Bakheng is the most popular spot for sunset viewing in Angkor. And natuarally the most crowded. So we chose Pre Rup instead. The relatively quieter state temple of the 9th century Khmer king Rajendravarman II.
There couldn’t have been a more fitting finale to our four day visit than to watch the sun slip quietly behind the horizon from the top of this second oldest temple in the Angkor complex. The ochre of its ancient laterite and brick, made all the more radiant and mysterious by the warm glow of late evening light.
Here are more images from that evening and of the sunset that followed. The spires you see in the horizon, just below the sun in the sunset shots, are those of Angkor Wat!
Thank you for visiting and have a great weekend.
The Urge To Wander 
I know the temples are wonderful but the sun with just the trees are the shots I love the most.
Me too Gilly, particularly since we were quite ‘templed’ out by then! But the theme demanded I choose the ones shot moments earlier 🙂
Gorgeous images, Madhu!
Thank you Naomi 🙂
Beautiful sunsets, Madhu. Sometimes the best views are the least visited and crowded.
True. And certainly more enjoyable 🙂
Wow, these are truly magnificent…the views and colors, everything!
Thank you Ese. Appreciate your visit and comment 🙂
Wonderful, really like gold… 😉
Isn’t it? The temple walls seemed transformed in that light!
Absolutely stunning! Great job.
Thank you! Appreciate your stopping by to comment 🙂
it looks like a perfect evening, truly golden m! your photos glow, just gorgeous 🙂
Thank you. I didn’t have to do much you know 🙂
i know how things light up at that time, but you still have to ‘see’ it, which you do so very well 🙂
Stunning shots, Madhu! The orange sky is just dramatic!
Thanks Amy. Have fallen behind on my blog reading again. Posting from an airline lounge at 3.30 am! Promise to catch up on my return from Paris 🙂
Love the golden light, is this in Ankor Wat?
I’m inviting you to join us on a regular photo tour link up on Mondays called Travel Photo Mondays, take a look
Not Angkor Wat Noel, this is an older temple called Pre Rup in the Angkor archaological park. Appreciate the invitation to the photo link up. Am traveling at the moment. Shall check it out on my return.
Went up Phnom Bakheng during a different time and it was deserted. Don’t recall taking a sunset shot at all while in Siem Reap – now that I’m looking at your gorgeous shot, I’m just scratching my head 🙂
That is surprising Dennis! I witnessed some of my best sunsets ever in Siem Reap! Do check out my Mekong Sunsets post for proof 🙂 We returned to Angkor Wat one evening for sunset. It was worth the effort to watch the entire temple light up with the last rays of the sun!
love these Madhu…the colours are gorgeous
Thanks Jo. Appreciate the Tweet too 🙂
King Rajendravarman II – the influence of ancient Indian civilizations is obvious in many parts of South East Asia.
Yes it is. And I find it so fascinating! The Khmers are supposed to have descended from the union of Khambu an Indian princeling and Mera a Naga princess and the name Khampuchea is derived from Khambuja or ‘Sons of Khambu’!
Great idea for the challenge. We did Angkor Wat 2 years ago and had to do very early mornings to beat the heat. The photos were beautiful as they were all in the earliest morning hours. I see you did the same!!! Beautiful shots.
Thank you Tina. This one was late evening. But we did visit other temples at dawn and that was amazing too.
Beautiful sunsets – a calming end to a hectic day.
It absolutely was!! 🙂
Lovely sunsets, Madhu. 🙂
Thank you Imelda 🙂
Magical! The sun behind the trees are fantastic images.
Thank you. These and the ones over the Mekong were some of my best sunsets ever Angeline!
Beautiful! I wish I did the sunset viewing too, but thanks for this image! 🙂
Thank you Angie. A good reason to return someday 🙂
Absolutely! 🙂
I couldn’t wait to see your choice! Pre Rup ! Wonderful !
Golden hour seemed like the perfect opportunity to post these images 🙂
It sure was Madhu !!
The low sun makes the stones glow. Beautiful Golden Hour you’ve illustrated.
