Three World Heritage Sites Of South East Asia

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
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Southeast Asia is a part of the world blessed with a unique culture. Sandwiched between the huge nations of India and China, the region has always been a major trade route, forming an extremely rich history. Much of this can still be found in the many ancient sites scattered throughout the lands.

No trip to Cambodia would be complete without a visit to the stunning Angkor Wat, while Laos and Thailand also have some amazing World Heritage sites to see. If you want to visit any of these countries, then you''ll be best off getting a flight to Bangkok, then flying on from there. See Dialaflight for flights to Thailand.

Ayuthaya Historical Park, Ayuthaya, Thailand - 90 minutes drive to the north of Bangkok is the pleasant town of Ayuthaya, once the seat of the King of Siam. Founded as the capital city of the kingdom in 1350 b y King Rathmthibodi I, it was later destroyed by the invading Burmese army in 1797, but there''s still quite a lot of buildings remaining.

The historical park sits right at the center of the town of Ayuthaya in a pleasant flat area surrounded by moats. You can explore the ruins quite easily ...
... by foot in about a day, but they''re best at dusk when there are less people around. If you want to do it a little quicker, then a bike can be hired for under a three pounds for the day.

Wat Phu, Champasak, Laos - This large multi tiered Khmer temple complex was built during the 11-13th centuries, but there is evidence to say there was a religious site here as early as 500 AD. Like other Khmer sites to be found around Laos and Cambodia, the ruins are adorned with intricate engravings, while this Wat has many walkways and stairwells.

Wat Phu, Champasak, Laos

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia - The national symbol of Cambodia, Angkor Wat is to South East Asia as The Pyramids are to North Africa. It''s the largest religious complex in the world, and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists a year. On a visit be sure to visit Bayon, Angkor Thom and the Angkor Wat itself along with a number of other fantastic temple ruins.

How long you want to spend at Angkor Wat really depends on how interested you are in exploring all off the temples, because there are a lot! You can get around the mini tour in a day on a bicycle or tuk tuk, but the grand circuit takes at least two days if you want to see everything. Entry to the park is $20 a day, and chartering a tuk tuk costs USD12.

The largest religious site in the world is also one of the most jaw dropping. This colossal ancient city is home to numerous ancient temples, set in beautifully kept grounds. If you visit, must sees are Bayon, the heart of an ancient city, Angkor Thom, an incredible overgrown temple and setting for scenes from Tomb Raider, and Angkor Wat itself, the national symbol of Cambodia.

Bonny Kominek wrote this article while on a holiday booked with Dialaflight who provide great deals on Thailand flights.