Siem Reap, depending on traffic.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/01/09/reclining-at-the-craddle-of-khmer-empire-3/

#Phnom #Kulen #Kulen #Mountain #KulenMountain #Khmer #ភ្នំគូលែន #Phnum #Kulên #Lychee #Mountain #Preah #AngThom #Reclining #Buddha #classickhmer #archivephoto #angkor #siemreap #visitsiemreap #cambodia #dirttrack #backcountry #greentourism #Apsara #ApsaraAuthority #greentourism #2019CE

Old, steep steps at Preah Vihear

After the long stone layered access road from the mountain temple gate in the north, there is a steep step to enter the first temple building/Gopura.

As interesting as the building itself, is the construction and the decoration on the stairs.

The main steps are large and old stone fitted together like they were during building a thousand years ago. For every 3rd step, there is a sidestep suitable for a person or some decorative item.

This steep entrance step is only for the first temple building. After that, the rest of the 6 main buildings and support libraries are spread out on a relatively level ground. Stretching south to the steep cliff, were you find a fantastic view to the north of Cambodia.

Cambodian World Cultural Heritage
The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during 250 years, starting over one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details.
It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2021/04/20/a-drop-of-colour-and-a-drop-of-water-a-good/

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

An intricate entrance gate at Preah Vihear

In the north of Cambodia, on the mountain range bordering the Kingdom in the north, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The details in the ornamentation on this temple is stunning. This gate to one of the four gopuras at this temple is an example.

The temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to the god Shiva. The top lintel is often dedicated to showing symbols and rites connected to Shiva, but in almost equal amount to Vishnu.
It tells about the details in the religious practice over the 250 years the Angkor Empire built this temple complex.

The doors “enfilade”/side areas are rich with scenes from Khmer, Veda and Hindu mythology – like churning of the sea of milk, Khrishna Govardhan.

There are several compositions that is repeating in different variations at Preah Vihear. One example is built around a central motif, almost always a head of kala or lion, which develops into a symmetrical decoration.

Cambodian World Cultural Heritage
The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built over a period of 250 year, starting over one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details.

Preah Vihear has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

A drop of colour and a drop of water

Dimensions, on a Khmer-girl scale.

A good thing with an assistant is to have someone to show the relative size of things.
Like my friend here, showing the size of one of the water basins before entering the first of the main temple constructions of Preah Vihear.
This fantastic mountain top temple complex is just another important part of Khmer cultural heritage to the world, forever for Cambodia to care and protect. It was added to the World Cultural Heritage list in 2008.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#preahvihear #water #well #Cambodia #seventemples #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #khmergirl #colorful #culturalheritageday #preahviheartemple #photoassistant #localgirl #khmer #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple

The sunset warmly lit temple by the icy blue pond

In the north of Cambodia, on the border mountain range to the large northeast Isaan-region of Thailand, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during a century one thousand years ago. Several god kings of the Khmer Empire added to the buildings and site details. It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

As a tourist attraction, the temple is a popular target for travellers with all the usual and some unique reasons. The location of the site, and the outlook of the surrounding area and landscape are truly special. The combination of several Angkor art and architectural styles into one complex is very interesting. It is localised on the top of a mountain range, with a view to both the core Cambodian lands to the south and the extended former Khmer empire now belonging to Thailand in the north.

It is a mountain temple, and the access is easy enough after you have paid someone with 4x4 to drive you up. Not wheelchair accessible, but seniors and other who are able to walk normally can visit easily.

#ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple #preahvihear #Cambodia #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #hinduism #angkor #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #water #well #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #colorful #colourful #culturalheritage #cambodia #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #PreahVihearTemple

The reclining lord Buddha @ Preah Ang Thom

This 8-meter-long statue of a reclining buddha is the largest in Cambodia and among the 10 largest in Asia.
It rests on top of a sandstone formation and the statue is carved out where it is. Meaning someone saw the buddha in the stone and carved until he was set free.
The surrounding Preah Ang Thom temple was built after the Buddha was carved.
Kulen Mountain was the place where the first Khmer prince declared the establishment of the Khmer Empire in 802. The Khmer prince Jayavarman II declared himself chakravartin (lit. 'universal ruler') and by that claimed imperium as a god king ruling an Empire.
The empire lasted for over 630 years.
Getting to this site is fast and easy from Siem Reap, and the area carries a lot of other excursion worthy sites, including trails for the day trip trekker.
The conglomerate of holy sites on the Kulen Mountain was proposed as an official World Cultural Heritage site by Cambodia just before the pandemic started. An approval of this request seems proper, this is the national mountains and cradle of Khmer culture and empire after all.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6460/