Delighted you think so Ruth 🙂
Madhu that first pic is breathtakingly beautiful, something so soothing, so mystical
loved it 🙂
What a stunning sunset and a great way to end the day
Beautiful Madhu especially sunset 🙂
Madhu, what a spectacular sunset… Golden hour indeed!
🙂
Fabulous Madhu. I think your photos will take some beating in this challenge, but maybe that’s because I’ve always wanted to visit Angkor.
Gorgeous presentation!
Great photos! Angkor Wat is one of my bucketlist.
Enjoyed the pictures. Many thanks Madhu!
Fabulous golden images, Madhu. I too love the one of the sunset behind the trees. 🙂
Superb pictures Madhu! Thanks to you now my desire to go back to Cambodia has got even stronger. 🙂 From your post series on Cambodia and Laos it seems like you had a wonderful time exploring that part of Southeast Asia. Looking forward to more of your stories from other parts of the world! 🙂
Stunning sights for sure Madhu and beautifully captured! Thanks for sharing hon. 😀 *hugs*
Lovely, I admire your work. Thank you for sharing
Really pretty. You captured that golden hour lighting for sure.
“Radient and mysterious,” the perfect description for your gorgeous golden hour photographs, Madu.
Beautifully captured Madhu, the light in them is perfect.
very beautiful images .
I love golden. And your photos are just stunning. 🙂
The light can have a magical effect on these old places, Madhu. Beautiful photographs.
They are like pillars of gold, ooozing self importance – I love them 🙂 I also really like the photo of the man in the doorway 🙂
magnificent, magical and great images, great angles and good compositions. wah.
hi Madhu, I like the words of your intro: “Bakheng is the most popular spot for sunset viewing in Angkor. And naturally the most crowded. So we chose Pre Rup instead…”
Brilliant sunset captures. Those laterite rocks are glowing!
http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.com/2013/07/floating-boats.html
Wow, these are beautiful, Madhu! You really captured some stunning shots!
We missed going to Cambodia earlier this year when a couple of friends went. We were invited to join them but we had agreed to spend some time with friends. Perhaps another January.
Madhu, we loved the quiet and serenity of Pre Rup and you captured it beautifully. Gorgeous photos as always. ~Terri
All of those photos are glorious.
Most interesting to me —- the traveler climbing up those steep, steep steps. A wide shot gives a sense of ease, no challenge, no problem.
This gave me a vivid spatial perspective. Thank you!
Wonderful coverage of events though brief… oozes exuberance all over..!!
Thank you Ashwin.
One day I will stand at this hallowed site and be reminded of the gift of your stunning photos.
Ah, Paris! I bet you had a golden hour or two there, too. 🙂 Lovely shots, Madhu.
Oh yes we did! Thank you so much Jo 🙂
Enchanting! 🙂
They all are Kat, but the golden hours do make them seem even more so.
So pretty…I can’t wait to visit Angkor! You’ve done a great job making me want to go. 🙂
Oh I am glad! The food is great too 🙂
It’s a great heritage temples site, Madhu!
Glorious post.
It is. Thank you 🙂
Reblogged this on Sherry's Space and commented:
Wow, it’s beautiful
Thank you Sherry.
Your welcome
What a wonderful place.
This is just one among many amazing temples there! In fact it gets hard to shortlist which ones you want to visit!
Another one of your fabulous sets to put on the visit list!
I’m speechless! So beautiful, added with the sunset…magical event!
Ummmm – how beautiful it is, especially in that golden light. Speaking of the Angkor Wat tower/s, I loved how they would pop up, unexpectedly, from across the plain – I suppose that was the idea 🙂
Awesome…sorry I was a bit busy to see comments and new posts.., but truly your works are commendable indeed.. great luck..
Amazing work and commendable indeed.. sorry, I am a bit late on comment as I was busy..great luck..
Another unique fact about sunset watching at this ancient temple is the volume of people who turn up. It would seem as if every tourist that is in Siem Reap goes to watch sunset at Phnom Bakheng. When we went there, maybe more than 1000 people turned up.
That is exactly why we skipped Phnom Bakheng Darla. This post is about Pre Rup 🙂
I’m in awe. These are majestic subjects. Photos are excellent and the light glorious!
Excellent presentation style… Great work,…
Cambodia is such an interesting country. You can see it has had a glorious past.