Things to See

The town of Siem Reap is synonymous with the Angkor Wat temples and it is the stop off point for those travelling to see them.

The Angkor Wat Complex lies north of town. The town is only about 5-10 kilometers away from the famous Angkor Wat temples, regarded as one of the forgotten wonders of the world, they are Cambodia’s most famous landmark. Consisting of five separate towers it was built as a place of worship to the Hindu God Vishnu.

Before Siem Reap was founded, the site where the town is today was occupied by a series of pagodas. From these places of worship a number of quaint villages were formed which eventually amalgamated to form the town which exists today.

If you have never been there before, then you will find that it is one of the most awesome places that you will ever see in your life, not only Angkor Wat but all of the other temples as well.

But there is more to this town than ancient temples. Nearby you can learn more about Cambodia’s ‘Khmer’ culture at the ‘Cambodia Cultural Village, stroll through gardens full of rare species of butterfly or wander from pagoda to pagoda.

The town of Siem Reap and the land around it are attractions in their own right. The markets such as the one at Psar Chaa and the local fish market are always fascinating. There is nothing more enjoyable than trying to bargain with the various stall owners. Only a few kilometers from the town are some of Cambodia’s most beautiful countryside. Bikes are the best way to get around it, just make sure you leave yourself a day to see as much of it as possible.

We arrange anything a tourist might need including tours, transport and information.

Cambodia Cultural Village
is two museums that exhibit the well-know persons of Cambodia since the century until the present such as queen, king, general army, ambassador, monk, ethnic minority, movie star, Apsara dance and the way of how Angkor Wat temple was built by ancient Khmer, Khmer lifestyle during the Angkorian period and the breath-taking human figures with various paints.

There are more than thirty wax statues that show about the development of Cambodian Cultural from the first century up to 20th century.
The construction of Cambodian Cultural Village (CCV) started in mid year of 2001, opened to the public in September 24, 2003, with total area of 210,000 meter-square, CCV assembles all the miniatures of famous historical buildings and structures, local customs and practices of all races. There are 11 unique villages, which represent different culture heritages and characteristics of 19 multi races. At each village, the tourists will be able to enjoy the excellent wood houses, carving, and soft skill in stone, traditional performances in the different style such as: Apsara Dancing, performance of ethnic minorities from Northeast of Cambodia, traditional wedding ceremony, Circus, Popular games, Peacock dancing, Acrobat, elephant’s shows, boxing, and more...

The Lotus and Royal Gardens
Psar Chaa (Old Market)
Cambodia Butterfly Garden

Siem Reap Local Tourist Attractions Want to experience the Chinese-style architecture, Apsara dance performances, craft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake? Your destination is Siem Reap. Along with the overall gait up of the city, there lay exclusively the Angkor temples which are regarded as the major Cambodian Tourist Attractions. The Angkor temples head the list; so far the points of interest in this Cambodian city are concerned. Here you will watch Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of the Elephants, Beng Melea and Aki Ra's Landmine Museum. Besides, Festivals & Events in Siem Reap are also considered as major participators regarding Siem Reap Tourist Attractions. Throughout the year, dwellers of this city enjoy different facades of life with several festivals. To name a few, one can mention Chaul Chnam (Khmer New Year) in Siem Reap, Angkor Photo Festival in Siem Reap and Angkor half Marathon in Siem Reap.

Siem Reap Tourist Attractions include Shopping in Siem Reap as well. At several malls and arcades you can have a glance of a wide range of items which you would like to buy for your near and dear ones. Moreover, Nightlife in Siem Reap reflected in Nightclubs and Bars in Siem Reap has also its own charm to draw tourists.

Moreover, what has to be mentioned regarding Siem Reap Tourist Attractions is the Popular Restaurants in Siem Reap which by virtue of their delicious dishes provide tasty refreshments to the discerning travelers busy in Sightseeing in Siem Reap. Enjoy your trip to this city!

