#2011ce

The compact, unique five tower temple on the outskirts of Angkor town Pre Rup is a prelude temple to Angkor Wat, and often mistaken for the world famous symbol of Angkor and the Kingdom of Cambodia. It was the state temple of King Rajendravarman II, built just south of East Mebon and 6 km east of Angkor Thom in 961CE. The king was one of the first true great kings of the Angkor Empire. He expanded the empire north to China, engulfing Laos and most of Thailand, and south into southern Viet Nam. Prasat Pre RupIt is built in mountain temple design with five towers, prangs, on top, reminiscent of the Mehru Mountain home of the hindu pantheon of gods. Inscription in the temple mentions that the five prangs were dedicated to Shiva (central tower and one of the surrounding towers), Vishnu, Parvati (the consort of Shiva) and Lakshmi (the consort of Vishnu). In front of the east entrance, it has three larges flower flanking on each side. On the top, you get some clean cut impressions of early mebon khmer style. But, you also get a fantastic outlook view of khmer angkor culture landscape and nature. The temple was built over 200 years before the largest five-tower temple complex in the world, and is often mistaken, or used as an alternative to illustrate Angkor Wat simply because it a compact version of the same design idea. And, it takes some time to get your head around how large the newer complex actually is. Pre Rup is still one of my favourite sights in Angkor Archeological park. https://www.renown-travel.com/cambodia/angkor/pre-rup.html #prasat #pre #rup #angkortemples #angkor #top5 #2011CE #red #sandstone #blue #rainyseason #world #culturalheritage (ved ប្រាសាទប្រែរូប- Pre Rub Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTcdhWsJDBo/?utm_medium=tumblr

Night at the moorish fortress The Alhambra fortress, "The red one" as its name translate, is a formidable building and part of the former royal palace. The larger palace complex stretches over most of the Sabika hill, an outcrop of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It gives a great outlook and easy defendable position for the Granada city and surroundings. Built in its current version in 1238CE after the fall of the Cordoba emirate to the north, its site had fortifications and buildings dating back centuries. The Nasrid emirate lasted until the newly unified Spanish kingdom conquered in the 1490s. It was the last moorish andalusian kingdom in Iberia. It was at this new Spanish royal court Christopher Columbus got his royal approval to go west with his 3 ships of prison inmates. And accidentally rediscover the American continent for Europe. Alhambra fall into disrepair after the Spanish reneissance. But it was saved by the birth of tourism. After the french napoleonic campaigns, were Alhambra was part of the massive pointless destruction by the french in Spain, scientists and early tourist explorers told about the splendid palace in Sierra Nevada. The fortress, palace and surrounding medieval city got popular, was cleaned up and renovated and later added to the Unesco list of World Cultural Heritage. As a name, it is written and pronounced several ways:The Alhambra, [/ælˈhæmbrə/], Spanish: [aˈlambɾa]; Arabic: الْحَمْرَاء, romanized: Al-Ḥamrāʾ, pronounced [alħamˈraːʔ]. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra #nightphotography #architecture #moorish #medieval #castle #fortress #albayzin #village #2011CE #hill #worldculturalheritage #islam #art (at Granada La Alhambra Y El Albaicin) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbif1D9gj1v/?utm_medium=tumblr

This distanced group was grazing near ប្រាសាទប្រែរូប- Pre Rub Temple.

"Physical distancing, pre-covid-times" The Angkor Park is a significant cultural heritage over a large area, and as such basic human activity as farming and grazing still goes on inside the park. The animals plays an important role in keeping the jungle and vegetation at bay and the buildings accessible. They are also great photo props. UNesco in the early days of preserving World Cultural Heritage had this crazy idea that if a site was to be designated WCH-status, all normal human activity had to cease. Basicly, removing the culture from the cultural site. They did reconsider and changed this policy in the 1980s. The downside of to much farming and grazing combined with tourists activity is that the natural wildlife get forced out. One of the more interesting effect of the pandemic is that the effect has been reversed, according to later reports. That will give the Angkor experience more authentisity for visitors to come. https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/wildlife-returns-angkor-archaeological-park https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/consider-the-water-buffalo-landscape-management-around-angkor-wat #roadtrip #firstvisit #2011CE #cow #buffalo #herding #jungle #agriculture #angkor #culturalheritage #farmlife #countryside (ved ប្រាសាទប្រែរូប- Pre Rub Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUPzj18pIlw/?utm_medium=tumblr

