Angkor Temples Under the Stars

angkor temples night photography

From time to time, we have requests about capturing the Milky Way or star trails in the temples of Angkor. Unfortunately due to the  archaeological  park’s  opening hours (most temples are only open between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm), night photography in the temples is quite difficult.
January and February are the most favorable months to take pictures of the temples under the stars.  Angkor Wat temple opens at 5 am therefore  it is  possible  to capture long exposure of the night sky. Of course you will not be able to do very long star trails and only several minutes long exposures. Like for any astrophotography,  you have to be aware of the phase of the moon as a full moon will disrupt your plan to get a starry sky.  Here are few night pictures below we capture in the temples of Angkor, we will update  this gallery from time to time with new shots.

 

 

Phnom Bakheng temple under a  full moon

Phnom Bakheng temple is a 10th century hilltop temple, very popular as it drawn thousands of visitors everyday for  sunset. Going there at sunrise  is a unique photography experience even with a full moon.

 

phnom bakheng temple stars angkor travel photography

Phnom Bakheng tower under the stars illuminated by a full moon

 

phnom bakheng temple full moon night angkor travel photography

Phnom Bakheng shrines under the full moon

 

Angkor Wat under the stars

Angkor Wat under the stars is  a  challenging capture as  your camera  will facing  east. Also, because the temple opens  at 5 am,   it is, for many months of the year,  already too late to capture the stars. Another challenge is coming for the light pollution from the  numerous LED torch used by the earliest visitor to navigate in the park at night. In the two pictures below you can see three of the five towers of  Angkor Wat illuminated by those LED’s. Despite all that, it is still possible to see stars above Angkor Wat temple just before the astronomical sunrise.

angkor wat photography tours night

Angkor Wat under thousand of stars

 

angkor wat photography tours night

Angkor Wat temple before sunrise under starry sky

 

angkor wat photography tours night

Angkor Wat temple before sunrise under starry sky

 

angkor wat photography tours night

Angkor Wat library under the stars

 

 

Bakong temple after sunset

In the picture below, the beautiful three-tiered Bakong temple mountain, built during the 10th century is in the  company of Jupiter and Venus in this rare planetary conjunction taken in October 2015.

venus jupiter conjunction Bakong temple

Bakong temple after sunset with Venus and Jupiter

 

 

Bayon temple under the moon full

 

 

bayon temple full moon

Bayon temple lit up by full moon

 

If you are looking for a photographic  challenge and want to capture Angkor under the stars we will be happy to assist you, please have a look at the many photography tours  we have at www.angkorphotographytours.com.

The First Photographs of the Temples of Angkor

mobile darkroom john thomson angkor
With the widespread use of digital cameras and the recent progress in smartphone photography, ten of thousands of pictures are taken everyday in  the temples of Angkor. We take the ability to take pictures  granted but often forget that the first photographs of the temples of  Angkor were taken more than 150 years ago!

Photographers back then  were using one of the first photographic process created called wet plate collodion. They had porters to carry their darkroom and chemicals as photographic plates needed to be developed on site. In top of that, access to  the temples of Angkor were very difficult as they were still covered by a dense jungle….

Two photographers were credited for successfully captured the first pictures of Angkor. The first one, was a  Scottish Photographer  named  John Thomson, who was 29 years old and  based in Singapore. He did an extensive photographic work during his two weeks spent  in Angkor in 1866. John Thomson was inspired to take this trip by the writings of Henri Mouhot in 1860. Beside Angkor Wat, Thomson took pictures of Angkor Thom and Bayon which were  covered by a dense jungle. It was only in 1911, that Jean Commaille lead an archeology mission from École française d’Extrême-Orient to clear up the trees in Bayon temple and started restorations.

Few months after John Thomson, Frenchman Emile Gsell, 28 years old, based in Saigon, brought  his darkroom to Angkor and captured more than 100 pictures. He returned later on in 1873 part of the famous expedition lead by Louis Delaporte. Gsell developed his glass plates on paper coated with albumen. The pictures of Thomson and Gsell are  today priceless documents as they put in perspective the massive restoration work accomplished  since the beginning of the 20th century in the temples of Angkor.