Aki Ras Landmine Museum in Siem Reap
Approximately 4 km from the World Heritage ruins of Angkor Wat, Aki Ra’s Landmine Museum in Siem Reap is a must see spot in Siem Reap Tourist Attractions in Cambodia. May be that the Cambodian tourism boom feels a million miles away amidst this bumpy, unsealed road amongst a small, young rural community, however, without including this museum, Sightseeing in Siem Reap will not be completed.

Opened to the public in 1999, Aki Ra’s Landmine Museum in Siem Reap consists of a simple corrugated iron building, surrounded by a handful of roughly built sheds and open air sleeping and eating quarters. Mr. Aki Ra who is a 31 year old mine clearer is the founder and director of this museum. It is solely because of Aki Ra’s clearance of landmines that a local village of 500 has grown up around the museum site. Aki Ra has not only cleared the mines but also educated his neighbors on mine awareness, safety and first aid.

In this area you will find the techniques behind the manufacture, design and placement of landmines. Here you will be able to see the video footage taken by one of the English volunteers showing the subtle art of pointing and detonating the device that Aki Ra employs. Undoubtedly, this is heart-stopping exercise to watch, even on film.

We have a general idea regarding museum that it has to be associated with historical events of long past. However, here at Aki Ra’s Landmine Museum in Siem Reap you will experience a different thing. Here the displays are fresh and that precisely has been drawing visitors to this point of interest.

Apart from this beautiful piece of construction, Tourist Attractions in Siem Reap talk elaborately about Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap and Beng Melea in Siem Reap.

Bayon Temple in Siem Reap
Bayon Temple in Siem Reap is one of the must see spots in Siem Reap Tourist Attractions. This spot comes under Sightseeing in Siem Reap. Bayon Temple was constructed around 1190 AD by King Jayavarman VII. This Buddhist temple incorporating elements of Hindu cosmology represents the intersection of heaven and earth.

Bayon Temple in Siem Reap stands in the exact center of the walled city. Visiting this piece of sculpture you will see the stone faces of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. One of the faces is looking outward and keeping watch at each compass point. It is a magnificent smiling image which has drawn several interpretations regarding its resemblance.

Some think the smiling image represents Jayavarman himself. Some have termed it as the "Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia” because of its curious smile. There are 51 smaller towers surrounding Bayon, each with four faces of its own.

The walls surrounding Bayon Temple in Siem Reap feature an extraordinary collection of bas-relief scenes of legendary and historical events. More than 11,000 carved figures over 1.2 km of wall has been the undaunted attraction of this point of interest. Originally painted, these pictures have been faded now.

Here on the painted walls you will see images of The Chams on the run, Linga worship, A naval battle, Military procession, Civil war, The all-seeing king, Victory parade, A procession with the king carrying a bow, A Khmer circus, A land of plenty, Rivers teem with fish, The Chams retreat and The Chams enter Angkor.

Watching the temple you will find traces of Hinduism magnificently punched with Buddhism, one of the paintings on the wall depict worshippers bowing before a linga (Hindu phallic symbol associated with Shiva).

Apart from this, Siem Reap Travel Guide talks about other sightseeing spots in Siem Reap like Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap, Beng Melea in Siem Reap and Aki Ra's Landmine Museum in Siem Reap.

Beng Melea in Siem Reap
Beng Melea in Siem Reap is that exotic spot in this capital of Siem Reap province, without visiting which Sightseeing in Siem Reap will be an incomplete affair. Making a prominent place in Siem Reap Tourist Attractions in Cambodia, Beng Melea in Siem Reap is the site of a crumbling façade of stones of an undiscovered jungle temple. Being one of the largest ensembles in the Angkor region, the unique beauty of the Beng Melea seems to be born out of the timeless victory of verdant nature over man-made aspirations.

Kids will love to see it and be immediately drawn by the treasure-hunt-like feeling the site evokes. Beng Melea in Siem Reap is 60 km east of Siem Reap and that’s why often requires a day’s trip. The trip is arranged with a stop at the Roluos Group and another at Dom Dek, a local market that's worth a stop. The road becomes a dusty and bumpy one after you take north at the town after crossing the Roluos group till which the road is paved and smooth.

