Cambodia: The Temples of Angkor

by Approach Guides, David Raezer, Jennifer Raezer

Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer civilization in central Cambodia, is one of the most magnificent historical sites in Southeast Asia. The structures at Angkor are highly synergistic, incorporating design elements from manifold sources. Given the resulting complexity of Angkor's sites, we developed this travel guide to help visitors fully appreciate their significance by providing a framework that

★ Understanding the historical context of the Khmer civilization;
★ Making connections and drawing comparisons among Angkor's individual sites;
★ Appreciating how the architecture at Angkor was influenced by Buddhist and Hindu religious architecture in other parts of the world.

With this goal in mind, this Approach Guide
★ A description of the characteristic elements of Khmer architecture.
★ Individual site reviews of the three most impactful temples at Angkor (including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon; and Banteay Srei); as part of each site, we provide information on its history, religious orientation, layout, characteristic architectural elements, historical and cross-cultural influences, and sculptural (relief) decoration.
★ A brief, but comprehensive history of the Khmer Empire.

We hope you enjoy what we believe is a totally unique cultural guide to some of the best sites at Angkor.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE
One of the benefits of eBooks is that we can easily update content and release new editions of our guidebooks. These updates are FREE for existing customers. Please visit for a list of recently updated guides and instructions on downloading the new version to your Nook.

Nook

First published February 3, 2011