A few sleepy options
Published/Last edited or updated: 31st July, 2017
The Angkor Archaeological Park is littered with hundreds of temples that are not on the hordes’ itineraries, where you can take time, and space, to wander, appreciate and enjoy the handiwork of the Khmer Empire—without huge crowds. Here are a few.
The path to Banteay Samre from the road comes from the north but you’re better to avoid the steps in front of you and turn east (left) in order to approach it from its proper direction. On the eastern side, you’ll find a long causeway and a cruciform terrace that is guarded by stone lions. It’s a lovely, tranquil spot and worth spending a moment before heading in through the gopura, or gateway. Inside you’ll find yourself within a small temple made of two laterite enclosure walls that surround the inner sanctuary. Unusually, the area between the outer and inner enclosure walls was once an internal moat. The stone work on the inner sandstone gopuras is gorgeous as well. Banteay Samre’s carvings depict scenes from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana, and are noted for being particularly fine as well as showing scenes not often found in ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 400 words.)
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Nicky Sullivan
Nicky Sullivan is an Irish freelance writer (and aspiring photographer). She has lived in England, Ireland, France, Spain and India, but decided that her tribe and heart are in Cambodia, where she has lived since 2007 despite repeated attempts to leave. She dreams of being as tough as Dervla Murphy, but fears there may be a long way to go. She can’t stand whisky for starters. She was a researcher, writer and coordinator for The Angkor Guidebook: Your Essential Companion to the Temples, now one of the best-selling guidebooks to the temples.
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