#recliningbuddha #buddha #PreahAngThom #phnomkulen #siemreap #cambodia #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019CE #buddhism #Preah #AngThom #holymountain #craddle #khmerempire #craddlekhmerempire

Sunset at Preah Enkosei Temple
ប្រាសាទព្រះឥន្រ្ទកោសីយ៍, Siem Reap.

It is regarded as the ancient Khmer temple closest to modern Siem Reap city centre. Preah Enkosei is between the modern Wat Enkosei and the necropolis of this pagoda and monastery area.

Preah Enkosei was built as a three tower Hindu temple appx 950CE. The entrance Gopura is flanked by small lion guardian statues. The Gopura have an anteroom with a lingam and is placed on the remains of a laterite wall running partly around the perimeter. There are two "library"-building remains flanking the gate on the inside.

The southern tower is marked by a platform only. There are discussions going on if it was ever built, never finished or for other reasons demolished before modern excavations started.

This temple is close to Siem Reap River, and it is an excellent target for an easy afternoon stroll along the river. It should take appx 30-35 minutes’ walk from Siem Reap city centre.

Or 10 minutes by bike.

Visitors do not need Angkor Pass, but this is still a functioning wat and pagoda area. Please act respectful entering this holy place of worship.

#Preah #Enkosai #Temple #PreahEnkosai #2022CE #ancient #angkor #Archeological #Park #angkortemples #Apsara #Authority #architecture #Asia #ប្រាសាទចាន់តាអួន #biking #bikingintheangkorwonderland #bluesky #buddhism #Cambodia #citylife #daytrip #Empire #greentourism #hinduism #history #imperial #J7 #JayavarmanVII #Kampuchea #khmerempire #kingdomofwonder #Temple #roadtrip #lionsculpture #SiemReab #SiemReap #southeastasia #ravel #visitcambodia #visitsiemreap #worldculturalheritage

Guarding the sacred mountain and national park

This range of kinnaris was guarding the entrance to Preah Monivong Bokor National Park (Khmer: ឧទ្យានជាតិព្រះមុនីវង្ស បូកគោ).
The kinnaris are the female counterpart of kinnaras in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Kinnaris have the head, torso, and arms of a woman and the wings, tail and feet of a swan. They are renowned for their dance, song and poetry, and are a traditional symbol of feminine beauty, grace and accomplishment.
In Cambodian art and literature more often than the male counterparts. They are commonly seen carved into support figurines for the columns of post-Angkorian architecture.
Preah Monivong Bokor National Park is a national park in southern Cambodia's Kampot Province. It is part of the Dâmrei Mountains, forming the southeastern parts of the Cardamom Mountains.
Most of the visitable part is over 1000 meter tall, including the tallest point of Phnom Bokor at 1081 meter.
The mountains have trek routes, a large protector statue, luxury resort hotel, an old colonial settlement and catholic church and the old summer residence of king Monivong.
In 2003, this National Park was designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnara

#halfbird #halfwoman #SoutheastAsia #Buddhist #mythology #kinnaris #swan. #dance #song #poetry #traditional #feminine #beauty #grace #accomplishment #Cambodian #art #literature #Preah #Monivong #NationalPark #Bokor #National #Park #Cambodia #Kampot #Province #ASEAN #Heritage #Park #DâmreiMountains #CardamomMountains #PhnomBokor #2019CE

A drop of colour and a drop of water

A good thing with an assistant is to have someone to show the scale of things.

Like my friend here, showing the size of one of the water basins before entering the first of the temple buildings of Preah Vihear.

This fantastic mountain top temple complex is just another important part of khmer heritage to the world, forever for Cambodia to care for and protect.
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1224/

#preahvihear #water #well #Cambodia #seventemples #worldculturalheritage #roadtrip #2019 #khmergirl #colorful #culturalheritageday #preahviheartemple #photoassistant #localgirl #khmer #Kampuchea #templevisit #buddhism #art #architecture #bluesky #isaan #sisaket #2019ce #ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ #Preah #Vihear #Temple