The was the main attraction of my visit to Siam Reap was to visit Ankor Wat temple.
The day started at 4.30am, with a short trip from the hotel to the temple site. I had to reach there pretty early to get a good spot to that get sunrise picture of the temple, reflecting on a small pool. My guide suggested that I wait outside the temple, neat the lake that surrounds the temple, so that I would be less crowded and get better reflection than on a small pool inside. However, nature had other plans for me. It was very windy and with water not still, reflection was not clear and the idea of sitting outside turned out to be a disaster. However, I got some sunrise pictures with the temple in silhouette.
Though Ankor Wat was built as a Vishnu temple, later it was converted to a Buddha temple. At the entrance, there is a big Vishnu statue, probably removed from the main area.
Once inside, the view was stunning. With sun on the foreground of the temple and carvings on the wall, it was a great feeling altogether.
This is the small pool where everyone get's their sunrise picture with reflection of the temple.
We walked towards east to get in to the main building.
After getting inside from east gate, there is one of the biggest carving of "Palazahi Madanam"
Another gate into the temple, there are different levels of the building , all of which had varying degree of degradation, before restoration work started.
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It was a steep climb to reach the top levels of the temple, where only king and other nobles were allowed.
This group of monks were on a visit to the temple.
Took my final round of pictures on my way back.
