Beng Mealea or Bung Mealea (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា, its name means "lotus pond") is a temple in the Angkor Wat style located 40 km east of the main group of temples at Angkor, Cambodia, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay.
The Temple
It was built as a Hindu temple, but there are some carvings depicting buddhist motifs.Its primary material is sandstone and it is largely unrestored, with trees and thick brush thriving amidst its towers and courtyards and many of its stones lying in great heaps. For years it was difficult to reach, but a road recently built to the temple complex of Koh Ker passes Beng Mealea and more visitors are coming to the site, as it is 77 km from Siem Reap by road.
The history of the temple is unknown and it can be dated only by its architectural style, identical to Angkor Wat, so scholars assumed it was built during the reign of king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Smaller in size than Angkor Wat, the king's main monument, Beng Mealea nonetheless ranks among the Khmer empire's larger temples: the gallery which forms the outer enclosure of the temple is 181 m by 152 m. It was the center of a town, surrounded by a moat 1025 m by 875 m large and 45 m wide.
Beng Mealea is oriented toward the east, but has entranceways from the other three cardinal directions. The basic layout is three enclosing galleries around a central sanctuary, collapsed at present. The enclosures are tied with "cruciform cloisters", like Angkor Wat. Structures known as libraries lie to the right and left of the avenue that leads in from the east. There is extensive carving of scenes from Hindu mythology, including the Churning of the Sea of Milk and Vishnu being borne by the bird god Garuda. Causeways have long balustrades formed by bodies of the seven-headed Naga serpent.
It was built mostly of sandstone: Beng Mealea is only 7 km far from the angkorian sandstone quarries of Phnom Kulen, as the crow flies. Presumably sandstone blocks used for Angkor were transported along artificial water canals and passed from here. Despite of lack of information, the quality of architecture and decorations has drawn the attention of French scholars just from its discovery.
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| Kampong Phluk |
Kampong Phluk is a commune and village in Siem Reap Province in northern-central Cambodia. It is a floating village on the Tonle Sap. The name means "Harbor of the Tusks".
The houses of Kompong Phluk are built on top of wooden poles and stilts between six and eight meters high and tower over the boats moored along the river, which snakes through the village before heading out into the Tonle Sap lake. During the dry season when the lake is low, the buildings in the villages seem to soar atop their 6-meter stilts exposed by the lack of water. At this time of year many of the villagers move out onto the lake and build temporary houses. In the wet season when water level rises, the villagers move back to their permanent houses on the floodplain, the stilts now hidden under the water.
Tonle Sap Lake, upon which the village of Kampong Phluk floats, exhibits a unique hydrologic phenomenon during the wet season - the river reverses direction, filling the lake instead of draining it. The engine of this phenomenon is the Mekong River, which becomes bloated with snow melt and runoff from the monsoon rains in the wet season. The swollen Mekong backs up into the Tonle Sap River expanding the surface area of lake more than five-fold, inundating the surrounding forested floodplain and supporting an extraordinarily rich and diverse eco-system.
In the wet season, the Tonle Sap Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, swelling to an expansive 12,000 square km. More than 100 varieties of waterbirds including several threatened and endangered species, over 200 species of fish, as well as crocodiles, turtles, macaques, otter and other wildlife inhabit the inundated mangrove forests. The Lake is also an important commercial resource, providing more than half of the fish consumed in Cambodia.
During the dry half of the year the Lake shrinks to as small as 2500 square km, draining into the Tonle Sap River, which meanders southeast, eventually merging with the Mekong River.
As one might expect, the focus for most visitors to Siem Reap are the ancient temples of Angkor, visiting the great Tonle Sap Lake, and other daytime activities. But to think that there is not much to do after dark, would be wrong. After all, this is a tourist town. The liveliest areas in Siem Reap after dark are Pub Street, the
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| Siem Reap Nightlife |
Old Market area, the alley and lane off Pub Street, and the Night Market area. Most venues are frequented by either tourists or expats, but some establishments attract both types of customers. Closing times vary widely, and range from about 12 midnight for those places that are restaurant-bar combinations, to the early hours of the morning for hardcore bars.
