Angkor Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples

This title features Foreword by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. It contains extensive accounts of all temples and pre-Angkor sites including Preah Vihear and the most recent restoration at Banteay Chhmar. It is written by an art historian steeped in the region's art and culture. It offers comprehensive background information on Khmer art, religion and cultural traditions. It covers unique flora and fauna around the Great Lake, Tonle Sap. It profiles the Phnom Penh National Museum and highlights of Cambodia's capital; and the hip town Siem Reap - the base for exploring Angkor. The great legacy of the ancient Khmer civilisation, the temples of Angkor cover an area of over 77 square miles in northwest Cambodia. These monuments, built between the ninth and 15th centuries - the classic period of Khmer art - are unrivalled in architectural greatness. They are, undoubtedly, one of the wonders of the world, astounding in their splendour and evoking a real sense of awe. This beautifully illustrated book contains background information on Khmer history, religious beliefs and legends depicted on the bas-reliefs, as well as descriptions of the architectural features. It also includes a monument-by-monument guide to the sites with detailed maps and plans, plus information about four temple complexes accessible by helicopter.