History's Mysteries...

Secrets of Angkor Wat...

For more than 400 years the jungle of Cambodia hid a secret from the eyes of the man.But when Henri Mauhot,French naturalist had gone in search of rare birds & insects...he discovered the astonishing view of an ancient remains.He recorded in1860 in his diary that "It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome".

The beauty of Angkor is difficult to describe in words But a Portuguese tired to "It extends as far the eyes could see...as it is a magnificent city with hundreds of daringly constructed towers, with vast artificial waterways and some colossal size free standing works of thousands of artists."

According to local folklore the city was created leper king(The king of angels) or 'it made of itself'...

But historians have different version,The legendary founder of Cambodian & Khmer empire was an Indian,according to the legend a Brahman named Kaudinya was directed by a heavenly spirit to set a sail to east,after a difficult journey he reached the beautiful shore of Cambodia cost.But there was a young beautiful woman(she was Queen Willow leaf , ruler & daughter of serpent deity) was there with soldiers,initially He thought they came to receive him byte later realised reason was to seize the ship and destroy him, he immediately prayed to the spirit and shot an arrow which glowed into light piercing into the heads of some unfortunate soldiers.The queen recognized him not an ordinary visitor and made peace with him.she decided to marry him and from Thier union was born all the Funan rulers and later Khmer rulers.

Around 550 AD, the Funan kingdom was overthrown by Kambujas(The mountain people called Chenla).

The first great Cambodian leader Jayavarman II in 802 AD.During hi 48 years of reign he succeeded in unified state & keeping military strong.He brought Indian magic science for protection of his city.

He declared himself god-king and he is earthy incarnation of Shiva himself....He became mad into religion and forced craftmens to make thousands of royal lingam for his worship.

But he was stripped form the throne and his nephew Indravarman I took the kingdom in at 877 A.D., in his period 11 year the empire prospered due to his ambitious surveys & plans.

During his period the civilisation is founded on water.The Angkor Thom,Capital of Khmer empire was a prefect mix of religious faith and economic necessity.

After him Suryavarman ('protector of sun' 1113-50 AD) he extended the kingdom power from China Sea to the Indian ocean.His reign was of brilliant architectural creations in Asia - the temple tomb of Angkor Wat.

With passing of Suryavarman the Khmer empire entred a period of decline, because there was no direct heir.

Then Jayavarman VII, a close relative who was in his fifties.He was called Buddha king.But he was the last to undertook projects, no Khmer king from 13th

century onwards no Khmer empire declined.Thais & Vietnamese started to migrate southwards.

The last clue of the Khmer empire was by Chou-Ta-kuan(Chinese traveler, 1296 )in his Notes on the Customs of Cambodia.

After which no details on them can be found.In centuries followed natrue began its territory and dense forest covered the lost empire.
Today, 500 years after it was mysteriously abandoned, it's a magnificent work of an ancient civilisation, who's mesmerizing beauty need to be preserved fire the future archeologist.....