Page 64 - Asia 2021 Catalog

whose capital is represented by what remains of Sambor Preikuk, and the new Kingdom of Angkor,
marking the beginning of the peak of Khmer power and art. Head towards the Angkor complex and see the
Prasat Kravan, the only example of a temple consisting of five towers in
a line, inside the central one it will be possible to admire one of the most
beautiful decorations dedicated to the divinity Visnu. In the afternoon a
visit to the fortified city of Angkor Thom is scheduled, passing through the
South Gate, and continuing towards the spectacular Bayon temple which,
with its more than two hundred enigmatic faces, represents the central
construction both in its location and in its conception. of the city itself. It is
a masterpiece with a surprising structure made up of 54 towers and which
presents splendid bas-reliefs representing daily life in the times of the
kingdoms of Angkor and in which more than ten thousand figures carved in stone have been counted. Then
you pass in front of the imposing Baphuon and continue to the pyramid-shaped temple linked to the legend
of the king and the snake, the Pimeanakas, then the area where the royal palace was located and ends
with the splendid Terraces of the Elephants and the Leper King.
Lunch in a local restaurant

Day 7 – Siem Reap.
Breakfast in Hotel.
Excursion to discover the Temple of Bantey Srey, or the citadel of women, famous for its splendid bas-
reliefs almost all carved in pink sandstone and according to many,
superior in delicacy and precision even to those found inside Angkor
Wat. The temple is located about 40 km from Siem Reap and is
reached among enchanting landscapes characterized by rice fields
and villages. We return to Siem Reap passing through the Temple
of Bantey Samre, so named in honor of the legend of the farmer
who became king. In the afternoon, visit part of the Grand Circuit of
Angkor, starting with the vast and majestic temple of Prae Khan,
also known as the temple of the Holy Sword, which served as a
religious, cultural center and, for a period, also as a royal residence.
At the time of its maximum development, more than ten thousand
people resided there, including many of the important teachers and the corps de ballet of the Apsara, the
celestial dancers. We continue with the Neak Pean, the only circular structure in memory of a mythical lake
from which the four rivers of Hindu mythology arise. At the time it was used as a place of purification through
the waters. Then we head towards one of the most suggestive and romantic temples, the Ta Phrom, totally
immersed in the jungle and deliberately left in the conditions in which it was found by French archaeologists
around 1860, partially covered by vegetation, with the roots of centuries-old trees that magically wrap the
sculptures and the stone blocks of the galleries, signing a union between history and the bursting force of
nature itself.
Lunch in a local restaurant and free dinner. Overnight.

Day 8 – Siem Reap .
Breakfast in hotel.
Part of the morning dedicated to Angkor Wat, the masterpiece of all Khmer art, the most famous and
impressive temple, considered one of the wonders of the world. It is a
structure that dazzles in its spectacularity, an example of extraordinary
architectural wisdom, decorated with extremely refined sculptures and
bas-reliefs, through which the main scenes of Indian epics are
masterfully described. Departure for the visit of the National Museum
of Angkor is the one and only museum of international standard in Siem
Reap that enhances the cultural heritage of the Khmer golden period
through a collection of priceless artefacts and technologically advanced
multimedia exhibitions that lead to a full and immediate understanding. The museum is an important place
of inspiration, art, culture and history of the legendary ancient Khmer civilization.

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