Tourist places in Siem Reap

Places to visit in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is an outdoor town due to the main attraction being the glorious Angkor Wat temples just to its north (and the whole reason you are coming to Siem Reap in the first place).

Siem Reap has ancient archaeological temples, Soothing River, delighting food and Rocking Night Life. Am sure, these are the places you will love to visit in Siem Reap. Won’t you! To visit the UNESCO heritage site, you will have to buy the tickets. And if you want to know the history in detailed then you may take a guide as well.

It is best to explore tourist places in Siem Reap on a tuk tuk. Timing for mostly all Angkor archaeological park is from 5 am – 6 pm.

1.  Angkor Wat

The symbol of Cambodia. It goes without saying to venture out to see the wonderful temples of Angkor. Angkor Wat is known as the biggest temple of Hindu or you can say largest religious monument in the world built in the 12th century by Khmer people working under Jayavarman II. Angkor Wat is preferred to go early morning at 5 am for the Sun rise.

5:30 am near lake in Angkor complex

2.   Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is a very huge walled complex with many a ranges of Temples. Each north, south, east, west gate is topped by four giant faces, and the bridges leading to the gates are lined with statues of gods and spirits. Its Main attraction being Bayon Temple is usually crowded. It has many towers with its walls and tops having huge smiling faces engraved on black stones.  Others are Temple of Baphuon and Phimeanakas is a three tier pyramid of sandstone construction and was the temple of the king, from its top western side the view is awesome; then Terrace of the Elephants which is a 350mt long and 2.5 mt high ornamental wall decorated with carved elephants and the Terrace of Leper King have great work done on its walls.

Bayon Temple

3.   Ta Prohm

The temple slowly being overcome by majestic tress. It gives you a feel of something hidden and ancient; In fact, in 2001 ‘Tomb Raider’ movie was filmed here. Few areas inside it was restricted to go, as currently restoration is going on and Indian government is supporting for it's restoration. It is good to go in afternoon as it’s half shaded by banyan trees around.

4.      Preah Khan

Is a temple dedicated to Buddha, Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. This place is huge, very quiet and peaceful. It was the centre of organisation , the temple is flat with rectangular galleries and outer wall holds carvings of Garudas holding nagas.

Astonishing Preah Khan

5.    Phnom Bakheng

It was built on 79 mt tall Bakheng Hill and the temple is topped by five main towers. It was converted from Hindu to Buddhist temple. It’s a hilltop complex famous for sunset view point. Go there before 4pm, as the top entry to temple is limited to 300 people at a time. Security Guards are there downstairs to keep a track and sends another person from down in que only after anyone comes back.

Hilltop Phnom Bakheng

6.   Ta Som

Is a smaller temple north east of Angkor Thom built at the end of 12th century and the king dedicated this temple to his father. It is enclosed by three laterite walls but as it’s left unrestored, leading to numerous trees growing  among the ruins.

Ta Som entrance

7.     Neak Pean

I loved this area’s surrounding, as this temple was surrounded by a lake, and in between goes the wooden pathway to a temple which is again surrounded by water. The name is derived from sculptures of Snakes and it was originally designed for medical purposes and kind of hospital built by Jayavarnam VII.

Walkway towards Neak Pean

8.     Pre Rup

Pre Rup is dedicated to Lord Shiva and means ” turn the body”, which reflects the belief among Cambodians that funerals were conducted here, with the ashes of the body being ritually rotated in different directions. It has 3 tiers, wherein the lower tier surrounded by 12 shrines and upper tier carries five lotus towers. It is aligned on the north- south axis with the East Mebon. East Mebon Is almost similar to Pre Rup and is a tenth century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Pre Rup

9.     Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is the 10th century Hindu temple. It is further away from the core complex (took around half an hour for us to reach there by tuk tuk), We liked the lake side big complex comprising of temples beautifully carved out of pink -tinged stone, there were many a shops, restaurants and boating facility in the complex.  Timing – 7:30 am – 5 pm.

 

Banteay Srei complex

10.   Beng Mealea

Do you wanna go out of the city! Then this is the place, 1 hour drive from the city and deep in the jungle. It is similar to Ta Phrom temple. It was built before Angkor wat. Timing – 7 am – 5: 30 pm. Separate entrance fee of 5$ is charged here, because it’s not covered under Angkor pass.

11.     Floating Village

Wooden houses are built on the long stilts to avoid getting soaked, you get to see the glimpse of fishermen’s lives. There’s an entrance fee.

12.   Night Market

We just loved walking through the night market. I literally walked down every night to find interesting stuffs in these lanes. You get beautiful artefacts like apsara statues, such beautiful hand painted paintings, junk jewelleries, handicrafts and Cambodian souvenirs. You need to bargain here to get a great deal.

13.   Pub Street

Enjoy Siem Reap bustling night life which has a series of bars, restaurants and Pubs. It’s packed with younger crowd looking for cheap booze. Many a places you get Angkor beer in less than a dollar.

Evening@ Pub Street

14.   Landmine Museum

A visit to landmine museum is a chance to know about the history, it is staffed by the victims and orphans of the mines. Timing – 7:30 am – 5:30 pm. Ticket price is 5$ per person and free for children below 10 yrs of age.

15.   Roluos Group

Roluos monuments comprise of Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko temples with a great lake nearby it and is a modern small town which is around 11km from south east of Siem Reap. There’s separate entry fee charges for this.

Many More

Wanna do more! Yes, you can, as Siem Reap offers many more things to do like:       

> Angkor National Musuem; 

> take a Hot Air Balloon Flight; 

> Hop on to a Jeep or Dirt Bike;

> Take a pottery class at Khmer Fine arts center;

> Join Cooking Classes; 

> See “Phare” The Cambodian Circus Show;

> Go ahead to do Zipline activities. ;

> Horseride in Siem Reap countryside.

> Go to Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary.

> If you are there on Saturday, then can attend Beatocello concert at 7pm.