No matter what your taste, for both drinking and dining, there are many venues to choose from for a fun evening out. While the nightlife in Siem Reap doesn’t even come close to that of Thailand, or even Phnom Penh, you should be able to find what you are looking for. From intimate and stylish places for a quiet cocktail, to Khmer disco type paces with very loud music, to bars with very attentive ladies, there is something for everyone. See below for a few venues we have reviewed for you.
The Bars... Siem Reap’s nightlife stretches to near dawn these days with the bar scene coming to life around dusk and the last few pubs and clubs closing as late as 4AM. Nightlife venues are located across town but the center of the action is the Pub Street area where many of the most popular bars and clubs are clustered. Some of the best early evening happy hour deals can be found on Pub Street. The Pub Street area also has some of the latest running bars in town, including the Temple Club, Angkor What, Mikey’s and X-Bar. And if music is your thing, a growing number of bars in the Pub Street area offer semi-regular live music in the evenings, including The Warehouse opposite the Old Market, In Touch and Banana Leaf on Pub Street and X-Bar on Sivutha at the end of Pub Street.
The whole Angkor period spans for more than VI centuries, and more precisely from IX till XV century. During this period the Khmer empire reached its maximum splendor as one of the most powerful southeast asian kingdoms. In this period the whole area of Angkor was buit. We can consider Jayavarman II as the man that started everything. He define himself Devaraja (good king) and he established the Khmer empire in 802.
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| Angkor Wat Top View |
After him, Indravarman, a king considered by many of its time an usurper: we prefer to remember him for starting building the Baray, a complex irrigation system to bring waters in the area of Angkor. He also started to build the Bakong and the Preah Ko temples. His son Yasovarman went further in his father's project: he built the Phnom Bakheng and the Lolei temples, and with him, Angkor become the new capital of the kingdom. These two king further extent the Baray's system too.
Then the capital was moved to Koh Ker for a short period, under the kingdom of Jayavarman IV, an usurper, but after only 14 years Angkor become again the capital under Rajendravarman II. His son, Jayavarman V, was instead a great king, and with him the empire expanded to its maximum extent. Two wonderful temples, as Banteay Srei and Ta Keo were built.
After him, Udayaditavarman II built the pyramid of Baphuon and the western Mebon (we are now at the half of XI century), and here we are really close to the very peak of the Khmer civilization, two great king the left once forever their footstep in the history of this planet and they are Suryavarman II and Jayavarman II. The first king built Bang Melea but it also the one that built Angkor Wat. The second king has built Preach Khan, Ta Phrom and Angkor Thom.
As you will see with your eyes these last temple are traces of a high level civilization, with an exquisite taste for art. An enormous job that involved not only an army of thousands workers doing the hard job, building, moving rock and materials and so on. There was another parallel army of thousands of artists and artisans. Angkor Wat is also them. We will never know their names, or their faces, but what they left us fulfill our hearts with something magic. The walls of Angkor, they also speak about their lives, their customs, their salaries: Angkor was not only a religious place, but a capital crowded with a million people.
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| Angkor Wat Top View |
The great temples of Angkor Wat are situated in the province of Siem Reap. This area is considered the biggest temple complex of the world and revealed itself after being hidden in the Jungle for many years.
The whole area is about 400 km² that also includes the surrounding forest, so you will need good shoes to make it around that area by feet.
Never the less you can also visit the temple complex with a “remorque” motorbike which is a small motorbike where you can sit side by side in two behind the driver. This is a great way to visit the area as it is very cheap and the driver can tell you much about the temples and history. Taxi are available too, as well as motor and bikes for rent. For those who love to see from the top, you can rent an hot air balloon, or even an helicopter.
There are two ways to visit this area and still see the main attractions, the little circuit and the big circuit. The little circuit is 17 km and brings you to the main temples of Angkor. The big circuit takes 26 km and is an extension of the little one but continues on east side of the area.
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| Angkor Wat Top View |
To visit Angkor you have to pay quite a high entry fee, you have choice of three different passes which you can buy at the entrance boot. A one-day pass cost US 20 dollar, a three-day pass cost US 40 dollar and a one-week pass cost US 60 dollar. Remember to have a photo with you if you desire to buy a pass for more than one day.
