09/04/2026
What I didnāt realise before coming hereā¦ is that Angkor Wat is not just one temple šļø
Itās an entire ancient city.
Built between the 9th and 15th centuries, Angkor Wat was once one of the largest cities in the world, home to hundreds of thousands of people. And then, over time, it was gradually abandoned and reclaimed by the jungleā¦ only to be rediscovered centuries later.
Also wild to think the entire Angkor Wat complex used more stone than all the pyramids in Egypt combined.
If youāre visiting, these were our three must-sees:
Angkor WatāØThe largest religious monument in the world, built in the 12th century and nearly 900 years old. Every wall is covered in detail, almost like an archive carved into stone over centuries.
BayonāØCompletely different energy. Known for the 200+ massive stone faces built into the towers, each one slightly different. Theyāre thought to represent a mix of the king at the time and Buddhist figures. Wherever you walk, you keep catching these faces looking down at you.
Ta ProhmāØThis one felt the most special. Left largely as it was found, with giant tree roots growing over and through the ruins. Itās one of the few temples not fully restored, which makes it feel raw and untouched. You can actually see how nature slowly took the city back.
Alsoā¦ if it looks familiar, this is where Tomb Raider was filmed.āØSwipe for the doorway Angelina Jolie ran throughā¦ and my attempt at a Tomb Raider pose š
There are so many more incredible temples beyond theseā¦ you could spend days here and still feel like youāve only scratched the surface.
Walking through Angkor Wat now feels like youāre moving through pieces of that lost city.
