Angkor, Archaeological site in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.
Angkor is a sprawling archaeological site in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, featuring stone temples, water basins, and urban remains spread over a wide area. The complex includes more than a hundred individual temple structures in different states of repair, from partly overgrown ruins to well-defined constructions with towers and galleries.
The site developed from the ninth century onward as the center of the Khmer Empire and served as the seat of successive capitals until the fifteenth century. A gradual decline in population and a shift of political power led to the abandonment of most buildings and residential quarters over time.
The name comes from the Sanskrit word for city or capital and refers to its former role as the seat of power for successive rulers. Visitors today see the remains in the form of temple towers and reliefs showing scenes from daily life and religious practice of that era.
Paths run through the entire park, with some sections featuring stairs and uneven surfaces that can be tiring in heat and humidity. Most visitors rent bicycles or motorized scooters locally to move between more distant temples and save time.
Some temples carry inscriptions in old Khmer script on the walls that record royal donations and administrative matters. These texts offer insight into the organization of land, labor, and temple services during the height of the complex.
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