 


 

THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR |

EMILE GSELL

 

emile-gsell-bayon-1866 emile-gsell-angkor-wat-library-1866 emile-gsell-angkor-wat-corner emile-gsell-angkor-wat-1866-1873 gsell-west-gate-angkor-thom gsell-unidentified-temple gsell-statue-leper-king gsell-angkor-wat-corridors-1866 gsell-angkor-wat-aerial gsell-angkor-wat2 gsell-angkor-wat emile-gsell-bayon-temple-head-1966 emile-gsell-bayon-temple-1866

 

 

 

 


 

THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR | JOHN THOMSON

(Copyright Wellcome Library)

 

angkor-wat-bas-relief emile-gsell-angkor-wat-1866 thomson-terrace-elephants thomson-panoramic-angkor-wat-1866 thomson-leper-king-1866 thomson-bayon-yemple-1866 thomson-angkor-wat-naga-1866 thomson-angkor-wat-inside thomson-angkor-wat-door thomson-angkor-wat-devatas-1866 thomson-angkor-wat-corridor-1866 thomson-angkor-thom-south-gate central-gateway-western-entrance-angkor-wat-thomsonmobile darkroom john thomson angkor

 

 

 

12 Vintage Pictures of the Temples of Angkor

I rarely do black and white processing because I prefer seeing the unique tones of  sandstone, the building block of all Angkorian temples, as well as the different hues of lichen and moss growing on the stones. However on some photos, black and white effect can add an interesting dimension as they give a classic impression to the images similar to those photographs from the late 19th century towards the beginning of the 20th century captured by the first explorers of Angkor. This handpicked selection of Angkor temples photographs was processed using one of the vintage filters of Silver Efex Pro2 from Nik collection to add a dramatic and timeless dimension. These were taken in 2013 to 2016 in Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, and Beng Mealea temples as well as in Angkor Thom.

 

 

devata preah khan temple angkor photography

Hidden devata in Preah Khan temple

 

Devatas at Angkor Wat temple

Devatas at Angkor Wat temple

 

gate ta som temple angkor photography

Gopura at Ta Som temple

 

gate ta prohm temple angkor photography

Gate at Ta Prohm temple

 

angkor thom west gate angkor photography

One of the faces of Angkor Thom West gate

 

devata close up Ta Phrom angkor photography

Devata close up at Ta Prohm temple

 

beng mealea jungle temple photography

Beng Mealea the jungle temple

 

smiling face bayon temple angkor photography

Smiling face at Bayon temple

 

angkor wat temple photography

The majestic Angkor Wat temple

 

angkor thom gate photography

Angkor Thom east gate also known as gate of the dead

 

Vishnu statue angkor wat temple

Vishnu statue at Angkor Wat temple

 

ta prohm temple angkor photography

Ta Prohm temple

 

ta prohm temple tree photography

Ta Prohm temple with sprawling tree

 

Best Time to Visit Siem Reap and Take Photographs in Angkor Cambodia

Cambodia sits just about the equatorial zone where the weather is mostly warm to hot all year round. Just like all countries with tropical climates, there are only two seasons – the wet and the dry.

One of the recurring question among visitors and photographers is what is the best time to visit Siem Reap and Cambodia in general?

The dry season starts in October and ends in April and it usually lasts longer than the wet season. This is the time when scorching heat brought about by the northeast monsoon dries up the land turning the Cambodian countryside into spectacles of golden paddy fields and creating fine powdery white to tawny colored dusty dirt roads. There are cool months though, from November to January, which is also considered high season by many tour operators particularly in Siem Reap. Tourists flock the temples of Angkor at this time of the year as they make the most out of the cool weather without having to worry of being soaked in the rain.  Around the months of January and March, hazy skies can be observed giving the sun a fiery red ball effect, perfect for capturing stunning sunset  at the Angkor Thom moat as shown in the picture below.