Gold at the ed of the archway This golden statue greets you when enter Bayon from the Angkor Wat side. It is king JVII posed as a holy man. As most temples in this area, they are still sacred spots, and offerings and prayers are made regularly, and often visitors are invited to attend. No matter your own faith or life view, it is good manners to respect the local faith and tradition and pay respect. The khmer are among the nicest people on earth, and doing this opens hearts and minds to a really fascinating culture. And even outside the temples you should walk carefully. There are still cultural artifacts to be found. https://www.archaeology.org/news/8565-200402-cambodia-bayon-statues #Bayon #siemreap #2011CE #jayavarmanvii #buddhism #hinduism #siem #reap #statue #angkor #wat #angkorwat #archway #architecture #khmerbayon #culturalheritage (ved Bayon Temple ប្រាសាទបាយ័ន) https://www.instagram.com/p/BNe3kpJBabZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

Blending in with world cultural heritage grand architecture The inner galleries of Angkor Wat are important part of the structure, but if you wait until after the first crowd has left in the morning, it makes room for some silent contemplation. The Bakan is the inner structure of galleries, reached after walking up some steep steps. They are meant to remind the faithful that reaching truth or the gods needs some effort. The walls has bas reliefs of gods and apsara dancrrs, and altars for different deitys. In between the galleries there are open squares and bassins meant for water. Studying it while sitting down is a sensible thing to do. Angkor Wat was original a royal state temple built in honour of Vishnu in the early 12th Century CE, and as a tomb for the King Suryavarman II. As an usurper, he needed to show his right to the throne by building this enourmos religious building, still among the largest religious buildings in humans common cultural heritage. Later it was converted to a buddhist tempel and center of religious worship and learning, a "Wat". Angkor Wat represents two architectural styles for Hindu temples, the temple mountain as reminder of the 5 sacred Mehru mountains for the gods, and the later galleried temple. All inspired by indian architecture, but with distinct Angkor tradition and khmer engineering brilliance. https://curate.nd.edu/show/k3569309m84 #Bakan #worldculturalheritage #contemplate #2011CE #gallery #hinduism #buddhism #khmer #angkor #sightseeing #Siem Reap #siemreap #Siem #Reab #Cambodia #Kampuchea #asia (ved Angkor Wat Temple Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTXUaaSpWgY/?utm_medium=tumblr

A great gate to the great Angkor city; Angkor Thom by sunset There are four main gates into Angkor Thom, and when I visited first, the South gate was considered the best preserved. But extensive works has been done to the other gates to preserve and show more of this architectural marvel. The gates are placed in each cardinal direction, and in the crossroad from the gates is Bayon temple. It was built as part of Jayavarman VII general plan of his capital, with a fifth gate made for the royal palace to the east. This gate was the "Gate of victory". Thom means "big, large, great" in khmer. Angkor Thom plays on all these meanings as a royal city for a mighty king, and a city being the largest in the world in its time. In total, the great city covers 9 square kilometers. Outside the gates there are bridges over a moat about 40 meter wide, flanked by statues of gods and demons. After sunset, the old city is closed for visitors. Patrol cars seen here reminds the guests still inside to leave for the night, and enjoy the modern Siem Reap city and its comforts for the night. https://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/16/cambodia/angkor/angkor-thom-south-gate #tenyearsanniversary #firsttrip #2011CE #great #angkor #city #khmer #archeology #architecture #bluesky #sunset #worldculturalheritage (ved South Gate) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTSRMWTJJA_/?utm_medium=tumblr