Numbers of The Temples

Regarding to our Weekly Challenge, this week I had to post about Numbers. Actually I was a little bit confused what I had to write. The only thing that I could think about numbers in Cambodia was the number of temples. At the time I started to write about it, I made a list of temples I have visited. And when I compared to the major temples in Cambodia, my list of the temples I have visited before was nothing. In fact, Cambodia has a huge number of temples.

According to the Ministry of Fine Arts, Cambodia has around 4,000 temples and ancient sites. Among those 4,000 sites, 2,000 of them have been found and marked since 2005. Most of them are located in Siem Reap, Battambang, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom. So, if I used only the 2000 sites that was identified and found, it still gave me a big difference, compared to my list. 

From the internet I found that Khmer people do not know exactly how many ancient temples were built by their Khmer ancestors. According to the European experts, especially based on some French documents, there are 1080 Khmer temples identified around the country. It is far different to the statement of a high rank staff of The Ministry of Fine Arts, who said that Cambodia has more than 3,000 ancient temples.

Which is the correct one? Some said 1080 temples, some sources said 2000 temples, while others have put the numbers between 3,000-4,000 temples. 

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I had to trust the Ministry of Fine Arts, as the official institution which has the responsibility of the heritage sites. They have made an inventory of the temples in 2005 as well as data found in stele inscriptions, which stated that Cambodia could have as many as 4,000 ancient temples of which 2,000 of them have been located and inventoried.

I am sure that there is a continuing progress in finding the rest of 4,000 temples after the completed inventory of 2000 temples. This figure was based on the results of the research made by the local Cambodian and French experts up to the year 2005. And at present, based on the data collected by the experts show and confirm what they had already assumed in 2005 that Cambodia has about 4,000 ancient temples which are already marked around the country.

According to the inventory, it is identified that 2603 temples and sites have been visited in 18 provinces and towns. Among the 2603 sites visited, 766 of them are temples, 996 are ancient tombs, 487 are ancient pagodas, 89 are ancient bridges and 265 are ancient walls and ancient sites. Is it amazing that Cambodia has so many ancient sites? It is still counting!

If we talked about temples in Cambodia, automatically we think about Angkor Wat area. Within Angkor Archaeological Park, -famous as a huge complex of temples-, around 72 major temples or other sites are found, and the remains of several hundred additional temple sites are scattered throughout the landscape beyond.

We know that temples in Angkor Archaeological Park area attract millions of visitors, local and foreign, each year. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. Could you imagine that there are approximately 50 Buddhist and Hindu temples dating back to the 12th century within its grounds?

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

By the way, this is my list of temples I have visited… And still a lot of numbers that I haven’t visited yet.

I have already visited this temples:

• Angkor
• Angkor Thom
• Angkor Wat
• Bakong
• Banteay Kdei
• Banteay Samré
• Banteay Srei
• Baphuon
• Bayon
• Beng Mealea
• East Mebon
• Kbal Spean
• Khleangs
• Lolei
• Neak Pean
• Phimeanakas
• Phnom Bakheng
• Prasat Kravan
• Pre Rup
• Preah Khan
• Preah Ko
• Roluos (temples)
• Srah Srang
• Ta Keo
• Ta Prohm
• Ta Som
• Terrace of the Elephants
• Terrace of the Leper King
• The Royal Palace, Angkor Thom
• West Mebon
• Preah Khan Kampong Svay
• Koh Ker
• Preah Vihear
• Sambor Prei Kuk
• Phnom Kulen –
• Banteay Chhmar
• Ta Prohm, Tonle Bati

Since I haven’t visited this temples below, I will make it as my next goals…

1. Ak Yum
2. Baksei Chamkrong
3. Bat Chum
4. Phnom Bok
5. Chau Say Tevoda
6. Phnom Dei
7. East Baray
8. Krol Ko
9. Phnom Krom
10. Kutisvara
11. Mangalartha
12. Prasat Bei
13. Prasat Chrung
14. Prasat Suor Prat
15. Preah Palilay
16. Preah Pithu
17. Spean Thma
18. Ta Nei
19. Ta Prohm Kel
20. Tep Pranamt
21. Thma Bay Kaek
22. Thommanon
23. Wat Athvea
24. Yaśodharapura
25. Prei Khmeng
26. Kompong Preah

Well, if you had visited temples that are not listed above, would you like to let me know?

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This post was written in response to the weekly challenge from Celina’s Blog and Cerita Riyanti, -similar to the old Weekly Photo Challenge from WordPress-, which is the 43rd week of 2019 has the theme of Numbers, so we are encouraged ourselves to write articles weekly. If you are interested to take part in this challenge, we welcome you… and of course we will be very happy!