There are more than a 100 temples in the whole area, more than you can see on your visit but the most famous ones you will discover during both circuits trough the temple area.
The highlights are:
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| Apsara |
This temple is 1,5 km² x 1,3km and built by Suryavarman ІІ and is considered the biggest Asian pyramid. It is 65m high and divided in several layers. The central part has on the four corners four towers in the shape of a lotus flower. This temple is the largest and most breathtaking temple of the whole complex. The most famous decorations of Angkor are the heavenly nymphs (Apsara), there are more of 300, each one is unique and in total we can group them in 30 different styles. The central temple complex is an 800 meters long bas-reliefs, includes the Battle of Kurukshetra, the Army of Suryavarman II, Heaven and Hell, Churning of the Ocean of Milk, Elephant Gate, Vishnu Conquers the Demons, Khrisna and the demon King, Battle of the Gods and the Demons and the Battle of Lanka.
Siem Reap the city of temples, it is absolutely one of the cities you want to go to in Asia. One of the place where u can fulfill ur wish to fell the unique cultures and heritages of the magnificent ancient time. Enjoying the beautiful temple with the beautiful sunset as a background in Siem Reap the city of temples. Thinking how people build this wonderful building. Here, adventures and leisure will be united, and u can enjoy the atmosphere of a wonderful tourism city with all the offered activities. There is not easy to find a better place if u want to sit down on a chair at one of many cafe in a humble but nice town. So, will you just let the other peoples tell you about, Siem Reap the city of temples.
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| Old Market |
Siem Reap is a name of a city in Cambodia, which is the capital city of Siem Reap province. Like the other parts of Asia u will get the tropical Atmosphere while walk on the land of Siem Reap the city of temples. Like other tourism city, you will find various people from many different countries enjoy their time here, like what you do to Siem Reap the city of temples.
The city tells the story of ancient Cambodian. Its meaning of name is victorious, refer to its victory on got the freedom from the enemy. Seam Reap will absolute give you freedom for your thirsty soul to drink victorious moment.
Siem Reap
Seam Reap it is a unique city. From just a small city in early nineteenth, it has been growing up to be one of the most growth city in Asia. Thanks to all the beautiful ancient building it has, especially the Angkor temples.
Siem Reap, The City of Temples
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| Market |
Well, if you doubt yourself to stand on this land, because of Pol Pot and his devilish story in Seam Reap, the truth is, it’s part of the adventures. He is not the lord anymore, it is absolutely a safe place, just like other cities in the world. But if you want to fell some creepy felling. There are some places will tells you stories about Pol Pot. It’s your choice.
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| Night market |
Well, there are some places you want to come in Siem Reap. Each has its own unique. Each will give you the felling and memories that you want to tell to your friend later. Or, your friend will tell you first in Seam Reap?
Angkor Wat, The first place everyone want to come to is Angkor Wat. A beautiful Hindus temple complex. A magnificent one. You will find these temple nowhere but at this place. Angkor Wat is a large complex of temples in Siem Reap the city of temples, match its name which mean “the city of temples. This home of Gods represent a mountain, where the Gods live. With beautiful lake around it, u cannot fell but amazed. Fell freely to fell like you are at Gods island surrounded by beautiful sea.
Banteay Samre, A beautiful Visnu Temple in Seam Reap, one of the Gods in Hindus. This temple will give you the felling of ancient time, the 12th century, when this temple was built. Located inside the Angkor Wat, it is one of your the favorite temples to visit Siem Reap the city of temples. It is beautiful and memorable.
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| Angkor Wat Temple |
Skyventure Microlights, What is beter than watch Angkor from the sky? With this service u will fly above the magnificent city. you deserve it. To watch Angkor wat from close range is great. But to watch them from the sky, the temples, this is the real adventure.
Pub Street, Here we are, at the walking on a street where culture and modern mix perfectly. You can fell the atmosphere of party night. Are you hungry, or want some drink? Let me take you to one of the cafes here. So, what you want? Beer? Traditional food, or France food maybe? But i suggest you to try Angkor beer at Siem Reap the city of temples. The local beer will bond your soul to this lively place, Siem Reap the city of temples.
