Cambodia’s recently troubled history seems overshadowed by the remnants of its ancient past. The violence that affected the region decades ago has given way to a hopeful population that aims to welcome visitors to the country and, at Angkor, show them some of most incredible historical gems you may ever see.
The Khmer temples of Angkor near Siem Reap are some of the most astonishing, incredible sights I’ve had the privilege of visiting. Yes, there are thousands of tourists that visit every day and yes, they do tend to dampen that feeling of wonder an exploration you might get from walking though centuries-old jungle ruins, but it’s all just so spectacular that you can either ignore them or forgive them.
Enormous, ancient Angkor Wat, overgrown, photogenic Ta Prohm, and the serene, enigmatic Bayon are all, of course, must-see locations, but there’s a host of other temples in the surrounding areas that all deserve a visit (unless you’re prone to temple overdose). Other favourites of mine included unique Bantey Srei and it’s more delicate features, Beng Mealea’s unexplored, Indiana Jones feeling, and Bakong with its school and monastery nearby that made for a great opportunity for me to meet and photograph some beautiful people.
01. Mist rises off the ground in front of the central structure of the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
02. A novice Buddhist monk at the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
03. The sun rises behind the central structure of the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
04. Novice Buddhist monks chat near one of the ponds in front of the central structure of Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
05. The central structure of Angkor Wat is reflected at dusk in Cambodia.
06. A novice Buddhist monk at the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
07. One of the libraries of Angkor Wat temple silhouetted against the sunset.
08. A novice Buddhist monk among the ruins of Phnom Bakheng, in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
09. Sunlight streams around the temple at Thommanon in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
10. One of the massive, serene stone faces at the temple of Bayon in Cambodia.
11. A Buddhist monk sits in a window at Banteay Kdei, a Buddhist temple in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
12. Stone faces at the temple of Bayon in Cambodia.
13. Tree roots cascade down the walls of the ancient Angkorian temple of Ta Prohm in Cambodia.
14. A panoramic view of a ruined courtyard in the temple of Ta Prohm, Cambodia. (Click for a larger image.)
15. Novice Buddhist monks at the temple of Ta Prohm in Cambodia.
16. A tree grows amid the ruined walls of the temple of Ta Prohm in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
17. The temple of Ta Prohm has been left mostly as it was found when discovered with the jungle mingling with the ruined structures.
18. Trees climb the walls of the temple of Ta Prohm in Angkor, Cambodia.
19. The red sandstone structures of Banteay Srei temple, also known as the Citadel of Women, near Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
20. A Cambodian woman sits at Banteay Srei temple near Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
21. Banteay Srei features elaborate decorative wall carvings in its red sandstone construction.
22. The Khmer temple mountain of Ta Keo, built out of sandstone in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
23. The sun sets on a boatman navigating the Tonle Sap lake and river system in Cambodia.
24. The Hindu temple of East Mebon in the Angkor region of Cambodia.
25. Elementary school students in a the schoolyard near the temple of Bakong in Cambodia.
26. A novice Buddhist monk stands in a doorway at Bakong Monastery outside Bakong temple near Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
27. An elementary school student in a the schoolyard near the temple of Bakong in Cambodia.
28. A novice Buddhist monk at the Bakong Monastery in Cambodia.
29. The ancient Khmer temple mountain of Bakong a part of the Roluos Group near Siem Reap, Cambodia.
30. A novice Buddhist monk at the Bakong Monastery in Cambodia.
31. A Buddhist monk displays his tattoos at the Bakong Monastery in Cambodia.
32. Novice Buddhist monks in their classroom at the Bakong Monastery in Cambodia.
33. A Buddhist nun at the Bakong Monastery in Cambodia.
34. Young boys playing together near Siem Reap, Cambodia.
35. A novice Buddhist monk in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
36. Young children playing together near Siem Reap, Cambodia.
37. Vines cover the ruined, unrestored Hindu temple of Beng Mealea in Cambodia.
38. Trees grow amid the unrestored Hindu temple of Beng Mealea in Cambodia.
39. The ruined Beng Mealea temple has been left unrestored and sees less tourist traffic due to its distance from Siem Reap.
40. Trees grow amid walls and windows of the unrestored Hindu temple of Beng Mealea in Cambodia.
Keywords: photos of cambodia, images of cambodia, pictures of cambodia, angkor, buddhist, hindu, buddhism, hinduism, khmer, landscape photography, travel photography, architectural photography, fine art prints, stock photography.
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Darby Sawchuk is a Canadian-born photographer who currently resides in Manchester, England. He has travelled to over 40 countries and is always adding more to the list. He creates stock for multiple agencies and is available for assignments.
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