Angkor Wat Sunrise: Experience the Magic of Angkor Wat Sunrise 365 Days a Year

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

 

🌅 Angkor Wat sunrise offers breathtaking beauty throughout the year, with each month providing a unique perspective.

⏰ Sunrise time at Angkor Wat varies from 5.30 am to 6.30 am.

🌄 Remarkable astronomical events occur during the equinoxes in March and September.

🎨 The colors of the sky at dawn are unpredictable, ranging from pale red to delicate pink or even blue.

📸 Photographers should arrive early to secure a spot, especially if using a tripod, and the best time for night photography is December and January.

☁️ The monsoon season adds dramatic and awe-inspiring skies.

📍 There are various vantage points to witness the sunrise at Angkor Wat, with reflecting ponds being the most sought-after location for stunning compositions.

If you are planning a trip to Cambodia, make sure to add Angkor Wat sunrise to your agenda. Photographers, in particular, won’t want to miss out on capturing the breathtaking beauty of this natural wonder throughout the year. Each month offers a unique perspective on this inspiring event, from clear skies and stunning red sunrises during the early months of the year, to the dramatic impact of the monsoon season, with rain clouds adding a mesmerizing depth to the photographs. Particularly in the months of March, April, and May, the sun appears as a massive red ball amidst the haze, perfect for capturing unforgettable images.

 

ANGKOR WAT SUNRISE TIME

Sunrise at Angkor Wat varies from about 5.30 am to 6.30 am depending of the time of the year. As Angkor Wat opens at 5 am all year around you can arrive sometime less than one hour before sunrise. This will have a lot of consequence on your pictures so if you want to get pictures of Angkor Wat at night, you should plan your trip accordingly.

 

 

 

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Enchanting Sunrise at Angkor Wat’s Reflection Pond (January 2016)

 

Angkor Wat Sunrise |  When the sun rises behind the temple

Two remarkable  astronomical events occur each year in March and September at Angkor Wat Temple, highlighting the ingenuity of its ancient architects. During the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the sun rises perfectly aligned with the base of Angkor temple and slowly rise just beside the  central tower, creating a stunning visual effect. This remarkable phenomenon is a testament to the advanced astronomical knowledge possessed by the architects  who built Angkor Wat 900 years ago

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Majestic Sunrise Behind Angkor Wat’s main Tower During the Spring Equinox  (March 2016)

 

 The Enchanting  Dance of the Sun During Sunrise

If you are standing at Angkor Wat facing east towards the rising sun in different seasons, you will notice that  the position of the sun changes dramatically throughout the year. During the month of December, the sun rises at the far right side of the temple (south), while in June, it rises at the far left (north). Additionally, during the periods around the two equinoxes of March and September, the sun rises behind the towers of Angkor, creating a breathtaking sight. This celestial dance offers photographers and visitors alike a chance to witness the majestic beauty of Angkor Wat in a variety of perspectives and lighting conditions throughout the year.

 

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Angkor Wat temple taken from central causeway just after the spring equinox (March 2022)

 

 

 

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Spectacular Sunburst behind Angkor Wat Temple silhouette (June 2015)

 

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Angkor Wat reflective pool after with the silhouettes few tourists (November 2017)

From Blue to Pink | Capturing the Ever-changing Hues of Angkor Wat Sunrise

 

At Angkor temple, the colors of dawn can be quite unpredictable. The sky may transform from a pale red to a delicate shade of pink, or even capture the elusive “blue hour” just before sunrise. Each morning is a unique experience, with the colors of the sky constantly changing throughout the year.

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Blue hour with stormy sky (April 2023)

 

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Captivating Angkor Wat: May Sunrise at the Blue Hour (May 2016)

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Hues of pink with Angkor Wat reflection (February 2023)

Angkor Wat Sunrise |  Tips for Photographers

For photographers, it is recommended to arrive as early as possible on location  as soon as possible to secure a spot in front of the pond especially if you plan to  use a tripod. Sunrise can be as early as 5.37 am in the month of June and a bit late at 6.32 am in the month of January. December and january are also best time of the year to capture photos of Angkor Wat at night with star trails as a backdrop. The opening hours are strictly enforced and Angkor Wat  opens at 5 am sharp.

