angkor


Above: Angkor Wat from S-E		Above: Angkor Wat from N-E

When buying the ticket for visiting the Angkor Area an extra bonus is included: The visitor is allowed to visit the site an hour before sunset the day before to give possibility to see the sun setting at a place free of choice. And the public really is interested in watching sunrises and sunsets at Angkor: Half an hour before sunrise the processional bridge crossing the Angkor Wat moat is jammed with people like on pilgrimage to photograph the rising sun from right inside the eastern gopura, unaware of that in late November the sun rises close to its southern extreme and south of the central towers.
		Above: Angkor Wat from Phnom Bakheng

The above sun-rise pictures were taken in tranquillity from outside the moat. It was not possible to move to a spot where the sun would be seen rising behind the central tower. That is only possible app. a month before and after the equinoxes.
		Above: Angkor Wat from a distance (animation).
The above animation, 'Angkor from a distance', will be turned into a real photo in 2005. The alignment has been calculated with only a certain accuracy but seems to have significant religious/ceremonial importance. Only observations will confirm. The solar event happens twice a year and the author will leave it to the reader of these pages to find out the date. When the photos are taken, they will be published here together with the dates - for the convenience of the general public to observe it in 2006... ~ ☼ ~

List of sites visited:

The author made a first visit to Seam Reap and the nearby Khmer temples in late November 2004 in order to conduct GPS-measurements and take photos for comparative studies in connection to his field-research of Khmer temples in NE-Thailand. The above listed temples were visited and will be described here when time given:

*Site*	*Era*	*Ruler*
Ak Yom	Beginning of 7th century	Various
Phnom Bakheng	Ultimo 9th century	Yasovarman I
Phnom Bok	Ultimo 9th century	Yasovarman I
Spean Thma	Beg. 10th century?	?
Baksei Chamkrong	Beg. 10th century	Harsavarman I
Eastern Mebon	952 AD	Rajendravarman II
Pre Rup	961 AD	Rajendravarman II
Sra Srang	10th and late 12th century	Rajendravarman II and Jayavarman VII
Banteay Srey	967 AD	Rajendravarman II
Takeo	Beg. 11th century	Jayavarman V
Khleangs	Beg. 11th century	Jayavarman V
Terraces des Elephant	Beg. 11th century	Suryavarman I
Baphuon	Mid 11th century	Udayadityavarman II
Prah Pithu	12th century	Suryavarman II
Banteay Samre	12th century	Suryavarman II
Chau Say Thevoda	12th century	Suryavarman II
Thommanon	12th century	Suryavarman II
Angkor Wat	12th century	Suryavarman II
Preah Khan	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
Ta Som	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
Neak Pean	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
Banteay Kdei	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
'Dharmasala no. Zero'	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
Bayon	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
Sour Prat towers	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII
'Buddha Terrace'	Ultimo 12th century	Jayavarman VII

Angkor Wat drawing by Delaporte

INDEX

9 December 2004

macsida@thai-isan-lao.com