At the entry point the temple has three gallery walls. It is believed that the Angkor Wat's builder, Suryavarman supposedly put the Sanskrit inscription on the temple up in the 12th century. Enter just to the right of this focal entrance and eye at the relief images of the god of fire over the first door as you move toward the veranda by the first ramp. After this you will find an image of a three-headed elephant born of the mythical churning of the ocean of milk, according to the Hindu creation legend. From here, move on to the temple center. Enjoy clambering and rock hopping while moving towards the dark gallery.

Apart from this beautiful piece of construction, Tourist Attractions in Siem Reap will give elaborate information about Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap and Aki Ra's Landmine Museum in Siem Reap.

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Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap
Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap is one of the famous Siem Reap Tourist Attractions in Cambodia, which by virtue of its magnificence has succeeded in attracting travelers from different corners of the globe. Being one of the must see spots in Sightseeing in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Elephants actually represents an ancient Angkor ruin. Angkor temples are the exact points of interest for which travelers from all over the globe reach at this capital of Siem Reap Province in Cambodia.

Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap extends over 300 meters from the Baphuon to the Terrace of the Leper King. You can also view this from the main road that run along the north-south axis through Angkor Thom. As you pass the Bayon and Baphuon, this will come to your view.

Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap is two and a half meters high. This piece of sculpture reflects a magnificent blend of Hinduism and Buddhism. The structure is with its namesake reliefs of elephants. Besides, on the other side of the terrace you will find images of garudas (bird-men). In Hindu mythology, Garuda is associated with Lord Vishnu as His carrier.

From art’s point of view many think that Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap is more interesting than Terrace of the Leper King. However, each piece of work has its own charm and beauty, therefore, distinguishing in this way will not do.

Three main platforms and two smaller ones comprise Terrace of the Elephants. Here you will see three-headed elephant sculptures with lotus flowers in their trunks. Moreover, the central staircase is adorned with reliefs of lions and garudas supporting the stairway.

Siem Reap is tourist’s delight. Cambodia’s mystical, historical past may be preserved or half-preserved, but is nonetheless celebrated through its palaces, museums and temples. Know more about the Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap, Beng Melea in Siem Reap and Aki Ra's Landmine Museum in Siem Reap to appreciate the beauty of Siem Reap.

Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap There are several Siem Reap Tourist Attractions in Cambodia, which by virtue of their enigmatic beauty have been drawing travelers for years. Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap is one of the must see spots in Sightseeing in Siem Reap. This is one of the best Angkor's mysteries to be found at this capital of Siem Reap Province in Cambodia.

Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap has got its name from a small asexual statue. Mystery regarding the identity of this statue is another reason for which travelers from all over the globe flock at this place. According to one school of thought, this is the statue of the King Yasovarman who'd have died from the leprosy; and that’s why it is named as Terrace of the Leper King. Others think the statue is the depiction of Yama, the god of the deaths and the terrace would have been in fact a royal crematorium.

Magnificent examples of sculpture can be experienced over here. Works of sculpture can be found on the terrace. On a narrow and long trench those outstanding works are preserved well. These sculptures represent Apsara, geniuses and monsters, quantity of divinities, a surprising coolness and beauty. Apsara dance performances, by virtue of its magnificence have been one of the famous Tourist Attractions in Siem Reap. This bedecked stretchy corridor was totally restored. Every unsettled sculpture was resettled judiciously on the new walls.

Constructed at the beginning of the XIIIth century, the Terrace of the Leper King in Siem Reap in border of Jayavarman VIIth regal palace reached 350 m of length. It was certainly built to attend the spectacles given onto the big place. Besides, the recently restored elephants sculptured on a part of walls also gave their name to the place.

Siem Reap has much to offer the tourist looking for some ancient charm in a tourist destination. The Tourist Attractions in Siem Reap include the Bayon Temple in Siem Reap, Terrace of the Elephants in Siem Reap, Beng Melea in Siem Reap and Aki Ra's Landmine Museum in Siem Reap.

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