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For photography guidance during a sunrise at Angkor and more, please feel free to have a look at our Angkor Wat Sunrise Photography Tour.

 

 

 

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Angkor Wat at daybreak with golden colors (April 2016)

 

 

Nature’s Canvas: Angkor Wat Sunrise Against the Drama of Clouds

 

 

The moonson season brings  hues of green to the temples of Angkor  by also dramatic and awe-inspiring skies. This without any doubt gives another dimension to photographs compared to  the clear skies.

These pictures can be taken between June until sometime Decembre depending on the moosoon season .

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A Dramatic Angkor Wat Skyline Amidst the Clouds (August 2022)

 

 

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Beautiful sunrise just after the rain (december 2015)

 

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Golden sunrise at Angkor Wat (August 2014)

 

 

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Angkor Wat at Sunrise: A Majestic Scene with Red Clouds in June

 

Angkor Wat  with dramatic red clouds (October)

 

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Angkor Wat  with dramatic red clouds (October)

 

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Angkor Wat in October with Vibrant Red Clouds (2017)

 

 

 

What is the best place to see the sunrise?

At Angkor Wat, the sunrise spots are plentiful, regardless of whether you face east or west. Whether you seek a dramatic backlight or wish to observe the golden rays illuminating the sandstone carvings, there are many vantage points to choose. The reflecting ponds at Angkor Wat are undoubtedly the most sought-after location for capturing the perfect Instagram shot. As the sun rises, the water create a mirror-like reflection, offering a stunning composition for photographers. Consequently, these areas tend to be quite crowded, as the area is quite small

Is Angkor Wat sunrise worth it?

The short answer would be yes. if you do not want to be shoulder to hundred of tousist at the reflective pools, they are other view points during sunrise where it can be relatively quiet. Note that the busiest season is from November to February but it not necessarily the best months for photographers looking to explore the temples of Angkor and get the most spectacular shots. If you can, we  recommend to  hire a photography guide.

Was it is the blue hour?

The quite elusive phenomenon, known as the blue hour, unveils itself approximately sixty minutes before the break of dawn, it can give a intense blue tone to your pictures  even if your camera is set to a warm white balance.

Is Angkor Wat better for sunrise or sunset?

Angkor Wat temple’s popularity at sunrise comes from its stunning sunrises. The temple’s silhouette against the colorful sky creates a picturesque setting that has become iconic. especially viewed from the reflecting ponds.Although the same breathtaking effect cannot be replicated at sunset, the evening golden light sunset can be a blessing for photographers especially in areas  rich with carvings.

 

Sanskrit Writings in Angkorian Temples

Aside from the remarkable elaborate carvings of devatas, apsaras found in many Angkor temples,  there are a number of writings carved on stones that one can find on their walls and pillars. Most of the inscriptions are in Sanskrit, which serves as a testimony to the Hindu origin of the temple.
Sanskrit is the classical language of Indian and the main language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. One of the 22 official languages of India, Sanskrit is a standardized dialect of the Old Indo-Aryan, originating as Vedic Sanskrit with ancestry tracing back to Proto-Indo-Iranian and Proto-Indo-European. Vedic Sanskrit, comprising mainly of chants and hymns, is closely related to Avestan, the oldest preserved of the Iranian languages. Rigvedic Sanskrit, language of hymns of the Rigveda, is the oldest stage of the language. It is said that Vedic Sanskrit is one of the languages that couldn’t be accurately translated in this age.
During the classical period of Iron Age India at around 4th century B.C., the language evolved into Classical Sanskrit. According to scholars, Classical Sanskrit is a different dialect compared to Vedic Sanskrit. Although quite similar, there are distinct differences in phonology, vocabulary, syntax and grammar.
The word Sanskrit means “refined”, “consecrated” and “sanctified”. It continues to be used mainly as a language for Hindu and Buddhist religious ceremonies.

Below are the picture of few sanskrit writings found on pillars of  Angkor Wat, Ta Nei, Kravan and Koh Ker temples.

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of Angkor Wat temple

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of Ta Nei temple

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of a temple in Koh Ker

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of a temple in Koh Ker

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of Angkor Wat temple

 

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Sanskrit writing on a pillar of prasat kravan temple