Loading Now

Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

angkor-wat-elephant-rides Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bakheng Hill is located just opposite the main Angkor Wat temple here in Siem Reap. Usually, this place is visited after everything else here, and most tourist come here to see the famous Angkor Wat Sunset.

In 2007, I saw elephants being used to ferry people at the entrance area. You are bound to see this as you head to the hill.

These elephant rides were conducted by well-trained elephants and keeping the tourist very happy. Did I try it? Nope, I did not.
Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat

According to Wikipedia, Phnom Bakheng at Angkor, Cambodia, is a Hindu and Buddhist temple in the form of a temple mountain dedicated to Shiva.
It was built at the end of the 9th century, during King Yasovarman (889-910). Located atop a hill, it is a popular tourist spot for sunset views of the much bigger temple Angkor Wat.

angkor-wat-sunset-hill Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia Heading to Bakheng Hill.

Bakheng Hill Sunset 

To view the sunset at Bakheng Hill, you start with a good old trek for about 500-700 meters uphill, as seen in the picture above.

Again, take your time and go early instead of racing there at the last minute. There will be lots of potholes along the way up, so be careful and wear some good trekking shoes.

angkor-wat-sunset-hill-trek-walk-uo Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, CambodiaClimbing Bakheng hill to view the sunset.

It is a reminder that this place is not a romantic place to bring your wife or girlfriend to view the sunset as there will be thousands of tourists cramming the viewing spot.

So, if you are not into sunsets, you should just give this place a miss. However, if you enjoy taking pictures, then it would be alright to venture up here.

But then again, if you see the sky being very hazy, just forget this trip. I’ve searched google for some Bakheng Hill Sunsets, and there are not many successful ones.

angkor-wat-sunset-hill-view Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia Disappointed tourist leaving Bakheng Hill.

In our case, we made it all the way up to Bakheng Hill but only to be disappointed with the weather on that day. It was a very cloudy day while there was absolutely no sun in the sunset here.

So, it was just a trip up there watching sweaty foreign tourists, getting a good workout on the legs and not forgetting the extra loud mainland China tourist.

Conclusion

Well, if you are adventurous enough, you should try this place in the mornings as it is much more peaceful and quiet. There is another temple here that is great for some photography of Angkor Wat. 

I need to really make another trip back here again, even if it is for just 2-3 days. Last I heard from a friend who visited this place in July 2010, much has changed while prices have increased.

The tour buses have conquered the area with mainstream tourism while they laid metal staircases to climb up the Angkor Wat Temple. I only hope they did not do many changes here at Bakheng Hill at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Share this content:

0 comments

comments user
Traveling Ted

Since I viewed the Angkor sunrise, I felt I did not need to visit here for the sunset. Instead I went during the middle of the day and had this beautiful temple virtually to myself.

comments user
Malaysia Asia

Ted, you're spot on in doing that. Avoiding the crowd. It was crazy and seriously I wonder how it is now.

comments user
Christina

David, thanks for these tips. I've never been to Cambodia, but I am planning on going at one point, and I've always wanted to go to Angkor Wat. It's good to know when to go and when not 🙂

comments user
Malaysia Asia

Christina, thanks and I believe there have been much changes in the last 2-3 years. Therefore, I too need to re-visit Angkor Wat again, hopefully somewhere this year too. Maybe we'll bump into each other there?

comments user
maria

I watched the Sunrise from this wonderful Temple (in march2010), and yes it was corwed, but yes it was worth the experience!!!

comments user
Malaysia Asia

Hi Maria, glad you got a chance to see the sunset in Cambodia. I now need to make another trip here actually catch it.

Post Comment