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Friday 5 August 2011

PLACE TO GO > ANCIENT HISTORY:

Angkor is glorious. The ancient capital of North-western Cambodia is now known for being one of the 7 Wonders of the World and its status as a UNESCO Heritage Site. It’s complex and intricate architecture is the obvious attraction for the ancient cities unique selling point. The reason for the capitals abandonment thousands of years ago, is down to the citizens fleeing the city after Thailand’s armies captured it for their own. This left much of the city to ruin, allowing nature to reclaim some of its land. Despite this, recent photography has shown us that the natural surroundings have only heightened the beauty of Angkor. Trees and vines entangled among doorways and towers create a mystical and mysterious fairytale grotto setting. 


Angkor Wat is the largest of the buildings and was originally Hindu Monetary, however, the gradual introduction of Buddhism replaced many of the Hindu shrines with Buddhist ones adding spiritual significance to the sites captivating history. One of the things that made me most interested in this area is its history. There is no definite evidence for the abandonment of the site, although most agree it is down to cultural clashes.  It is also fascinating to see, early forms of technology as the many reservoirs and canals that encircle Angkor act as irrigation and advanced water system. Not only this, but the influence of religion had a great influence on the actual construction of Angkor to represent the fives peaks of the holy mountain Mt. Meru for the residence of the gods. It is the largest sacred temple complex in the world dating back to the 8th century and is a definite must see before you die for me, rivalling the over hyped, contrastingly boring, Egyptian pyramids.

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