Angkor Wat – Temples of Angkor

Few famous attractions around the world live up to the tourist hype behind them, but the magnificent Temples of Angkor – and specifically Angkor Wat – truly are an exception. When I first set foot on Angkor Wat back in 2008 my body was covered in goose bumps from the anticipation. Fast forward to 2013 and I’m visiting the temples again for the fourth time and I’m still just as blown away and in awe as I was back in 2008. This time around has been an even more of special experience because I’m enjoying them for the first time with Audrey Bergner.

As the largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat looms large as the focal point of the many temples of Angkor. Commisioned in the early 12th century by Tamil King Suryavarman, the Hindu temple was dedicated to Vishnu. The moat and outer wall of this gigantic temple comprise an impressive 3.6 kilometers!

For those exploring Angkor Wat, Cambodia it’s best to wake-up early for sunrise although you won’t be sharing this experience alone. An alternative to the classic ‘pond shot’ is to approach the temple from behind where you’ll get shots of the temple facing the sun as opposed to waiting for the sun to appear.

Photo Essay: Angkor Wat

Crowds of tourists flocking towards Angkor Wat through one of the many gates.

This is a photo of a Cambodian buddhist monk from 2011.

This is a photo of me from when I visited Angkor Wat back in 2011.

Visiting the temples with my girlfriend has made it even more special this time around.

Visiting the temples of Angkor is a family affair.

Think you’ll have Angkor Wat all to yourself? Think again! This is what it is like visiting in 2013 with the mass crowds.

I’m in awe of the level of detail and intricate carvings found here.

Horses and other animals wearing decorative masks are common place in Angkor Wat.

One can’t truly appreciate the true scale and size of Angkor Wat until witnessing it in person.

The sheer size of the Angkor Wat will blow your mind away.

When visiting Angkor wat it’s a great idea to wander around the peripheral areas.

The bas-relief carvings a fascinating aspect of Angkor Wat and many of the other temples of Angkor.

This stone cold smile reminds me of Bayon, Angkor Thom.

When visiting the temples you can use various vantage points and angles to capture some impressive photos.

As a travel photography tip try and find a unique way of capturing the temples. In this picture I used tree to frame this shot.

One of the many lion statues guarding the temples.

One of the many faces you’ll see when visiting Angkor Wat.

Travel Video: Angkor Wat

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This is a recent video I took while exploring Angkor Wat.  It’ll give you an appreciation of just how crowded it is in the morning.