Explore a different destination UNESCO World Heritage Site Inner Sanctuary of Angkor Wat


  Angkor Travel Tips Asia World Budget Travel Guide World Greatest Sites UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tim the Traveler Homepage Compare Hotel Room Rates from different Booking Sites




The Inner Sanctuary of Angkor Wat lies at the very centre of Angkor Wat. Having made one full circle around Angkor Wat, let us now venture into the Inner Sanctuary. We begin from the Main Entrance again, and climbs the stairs in the semi-darkness to Angkor Wat's second level. This is the "cruciform cloisters", a Khmer architectural invention connecting the galleries of the first and second levels.

From here, we find the "Hall of a Thousand Buddhas", so called because of the many Buddha statues that were placed here by worshippers over the centuries, when Angkor Wat was a Theravada Buddhist pilgrimage site. Many were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge, and a good many are now in safekeeping by Angkor conservationists.



The cloisters leading to the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas.




Continue to climb the steps up to the enclosure of the second level, and we emerge at a massive courtyard. In the middle of it is the massif of the central towers of Angkor Wat.



The massif of the central towers.


From here on, the stairs going up to the innermost sanctuary is breakneck steep. If you are not surefooted, head to the stairs on the south side where there is an iron railing by the side to aid your climb. The climb is surely worthwhile, if you can make it, for the view is stupendous. You can see all the way to the outer gates of Angkor Wat, and even to Phnom Bakheng.

The innermost sanctuary consists of a continuous gallery that is 60 meters square. Four towers, called prasats, rise from each corner. The central prasat, towering 42 meters high, is connected to the rest by axial galleries. Within this "holiest of holies" are shrines whose usage has changed since the construction of Angkor Wat. Originally this innermost sanctuary housed a statue of Vishnu, but somewhere in the 14th or 15th Century, it was converted and now consists of four vestibules housing Buddhas.


The central tower, or prasat, of Angkor Wat. Note the erosion of the structure due to the inferior material used to construct it.


Return to Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site
Angkor Travel Tips or to Cambodia Travel Guide

Angkor Hotel Room Price Checker

Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?

The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!

Find a hotel https://alvi-prague.es Maquina laser de diodo. Maquinas láser diodo.

New York City
Bangkok
Amsterdam




My message introducing God to all the world: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO TIM




Bookmark and Share   Follow EarthDocumentary on Twitter

Tim's Travel Tips and globe logo are trademark and service mark of Timothy Tye. Copyright © 2008-2010 Timothy Tye. All Rights Reserved.
Angkor Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye. The information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. We disclaim responsible for its usage, and encourage users to recheck the information before their trip. Some photos are provided by Panoramio. Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners. They may only be used under the terms & conditions specified by Panoramio. Photographs that belong to Timothy Tye are copyrighted and may not be reused unless you first obtain permission. All of Tim's photographs are available for commercial use under the following licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs. To contact Tim, write to: