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The mysterious temple is older than Angkor Wat in Cambodia

The Banteay Chhmar temple complex dates back to the 12th century, once one of the greatest temples of the Khmer empire, then it was abandoned, creating a mysterious and magical scene.
Banteay Chhmar temple complex in Cambodia Banteay Chhmar is older than the famous Angkor Wat complex and quite new to tourists.

Dating back to the 12th century under King Jayavarman VII – one of the greatest monarchs of the Khmer empire, this mysterious temple has been abandoned nearly 800 years. As a result of time, looting … this area is in a state of near collapse. The temple complex was included in the UNESCO list in 1992. Since 2008, the World Heritage Fund and the Cambodian Government have begun efforts to preserve and develop the community. Not long after that, the area of ​​Banteay Chhmar temple complex was opened to visitors.

Set among forest canopies and broken rocks, the complex consists of 8 temples, featuring stone towers carved with mysterious smile faces. They are thought to describe King Jayavarman or the Buddhas. There are also intricate carvings to tell the story of religion and war.

The famous Guanyin Bodhisattva Guan Yin statue in Banteay Chhmar. Stone conservationist Simon Warrack, who has been studying temples in Cambodia for more than 20 years, estimates that hundreds of meters of carved walls have collapsed over time, leaving a mysterious puzzle for historians and examiners. archeology. He compared the atmosphere at Banteay Chhmar to the Angkor Wat complex in the 1990s, when tourism was still new. With millions of people visiting Siem Reap every year, Warrack says that the “sense of mystery and adventure” once associated with Angkor Wat has disappeared.

However, Banteay Chhmar, which is a few hours away from Angkor Wat and only 1,500 visitors a year, still offers a great spiritual experience. “Exploring the temple is like going back to another era and experiencing a unique interaction, like a war between culture and nature,” Warrack said.

Based on the scenery, it seems that nature has won. The roots of the ancient trees cling to the walls still stood, as if they blended into a structure. Vines system spread throughout the nooks and crannies, covered with rocks bearing ancient carvings. But the most remarkable thing about the Banteay Chhmar temple is the almost complete silence, only broken by the sound of a motorbike from afar, the sound of wings of insects and birds of birds.