Cambodia and the Angkor

I had a week's trip to Singapore on work. While there, I made a quick weekend getaway to Cambodia to see the Angkor Wat. Here are a few pictures from the trip to Angkor.

[1]

[1 - The Angkor at a distance. A lovely walk through the moat to reach the complex ]

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[2,3 - Angkor is a Vishnu Temple. It has 3 levels. The first level has huge long halls (shown above) which have intricate carvings on Mahabahratha, Ramayana, Churning of the ocean episode from 'Kurma' Avatar of Vishnu and so on. The corridor shown above depicts the Churning of the Ocean of Milk to extract Nectar. The legend (shown above left) describes the churning of the Ocean episode, to the visitors.]

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[4,5 - The above picture (left) shows the steep climb one has to do to reach level 3. One climbs the stairs which is at 80 degree angle. It is almost vertical. Level 3 at the top contains the sanctum sanctorum. The logic given is that one has to put in effort to reach the divine abode (read : sanctum sanctorum). The picture (above right) is the view of the entrance from the top (Level 3) ]

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[6, 7 - The walls of the Angkor are carved with Apsaras (shown above). Apsaras are part of the Cambodian folklore and they represent the celestial dancers. The picture on the right is on the Lake Tonle Sap which has a floating village (villages comprising of people living in houseboats on the lake). This picture is of the sunset from one of the houseboats. ]

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[8,9,10 - This is the Bayon Temple, which is a Buddhist Temple. The most interesting aspect of this temple is that it has 59 'faces' carved on to the walls of the temple. The faces (in pic 10) Do look similar right? :) ]

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[11,12 - This is the Ta Brohm Temple. This has been ravaged my nature and discovered by 'explorer Ravi' (pic 12) :). This is the temple where the movie Tomb Raider was shot.