Instagrammable places in Siem Reap
Some of the most impressive temples in all of Cambodia may be seen in the province capital of Siem Reap. It is a small group of villages along the Siem Reap river. It is a small town that leads to Angkor Wat, which is a world heritage site.
Although Angkor Wat is the main attraction for most visitors to Siem Reap and the surrounding area, there are many more beautiful sites in the area that are worth seeing as well.
1.Angkor Wat
Visitors to Cambodia must see Angkor Wat. Despite being erected in the 12th century, the temple is well preserved and makes a great photo backdrop.The famous Angkor Wat draws tourists to Siem Reap. This site attracts almost a million tourists annually. Angkor Wat is beautiful from every aspect and time.
It blends the two most important parts of Cambodian temple architecture—altars and corridors—into a highly organised and symmetrical group of buildings. There are more than 600 buildings that still stand. Angkor Temple, Thom, Bakheng, Ta Prohm, and Banteay Srei are notable.
As one of Cambodia’s top tourist attractions, Angkor Wat is bustling year-round. Therefore, be patient when searching for the perfect Instagram snap.
2.Ta Prohm
Because Angelina Jolie’s adventure film Tomb Raider, which was released in 2001, brought a lot of attention to this temple that nature has magnificently eaten up, Ta Prohm and Tomb Raider will be associated with each other for a long time to come.
The environment that encircled the lake was very stunning. The Tonle Sap is the largest lake in SouthEast Asia that is made up of freshwater. More than 3 million people get food from it.
3.Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei is near Phnom Kulen in Northeast Angkor Thom. This Angkor monument is unique and beautiful. Famous for its vibrant colors and superb reliefs. Known as the “Gem of Angkor Art”. The “women’s castle” Banteay Srei was built and sculpted by women.
The Central Tower and vast library have many statues. It has reliefs, complicated shapes, and soft lines on its walls, columns, and other architectural surfaces. Most of the Angkor temples were built with green limestone, but Banteay Srei was made with red Khmer clay, which is very colorful and keeps the carvings in place.
4.Tonle Sap Lake
Tonle Sap Lake is one of the most well-known bodies of freshwater in Southeast Asia. The Tonle Sap River provides a link between Phnom Penh and the Mekong. On the lake, there are several towns that float on water. They are known as “Vietnamese Floating Villages” because of the vast number of Vietnamese residents who call them home.
To see these urban areas, which consist of houses, churches, schools, and other buildings, take a boat ride on the lake. The sunsets across the lake in the evening are stunning.
5. Art Box Museum
On December 2, 2016, the 3D Art Museum in Siem Reap opened its doors to the public and began operating there. In the realm of stereo printing, it employs scientific technical painting and special paint to make flat images look active (3D), creating an exhibition that viewers experience and enjoy. It’s called the Trick Art Museum.
6.Angkor National Museum
Stone carvings, images of Buddha, multimedia images, and other works of art from over the Khmer dynasty’s history can be found on display in the Angkor National Museum. There is a lot of valuable and rare material here.
The museum’s roof is reminiscent of Angkor Wat’s old bell tower, adding to the building’s unusual outward shape. Angkor Wat served as an inspiration for the layout of the walkway, the gateway, and the window. There are also some modern parts that make it even more magnificent and amazing.
7.Prasat Beng Mealea
Beng Mealea, whose name means “Lotus Pond,” is a temple in Angkor that is both enigmatic and well hidden. The river flower pond next to the multi-headed snake monument on the gravel road in front of Beng Mealea is dry. Size-wise and architecturally, Beng Mealea is reminiscent of Angkor Wat.
Today, all that is left of the temple are broken pillars, walls that have fallen down, and other ruins. These are signs of war and earthquake damage. It is surrounded by jungle and seems to be in a steady state of change. Popular films and TV shows like Tomb Raider have been shot in this area.
8.Siem Reap Old Market area
People shouldn’t think of Siem Reap as just a stopover or a way to get to Angkor. It is a remarkable location that features a large number of people, activities, hotels, restaurants, and markets all in close proximity to one another. You should look around this town as much as the buildings themselves.
Final Thoughts
Seeing Angkor Wat and the other temples there is the main attraction in Siem Reap. Avoid the crowds at the popular temples by going during off-peak times (sunset is when most people decide to visit).
