A week in Cambodia -11/18/2023-11/24/2023
| Day 1-
Phnom Penh Choeung Ek Genocidal Center Tuol Slen Museum City Tour Wat Phnom Phnom Penh at night |
Day 2-
Phnom Penh Cycling around the Mekong Island Koh Ohnha Tey Island |
Day 3-
Phnom Penh Royal Palace Sunset Cruise Dinner at Bistro Romano |
Day 4-
Siem Reap Arrival Downtown |
Day 5-
Siem Reap Pre Rup Temple Ta Som Temple Neak Poan Temple Preah Khan temple Preah Khan cont. Bantei Srei temple Banteay Samre temple |
Day 6-
Siem Reap Sunrise at Agnkor Wat Angkor Wat Angkor Wat Cont. Ta Prohm (tomb raider) Ta Prohm Cont. Victory Gate Angkor Thom Bayon Temple |
Day
7- Siem Reap Angkor National Musem |
Siam Reap-11/23/2023
Day 6- Victory Gate
Victory Gate is one of the five main gates leading to the ancient town of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmer Empire. Located on the eastern wall of Angkor, the gate is called "Victory Gate" because it was the gateway of triumph and was used by the king and his army to return after victorious battles.
Built-in the late 12th century under the reign of King
Jayavarman VII, the Victory Gate shares architectural features with the other
gates of Angkor Thom, the iconic face towers. These towers, bearing the serene
faces of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, symbolize the omnipresent watch of
the king over his empire.
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The entrance of the Victory Gate.
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We are now walking to the Victory gate.
Before getting to the gate there is a stone causeway that is lined with a grand Naga railing being pulled by 54 stone giants, Asuras and Devas, representing the constant tug of war between good and evil and the ‘Churning of the Sea of Milk’ from Hindu mythology. Unfortunately most of the heads of the Asuras and Devas were stolen.
Close up of the statue depicting the mythological 'Churning of the Ocean of Milk'.
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Naga statue on the left and on the right is one of the statue of the god pulling the Naga body in the mythological 'Churning of the Ocean of Milk'.
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The gate's entrance.
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A unique feature of the Victory Gate is the two sets of elephant carvings at
the base of the gate’s towers. These carvings add to the gate's grandeur and
are symbolic of the power and might of the Khmer Empire.
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Passing through the gate. On the right is a view of the Elephant carvings which you can see the legs of the elephants.
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Clover view of the Elephant carvings at the base of the gate.
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We are now climbing a bunch o rocks to get to the top for a better view of the south side of the tower.
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View of the face tower on the south side.
Giant trees framing the beautiful face tower.
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On the left you can see the moat and the causeway in the background.
Next...Angkor Thom