Angkor was the historic capital city of the Khmer empire, which prevailed from the 9th to the 15th centuries and was headquartered there from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
It was considered a mega-city, and during the time it existed, it was home to nearly 0.1% of the total population of the whole planet.
The empire was established when Jayavarman II declared himself to be both the universal monarch and the god-king; it continued to exist until the late 14th century when the Ayutthayan suzerainty succeeded it.
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Description and History
Unrest in the city due to the Khmer uprising against the Siamese government drove the city’s citizens to relocate farther to the south, to the city of Longvek. It is the most religiously significant city ever, and it was situated in the region now known as Cambodia.
In this essay, we will examine some of the facets of the Angkor monuments, such as their history, tourism, uniqueness, and risks, as well as the conservation efforts that have been taken.
The city was home to more than a thousand different temples, the Angkor Wat and the Bayon temples standing out as the most well-known of the bunch.
Bayon Temple
This was the local temple for the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, and it was later remodeled by other Hindu and Theravada Buddhists to fulfill their respective religious demands. The temple was initially built for King Jayavarman VII.
The Japanese government has recently taken over the management and conservation of the temple, which has referred to it as the most arresting example of the baroque building utilized in Khmer.
Its most distinguishing feature is the plethora of calm and cheerful stone faces on the several towers that protrude from the top terrace and cluster around the park in the middle of it.
Travel and Tourism
These locations have rapidly developed into popular tourist destinations since the early 1990s. Angkor is the primary reason tourists come to Cambodia, accounting for fifty percent of all visitors.
The site recorded an attendance of over two million in 2014, up from half a million in 2004 and little more than fifty thousand in 1993.
The numbers increased since 1993 when they were slightly over fifty thousand. The vast majority of visitors are fascinated by the temples, and except for a few pieces of graffiti, they haven’t caused any harm to them.
The private company Sokimex that manages the site has installed some ropes and wooden steps to keep visitors from damaging the bas-reliefs and the flooring.
Uniqueness
The temple of Angkor Wat is one of a kind compared to the other nearby temples. Contrary to the other temples, which face east, this one is oriented toward the west. Because of this feature, particularly while the sun is setting, has an enhanced attractiveness.
To protect the significant cultural property housed at the location, UNESCO has taken steps to restrict commercial and mass tourism in partnership with the Cambodian government.
The Cambodian government has benefited monetarily from establishing high-standard accommodations, which has also contributed to creating these amenities.
Scenery, Sounds, and Sights Derived From the Natural Environment
Angkor Wat, the world’s most significant religious structure, was devoted to Vishnu rather than Shiva, contrary to most of the most frequent Hindu practices practiced during that period.
It was a work of architecture of the highest caliber, and the builders employed perfectly smooth and polished stones that were set without cement and had very tight seams that were nearly impossible to spot.
The temple’s interior is entirely curved, and every surface, including the gallery wall, features numerous pictures depicting scenes of religious significance.
There are over a thousand of these images on the gallery wall alone. The presence of bronze ornamentation at the temple is strongly suggested by the presence of holes in the walls.
Dangers to the Environment and Conservation
Tourism at these places has the potential to generate tremendous amounts of revenue for Cambodia; nevertheless, it also can create an amount of damage beyond repair to Cambodia’s physical and intangible cultural heritage components.
Some groups have gone above and beyond to educate communities on the significance of preserving monuments by ensuring that residents have a better understanding of the history of the place.
This allows locals to better match the preservation of intangible culture by upgrading monuments. A public investigation unit was established to measure the visitors expectations and conduct and establish policies. This was done in preparation for the launch of the public investigation unit.
Additionally, the promotion of the unknown sites falls under this body’s purview. However, a school of thought among academics maintains that the Hindu notion of kingship was weakened due to the Khmer Empire’s adoption of Mahayana Buddhism.
Natural calamities have seriously jeopardized the existence of the Angkor sites on several occasions.