14TH TA KEO

Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, son of Rajendravarman - Jayavarman V built Ta Keo as the state temple, he was also the person who had built the Pre Rup temple. Jayavarman V succeeded his father when he was 10 years old, in 968 AD. He began the construction of his state temple when he was aged 17. Legend told that the temple was struck by lightning during the construction and all work was abandoned at a stage where the main structure was complete but no external carvings had been added. Ta Keo is unique as it is made of green sandstone versus the deeper brown or grayish color of other temples at Angkor. Climbing to the top of the temple is very steep, but it is very worth to view it.

Ta Keo is just around 30 minutes drive from Siem Reap. The only problem of this temple visit is the very steep rocks and large steps that kids are hard to reach. 

13TH BANTEAY KDEI

It is known as this mysterious of temple. Banteay Kdei was a Buddhist monastery as hundreds of Buddha statues have been excavated from the site. The temple was constructed in the 12th century, at the same time as the Ta Prohm temple. Its design is quite similar to Ta Prohm and Preah Khan, but it is less complex and smaller in scale. After the fall of of the Khmer empire, it still neglected and covered with vegetation for many centuries.

Banteay Kdei temple is not too far from Ta Keo temple and its beauty make it in the list of best places to visit in Siem Reap Cambodia but this temple is not yet touched my mass tourism.

12TH PRE RUP

Another half hour drive leading you to Pre Rup temple which has three central spires; it looks like a mini Angkor Wat. Pre Rup was constructed as the state by king Rajendravarman in 961 and was dedicated to Shiva. After the capital was returned to Angkor from Koh Ker after a period of political upheaval, it was the second temple built. Pre Rup is made of gray sandstone, which is a less durable material than the pink sandstone of some of the other temples at Angkor. But it is still perfect in size and structure.

11TH PREAH KHAN

The temple of Preah Kahn is one of the largest complexes at Angkor.  Preah Khan has been left largely untouched, with numerous trees growing among the ruins. King Jayavarman VII built Preah Khan and used it as his temporary residence while Angkor Thom was being built. Preah Khan is both a Buddhist and Hindu temple.

10TH PHNOM BAKHENG

Near one of the famous Angkor Thom, Phnom Bakheng is dedicated to Shiva and is a Hindu temple in the form of a temple mountain. It was built at the end of the 9th century, during the reign of King Yasovarman. It was the architectural point of a new capital - Yasodharapura. Phnom Bakheng faces east and was built in a pyramid of six floors. Only a few of the towers still exist now. The temple is located on top of a hill.  It is an attractive destination for the gorgeous sunset views.

9TH BANTEAY SREI

Banteay Srei is located far from the main group of temples with 01 hour drive from Siem Reap.  It is one of the smallest places at Angkor. Because of its beautiful carvings, it is very famous with tourists and considered a jewel of Khmer art.

Banteay Srei is constructed in AD 967 AD. It is a unique big temple at Angkor not commissioned by any king but by a Brahmin named Yajnavaraha. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is the modern name of the temple. It means “Citadel of the Women”. Its original name is Tribhuvanamaheśvara. It means "the great lord of the threefold world”.

8TH TONLE SAP LAKE

Tonle Sap lake is another Places to visit in Siem Reap as the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia expanding and shrinking dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia’s dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year’s heavy rains begin in June, the flow of the Tonlé Sap changes directions and an enormous lake forms. Tonlé Sap is home to many Cambodian ethnic groups and numerous Cham communities, living in floating villages around the lake.

7TH KOH KER TEMPLE

120 kilometers Northeast of Siem Reap, Koh Ker is a remote temple area which was the capital of the Khmer empire. In that time, some spectacular building and huge sculptures were constructed. Koh Ker is now one of Cambodia’s most remote and inaccessible temple as the new high way to it got finished.

Reaching to Koh Ker, you can get a Private Car Rental from Siem Reap to Koh Ker and also get a private Day Tour from Siem Reap to Koh Ker Temple.

6TH PREAH VIHEAR TEMPLE

About 2 hours extra drive from Koh Ker temple to Thailand border, tourists can visit the World heritage temple of Preah Vihear. The Preah temple is locked on top of a mountain with spectacular views and the meaningful buildings in the area will make your trip to Preah Vihear really well worth the length of 3,5 hours from Siem Reap.

5TH ANGKOR THOM

Angkor Thom is the last great capital of the Khmer empire. It took monumental to a whole new level.It was constructed as a reaction to the surprise sacking of Angkor by the Chams. King Jayavarman VII believed that his empire would never again be vulnerable at home.The city wall has a sanctuary tower at each corner and five entry gates; one per cardinal direction plus an additional eastern portal, the Victory Gate. Four huge faces topped the gates each feature a tower.  The south gate is The most fascinating way to enter Angkor Thom.

3RD TA PROHM

Ta Prohm is the most atmospheric and photogenic ruin at Angkor. The trees grow out of the ruins. Here visitors can experience an India Jones moment and feel like an early explorer. Ta Prohm equally reminds us of the awesome power of the jungle. The temple was built from 1186. It also was a Buddhist temple that dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. It was a home to more than 12500 people, includes 18 high priests and an additional 80,000 khmers who live in the surrounding villages. The temple contained gold, pearls and silks.  The temple was abandoned and swallowed up by the jungle after the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century.

2ND BAYON TEMPLE

The Bayon temple was constructed by 200 massive stone faces looking in all direction. With the curious smiling faces, many people think that It is probably a portrait of king Jayavarman VII himself or a combination of him and Buddha, are an instantly recognizable image of Angkor. The temple was built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII at the exact center of the royal city. It is a part of a massive expansion of his capital Angkor Thom. The Bayon was built as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Buddha.

1ST ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE

Angkor Wat is the most gorgeous and largest of all Angkor temples. The temple was built under the reign of king Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12 century. It was the pinnacle of Khmer architecture. The reliefs, including thousands of female dancers, are carved into the wall of the third enclosure of the temple. Angkor Wat gradually moved from a Hindu temple to a Theravada Buddhist one in the late 13th century.  After the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century, Angkor Wat remained a Buddhist shrine.

We do hope that the Best Places to Visit in Siem Reap Cambodia Listed above have well provided you the places to go to discover the country the best. Let's us be your local expert to inform you what is the best time to visit these places during your Siem Reap Package Tours and how you can travel with the best value.