Siem Reap, the Ancient City of Khmer Empire

Siem Reap is the former Capital of the Khmer kingdom from A.D. 802 until A.D. 1295, the ruins of the ancient city of Angkor, are one of the world’s greatest marvels. The “City of God-Kings,”. This province has changed to “Siem Reap” mean “Defeat of Siam” (Siam under occupied by Khmer Kingdom in the past period, now changed to Thailand in 1939), when Siem Kings (King Maha Chakkraphat in 1549) sent army to invaded Khmer kingdoms, according to oral tradition King Ang Chan (during 1516–1566).

Siem Reap well known as the popular of Angkor Wat, which a vast and mysterious complex of soaring towers, mysterious faces, and exquisite sculptures and was unknown to the outside world until French naturalist Henri Mouhot literally stumbled onto it in 1861. Although Angkor was abandoned for 600 years, the Khmers knew exactly where it was and had no wish to disturb the power of slumbering spirits. After Mahout made his discovery, archaeologists flocked here. With war and conflict after 1970, Angkor was once again often lost and more often damaged. Many temples were pillaged. Once the wars subsided tourists became the invaders. Today the sight is totally mobbed, but you might still find those quiet moments to contemplate the awesome eeriness of this amazing man-made wonder. The temple complex covers some 97 sq. km (60 sq. miles) and carries the remains of passageways, moats, temples, and palaces that represent centuries of building. Originally the stone would have been interspersed with wooden buildings and all the bustle of a living city. A millennium later what there was is gone, eaten by the fierce, humid jungle, and what remains is a magnificent stone skeleton. The temples are served by the nearby town of Siem Reap, some 6km (3 1/2 miles) to the south.

Tourism is a very important aspect of the economy of Siem Reap. The city has seen a massive increase in tourist trade in the couple of decades after the end of the Khmer Rouge period (1975-1979). A large number of hotels have sprung up in the city, these range from 5-star hotels and chic resorts to hundreds of budget guesthouses.

Most attraction place attracted tourists to visit Siem Reap are Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Banteay Srey, Phnom Kulen, and other Angkor ruins. There are also many shopping occasion as the Psar Chas, Night market, and there are also a number of western-styled pubs and bars catering to tourists such as PUB Street and Temple Club and Cheer Bar, all of these places you can enjoy night life in Siem Reap. The incrasingly to visit Siem Reap is on public holiday which Khmer New Year, Phnom Ben, Water Festival you may see crowd people. Especially New Year Eve, there are many local people and foreigners.

Nowadays, Siem Reap become a popular tourist destination that has a large number of hotels, resorts, restaurants and businesses closely related to tourism. This is much owed to its proximity to the Angkor temples, the best destinaiton and the most popular tourist attraction spot in Cambodia.