 

sunset angkor thom photography tours

Red ball sun over Angkor Thom moat in March

On the other hand, wet season runs from May to September caused by the southwest monsoon. It tends to rain most days of the week, generally heavy downpours that usually last for a few hours. There are days when the rain is quite light but it continues all day long. Wet season in Cambodia means low season for tourism in Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. For tourists and photography enthusiasts, visiting during the wet season has its lovely perks. Aside from being less crowded, spectacular cloud formations and charming colors can be seen in the morning. The countryside looks more alive with lush foliage. The green scenery is quite striking amidst the drenched surroundings. The dusty dirt roads are now soggy mud pits and the meadows are flourishing with vegetation. The moats surrounding the temples are filled with water and there are pools of water everywhere ideal for taking reflection photos.

 

angkor wat temple causeway photography tours

Angkor Wat temple seen from the west causeway in September

 

Banteay Kdei temple photography tours

Banteay Kdei with green pond in October

 

Bayon temple reflection photography tours

Bayon temple at dusk with water reflection

 

 

Some temples are putting up their  green moss  robe during the monsoon season  as  in Preah Khan and Ta Prohm temples. You can see more pictures of the temples of Angkor during the green season on our blog Cambodia Green Season.

 

Buddha carving moss preah khan angkor photography tours

Buddha carving covered in moss in Preah Khan temple in October

 

Sandstone moss Ta Prohm photography tours

Numbered sandstone block covered with moss in Ta Prohm temple in September

Sunrise and sunset intervals also change during the seasons. In January, sun rises the latest at around 6:30am while in June, sun rises the earliest at around 5:30am. While the sun sets earliest in January normally around 5:30pm and not later than 6:00pm, it sets relatively late in June at around 6:30pm. Sun path also varies with the seasons. Angkor Wat in particular is exposed to a very different light in the months of June and December: standing on the central causeway you will see the sun rising on the right side or left side of the temple respectively. You can see below the dramatic change in light at the northern corridor.

Apsara carving angkor photography tours

Devata carvings in Angkor Wat corridor in December

 

Apsara carving angkor photography tours

Devata carvings in Angkor Wat corridor lit up by the sun  in June

 

Angkor Wat sunrise photography tours

Angkor Wat sunrise with temple reflection on the pond in October

 

 

Apart from the temples, the Cambodian countryside is changing drastically between the dry and the wet season with lotus and paddy fields  appearing and disappearing  from the landscape.

Paddy field siem reap photography tours

Farmer working on a paddy field in the Cambodian countryside in November

 

lotus flowers field

Lotus flowers  pond in August

Each season has its advantages and disadvantages, nevertheless, if you are a photography aficionado, any season is a good season to visit Siem Reap and capture the beauty of Angkor.

 

countryside siem reap Cambodia

Countryside landscape near Siem Reap Cambodia in September

To conclude, especially if you are a photographer, all year around is good to take pictures in Cambodia. 

 

If you are heading to Cambodia soon and you are wondering about the weather in Siem Reap, you can have look at the live siem reap weather map below.

Angkor Up Close

bas relief bayon temple angkor photography tours

Visiting the temples of Angkor can be overwhelming. The structures are quite massive that most tourists focus their attention solely in watching the breathtaking grandeur of the fortresses against the picturesque landscapes.  More often than not, the elaborate details of the temples are inevitably missed or neglected, for some reason.

But the beauty of Angkor is revealed on its exquisite elements: intricate carvings of Apsara dancers, Devatas, Buddhas, guardians and demons, bas-reliefs of battles or everyday life scenes. The minute details are actually the ones telling us fascinating stories of the bygone era.

Uncovering interesting details can be a challenge for most as quite a lot are hidden in the dark corners of the temples where only the curious dare go while others are covered with moss.

People who have visited Angkor temples for first time could not seem to get enough so they tend to come back for more.  Even if they have been to the temples several times, each visit is just as stimulating as the first time. Every visit is an opportunity to find something new and unique.

If you want to see the awe-inspiring intricacies of Angkor temples with your very own eyes,  please check our website at  www.angkorphotographytours.com to know more about our photography tours.  You might just spot an angel, on your lucky day.

