Siem Reap (Cambodia, Angkor Wat-Thom)

Siem Reap City is a Siem Reap River (Mekong River) cruise port and the capital of Cambodia's Siem Reap Province. The city has population around 200,000 and is popular as a resort vacation destination and gateway to Angkor (Khmer Empire's capital in the period 9th-15th centuries).

Cruise ship tourists visit the Angkor temples via shore excursions/bus tours leaving roundtrip from Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is best-known among tourists for its colonial and Chinese-style architecture, museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, silk farms, handicraft shops, floating fishing villages, paddy fields in the countryside, Tonle Sap Lake. The city has numerous resorts, hotels and other tourism-related businesses. This industry is largely based on the proximity of the Angkor temples - Cambodia's main attraction.

All cruisetour itineraries between Siem Reap and Saigon (Vietnam's capital city) pass through Phnom Pehn (Cambodia's capital city) and cross through Tonle Sap Lake. Among the largest river cruise companies with ships homeported in Siem Reap are CroisiEurope, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Waterways, Scenic, Lindblad-National Geographic, Nicko-Mystic.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (Capital Temple) is a temple complex ranked as the world's largest religious monument. It measures 163 ha (402 acres / 1,3 km2) and was originally built as a Hindu temple (Rajavihara) dedicated to God Vishnu, but gradually transformed into the Buddhist temple now known as Ta Prohm.

Angkor Wat was built in the early-12th-century in Yasodharapura (present-day Angkor), as Khmer Empire's capital city, state temple and royal mausoleum. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west. This is Angkor's best-preserved temple and the symbol of Cambodia. It appears on the country's national flag and is Cambodia's top tourist attraction.

Banteay Srei/Srey (citadel of the women) is a late-10th-century built temple (originally named Tribhuvanamahesvara/great lord of the threefold world) dedicated to Shiva. Banteay Srey is located near Phnom Dei, approx 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Angkor.

Angkor Thom/Nokor Thom

Angkor Thom (aka Nokor Thom, meaning Big City or Great City) was the Khmer Empire's last capital and largest city, with population between 80-150,000 people.. Established in the late-12th-century, the city has land area approx 9 km2 / 3,5 mi2. At its center is the Bayon (main temple), while the other major temples are to the north (around Victory Square).

The city's last temple (Mangalartha) was constructed in the late-13th-century. In the following centuries, here were conducted only modifications to the existing buildings. After the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767) sacked Angkor Thom in 1431, the Khmers were forced to move their capital to Phnom Penh.

 Angkor Thom was completely abandoned by the early-17th-century