"We stand before it stunned. There's nothing else like this in the land."

Many visitors consider the Bayon to be a true rival of Angkor Wat. Located just a few kilometers from Angkor Wat, the Bayon is located in the exact geographical center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Built by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12^th/early 13^th centuries, the Bayon is a Buddhist temple, designed like a temple mountain in its grandiose scale. It has a distinctive architectural style, represented by the over 200 faces carved over 54 towers. These faces are supposed to signify the omnipresence of King Jayavarman VII.To view Photographs

Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, Cambodia

The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nagara' meaning 'holy city'. Wat is the Thai name for a temple. "The city which is a temple," Angkor Wat is a majestic monument, the world's largest religious construction in stone, and an architectural masterpiece. It was built by King Suryavarman II around 1113-1150 AD as a temple dedicated to Vishnu. The Khmers attribute the building to the divine architect Visvakarman. It occupies a rectangular area of 500 acres and is defined by a laterite enclosure wall that is surrounded by a moat, which is 200 metres wide. Estimated time for construction is 30 years. Kambuja is the Sanskrit name for Cambodia.

The Khmers adhered to the Indian belief that a temple must be built according to a mathematical system in order for it to function in harmony with the universe. Distances between certain architectural elements of the temple reflect numbers related to Indian mythology and cosmology.

We spent three afternoons visiting this magnificent monument, and still felt like coming for more. The sheer scale and plan of the monument makes it difficult to grasp: it's a series of elevated towers, covered galleries, chambers, courtyards on different levels, all linked by stairways. Angkor Wat represents the cosmic world, with the central tower symbolizing Mount Meru situated in the center of the universe. To view Photographs

Banteay Srei ("The citadel of the women") is renowned for its exquisite carvings. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built by King Rajendravarman II in the tenth century out of pinkish sandstone, the temple has been restored back to an amazing condition. One of the favorite sites in the region, the enchanting temple of Banteay Srei was called Isvarapura and is said to be the closest to Indian architecture than any other temple in Cambodia.To view Photographs

Preah Ko, Cambodia

Preah Ko (sacred bull) is a magnificently proportionate Hindu temple in a tranquil setting. Dedicated in the ninth century to Shiva, the temple has been restored to its original exquisiteness.To view Photographs

Preah Khan, the "sacred sword", was built in the 12^th century by Jayavarman VII as a monastery and center for learning. The complex houses Buddhist and Hindu (Lord Shiva + Lord Vishnu worship and dedicates one sector for ancestral worship, a common practice in South East Asia. It was built on a battle site where the Khmers finally defeated the Chams (another Hindu people from central Vietnam). The temple is kept as a partial ruin, deep in the Cambodian jungle, and is testimony to what havoc nature can wreak on even the grandest of man made structures. It is a series of buildings interconnected by passageways with four enclosure walls.To view Photographs