 

 

 

sanskrit pillar angkor wat photography tours

Sanskrit writing on a pillar in Angkor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sanskrit writing angkor wat photography tours

Sanskrit writing in Prasat Kravan temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Intricate details of a pillar in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lintel close up koh ker angkor photography tours

Detail of a lintel in Koh Ker temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

demon carving in koh ker angkor photography tours

Detail of a demon carving in Koh Ker temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

demon carving in Banteay thom temple angkor photography tours

Demon carving in Banteay Thom temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

apsara carving Bayon temple angkor photography tours

Beautiful Apsara dancers carving at Bayon temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bas relief bayon temple angkor photography tours

Bas relief detail in Bayon temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aspsara dancers preah khan temple angkor photography tours

Apsara dancer carvings in Preah Khan temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

aspara hand banteay thom angkor photography tours

Detail of an aspara’s hand in Banteay Thom temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apsara feet Ta Prohm temple Angkor Photography Tours

Apsara feet close up in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buddha carving moss preah khan angkor photography tours

Buddha carving covered in moss in Preah Khan temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

bayon temple carving angkor photography tours

Carving in sandstone blocks in Bayon temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

carving preah khan angkor photography tours

Angel carving in Preah Khan temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apsaras and Devatas in the Temples of Angkor

apsara angkor wat

Apsaras are the ethereal, elegant and youthful beings dancing in celestial palaces while Devatas are beautiful standing young goddesses in elegant outfits. Images of Devatas and Apsaras are delicately carved in the  sandstone of many  Angkorian temples. If some of them did not stand the test of time and others were defaced (some of them can be seen in Preah Khan) many are still today beautifully preserved in Angkor Wat where about 1800 have been counted.

Apsaras and Devatas are fantastic photography subjects as they always look different in the direct sunlight of midday or the warmer light of sunrise and sunset. They can be seen in groups or alone so photographers can play with the depth of field to isolate one.

Pictures taken with wide or ultra wide angle also can give interesting perspectives as they come together in the frame even if far apart. In the first two photos below you can count 17 and 8 devatas respectively.

Close up shots reveal the intricate details and the true beauty of the carvings: devatas holding hands, touching their hairs,  smiling showing their teeth or holding a bird.

There are still so many interesting details of apsaras and devatas waiting to be uncovered. If you want to see more , check out www.angkorphotographytours.com and book a photo discovery tour with us.

 

Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple

Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple

Group of devatas in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas at sunrise in Angkor Wat temple

Devatas at sunrise in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas holding hands in Angkor Wat temple

Devatas holding hands in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Angkor Wat early morning

Devatas in Angkor Wat with early morning light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Angkor Wat with early morning light

Devatas in Angkor Wat with early morning light

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Angkor Wat corridor

Devatas in Angkor Wat corridor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Angkor Wat temple

Devatas in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Banteay Kdei temple

Devatas in Banteay Kdei temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

apsara angkor wat temple

Devata at sunrise at Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata in Angkor Wat temple

Devata in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Ta Prohm temple

Devatas in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata in Bayon temple

Devata in Bayon temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apsara dancers at Bayon temple

Apsara dancers at Bayon temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devatas in Ta Prohm temple

Devatas in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata behind crumbling stones in Preah Khan temple

Devata behind crumbling stones in Preah Khan temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata behind a tree in Ta Prohm temple

Devata behind a tree in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden Devata in Preah Khan temple

 

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata close up in Angkor Wat temple

Devata close up in Angkor Wat temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

Devata close up in Ta Prohm temple

Angkor Wat Documentary Videos

angkor wat documentary

Your flight ticket and hotel are booked and you are a now a few days away from your trip to Siem Reap.  Like many you probably did not have the time to read about the temples of Angkor. Do not worry!
To help you out, we compiled a list of the best Angkor Wat documentary videos  available online. Most of them are in English, some others in French only. If you have other movies to suggest or want to report broken links, please feel free to let us know.

