Is Cambodia Your Next Utopia?

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer,” said some avid travellers while travelling to their fullest. Travelling is nothing less than a passion, a passion that drives you towards being a better human being and helps you in fulfilling your purpose. Some people like to travel for fun, some seek thrill out of it, and some do it due to the fear of missing out (FOMO). Whatever the reason might be, one thing is for sure, we love to explore. Exploring further into the deep abyss of our mother earth has led us today to where we are. Although, not every place has been discovered by human beings, who knows you might find one place that you can name after yourself one day. Well, to fuel up your endeavours and help you in your voyage, we have got someplace culturally rich today!

Here For the Rich Culture

L’Officiel India DigitalRead L’Officiel India in the digital libraryEvery issue and every cover story, on TCG Media.Read now

Angkor Wat literally means “The City of Temples” which is also responsible for around 50%

The gem that we have dug out is none other than Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the most culturally rich places that you will find on the map. Ruled by the Khmer Empire till the 15th century, this country is still dominated by the Khmer people with over 95% of the total population.

Khmer are southern Chinese descendants which are considered as one of the oldest ethnic groups in

Asia. Siem Reap is covered in this green lush blanket which has a very prominently rich heritage and culture to look up to.

If you are into history, archaeology, nature, and peace, there is no other place on earth that can stimulate your senses even more than Siem Reap itself. Let’s have a look at some of the main destinations that you can explore while on your excursion in the region.

Angkor Wat

How many of you here like temples? Well, to make it more exciting, how many of you here like temples that are more than 900 years old? Everything from the basic structure to each and every stone engraved in the temple of Angkor Wat is intact to date.

Undoubtedly, it is the most popular attraction in Siem Reap. Built somewhere in the 12th century during the reign of the Khmer Empire, this temple encases some of the most alluring sights that one can see.

The 163 hectares of space that this religious complex is built upon makes it the World’s largest temple in terms of land. Being of Buddhist origins, this is also the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Some people say that this temple was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu but later changed to Buddhism.

You will find many ponds along with flora and fauna taking over the place yet the architecture is something that will attract you the most. We recommend you to enjoy the sunrise by sitting near the pond, the sight is mesmerizing in itself.

Angkor Silk Farms

Siem Reap is also called the city of temples, this title surely does come with some limitations. You

will find many temples here, each and every temple will have its own set of historical events and stories related to it, but you will not find much about handicrafts and cloth.

Angkor silk farms are one of the only farms that allow the public view of the weaving in the Angkor region. You will right away feel a bed of greenery when you enter these farms. These farms come under Artisans Angkor and employ more than 400 people.

Women, men, and even children can be seen working in these farms weaving through their old techniques. These farms are also said to protect the Khmer culture of art and craft. Generally, golden silk is produced here and large mulberry fields can be seen dancing in nature’s adobe.

Pub Street

Is it even fair to Cambodia to travel all the way there and not enjoy a glimpse of nightlife in the country? Well, as the name suggests, Pub Street is the place where you will find everybody when the sun goes back and the moon takes over.

You can have the best that nightlife has to offer here in Siem Reap’s Pub Street. First of all, the street is covered with neon and bright lights which automatically sets our mind in party mode. Scrumptious local Cambodian food can also be seen popping up right out of the hot pan here.

All this is combined with the refreshing taste of Cambodian alcohol. What more do you need? Is music what you said? Well, don’t worry because as soon as the sun goes down, music starts to rock up the pub street like nothing else. All in all, if you do wish to have a crazy night in Siem Reap, The Pub Street is for you.