 

THE KHMER EMPIRE: FALL OF THE  GOD KINGS (2020, Fall of Civilizations MMXX, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Complete (98 min)

fall of civilizations fall khmer empire

 

Combining footage from various sources: video stock agencies, digital work from Monash University, work from Chandara Ung of SensiLab, this documentary gives a very good overview about the rise and the fall of the Khmer Empire.

 

 

 

LOST WORLDS: CITY OF THE GOD KINGS (2002, Channel 4, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Complete (49 min)

city of the god kings documentary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This documentary gives a good overview about the history of the temples of Angkor. In this film, you will learn about the first images of the 1994’s Spaceborne Imaging Radar survey from NASA, the accounts of Zhou Daguan’s visit in Angkor in the 13th century, the first impressions of Henri Mouhot from 1860. Several leading archaeologists are interviewed and gave any interesting insights about their research on Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Phnom Kulen.

 

JUNGLE ATLANTIS BBC

(2014, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Part 1 (59 min) Part 2 (59 min)

jugle atlantis bbc, angkor wat lidar documentary

 

junglenatlantis

 

 

 

 

Jungle Atlantis by the BBC is about the latest findings from the LIDAR, a groundbreaking laser technology which gave archaeologists new insights about the temples, the sacred mountain of Phnom Kulen and revealed new archaeological sites hidden beneath the dense jungle.
In this documentary are also presented some new research evidences about the sophisticated Angkorian water irrigation system believed to be at the origin of the rise and fall of the Khmer Empire.

AUX SOURCES D’ANGKOR ARTE

(2015, Science Grand Format, in French) 5_stars

A documentary about the first capital of the Khmer Empire, Mahendraparvata,  and its discovery in 2000 by Jean-Baptiste Chevance on the top of Kulen mountain. The map of the ancient city is confirmed by the LIDAR survey of 2012.

Watch online: Complete (53 min)

ANGKOR REDECOUVERT ARTE

(2013, in French)

5_stars

Watch online: Complete (86 min)

 

angkor redecouverr arte,angkor documentaries

 

Angkor redécouvert is an  Angkor documentary about the latest  findings of the LIDAR project and some archaeological research led by French and German teams in the temples of Koh Ker. Also presented, the groundbreaking documentary work of the French explorer and artist Louis Delaporte, at the end of the 19th century.

 

ACCESS 360 WORLD HERITAGE ANGKOR WAT

(2013, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Complete (44 min)

access 360 world heritage angkor wat national geographic

A documentary about the LIDAR technology which helped scientists to get a better understanding of the layout of the city of Angkor Wat. A large part of the documentary is about the restoration and conservation efforts that took place in the temples over the years.

 

VISUALISING ANGKOR

(2009, MONASH UNIVERSITY, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Complete (3 min)

monash university angkor

 

An amazing short animation film produced by Monash University depicting the landscapes and daily life during the golden age of Angkor Wat.

 

 

 

ANGKOR THE LAND OF THE GODS

(2011 SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL, in English)

5_stars

Watch online: Part 1 (55 min) Part 2 (55 min)

angkor land gods

Angkor Wat documentary Land of Gods

 

 

 

 

The first part of this documentary focuses on the rise of the Khmer empire and the legacy of Suryavarman II: Angkor Wat temple. Is explained also the connection between the temples and the quarries in the Kulen mountain. The second part is about Jayavarman VII well known for his extensive temple building program. Also presented, the last findings about Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple. Both part feature beautifully designed 3D and movie sequences.

 

 

ANGKOR: LA CIVILISATION ENGLOUTIE

(2012, ARTE, in French)

5_stars

A documentary which highlights the works of the EFEO about the history of the consecutive capitals of the Khmer empire. New research is been presented about the temples of Beng Melea, Phnom Kulen, Preah Khan and the West Baray water reservoir. Presented also, the new archaeological evidences uncovered by the LIDAR technology.

Watch online: Complete (52 min)

 

 

A LA POURSUITE DES PILLEURS DE TEMPLES

(2016, ARTE, in French)

5_stars

 a la poursuite des pilleurs de temple arte, angkor wat documentary videos

A documentary about the controversial topic of antiquities trafficking and in particular about the looting of the statues of the statues of Koh Ker in Cambodia. Tess David a lawyer successfully executed a lawsuit against Sotheby’s for the sale of the unique statue of Duryodhana bondissant which was stolen in 1972 at  Prasat Chen  temple and which was part of a unique 3 dimensional Hindu  fighting scene composed of 9 statues.

Watch online: Complete (52 min)

 

 

ANCIENT MEGASTRUCTURES ANGKOR WAT

(2008, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, in English)

4_stars

This documentary focuses exclusively on the construction of Angkor Wat temple under the reign of Suryavarman II.

Watch online: Complete (47 min)

 

 

DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH ANGKOR WAT

(HISTORY CHANNEL, in English)

3_stars

A fast-paced documentary about Angkor Wat temple.

Watch online: Complete (45 min)

 

 

PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

If you are a passionate photographer who wants to get the best pictures of Angkor and wants to improve your photo skills you can join our Angkor Wat sunrise tour or our countryside tour. We run also photography tours in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Cambodian Monks in the Temples of Angkor

Monks, with their vivid-colored saffron robes, are interesting subjects for photographers as they provide a striking contrast against the sandstone of Angkor temples.

According to history, Buddhism in Cambodia dates back to the 5th century from a king in the Funan Dynasty. However, it was then that during the reign of King Jayavarman VII of the Angkor Empire when a certain type of Buddhism, called Mahayana Buddhism, was established. Then there was another form called the Theravada Buddhism that took over the former one after the death of King Jayavarman VII.

In the present days, about 95% of people in Cambodia practice Buddhism. Buddhist monks are also referred to as “bonzes”. There are two types of monks, the Novice and the Bhikkhu. Novices can be as young as 7 years old while Bhikku should be at least 20 years of age. Converting into a monk is a matter of personal choice but theoretically speaking based on religious rites and beliefs, Cambodian male above 16 years old should at least serve some terms as a monk. Though they are not compelled to serve as a monk for their entire life, others opt to take the vow and serve otherwise. They live in a simple lifestyle and they are normally prohibited from participating in activities outside their religious practices. However, there is a bit of gradual change in their traditional observance due to the fast-changing contemporary lifestyle influences.

At present, there are about 4000 monks in Cambodia, however it is not an exact figure as there are many Cambodian monks living in Thailand. This number was much higher not so long ago as most of Buddhist monks were murdered between 1975 and 1979 by the Pol Pot regime. In 1969, it was estimated that 53,000 monks and 49,000 novice monks were serving in more than 3,000 temples.

Monks can be spotted in temples and pagodas by the altars praying, some are walking thru the gates and corridors of Angkor Wat or in the maze of Bayon temple either alone or in groups, while others are interacting with ordinary people and tourists. Taking good pictures of monks in these conditions could however be challenging as good lighting and composition is often proved to be difficult.

We had an unexpected opportunity on the 19th and 20th of December 2015, to witness a ceremony with 4100 monks in the temples of Angkor. After the offering ceremony which took place at the Terrace of the Elephants, we met and chatted with some monks and were able to learn about their religious beliefs and observances.
Taking photos of monks from afar in their saffron robes is already enchanting. Being closer made it more a delightful encounter as one can see more intricate details like the position of their hands inside the robe, the elements of the robe, and the silver alms bowl inside the monk bag.

 

Novice monk Angkor Photography Tours

Novice monk in Angkor Wat temple

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Monk’s tatoo close-up

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Monk adjusting his robe with backlit light

 

novice cambodian monks in Angkor

Novice monks posing in Baphuon temple

 

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Novice monks walking towards Baphuon temple

 

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Two novice monks at Baphuon temple

 

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Monks entering the east side of Angkor Wat

 

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Novice monk during alms ceremony

 

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Little Khmer girl at the offering ceremony

 

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Receiving alms during the ceremony

 

Monk and his silver alm bowl

Monk and his silver alms bowl

 

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Novice monks near Bayon temple

 

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Monks in front of Bayon temple

 

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Group of monks in Bayon temple