Museum Overview
The Angkor National Museum is located on the road to Angkor Wat at Vithei Charles De Gaulle, Phnom Salokanseng, Siem Reap. The museum, with its 1000 Buddhas is without a doubt one of the most modern museums in all of Asia, and is one of Cambodia’s premier museum sites. In addition to the already mentioned 1000 buddhas this museum shows the history of the Angkor Site as well as Khmer culture and clothing using high tech displays and video screens. At $12, The entrance fee is a bit steep for foreigners, but what you get in return is so worth it.
Upon entering the foyer of this very modern museum visitors enter a briefing room where they are shown a presentation of what the museum has to offer. It sets the scene for the upcoming journey back into the ancient civilization of the Khmer Empire.
Featured Image by Jensre at wikivoyage shared, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Thousand Buddhas
Leaving the briefing room, the visitor enters what is the Gallery of 1000 Buddha Images. This spectacular room displays rare Buddha statues and images from all periods in time and would be one of the most prestigious collections you could imagine. There are images in nooks around the interior walls which are highlighted by the colouring and lighting used. The highlight of the floor displays are an eye-catching antique Buddhist statue. The first gallery alone is worth the price of admission, let alone the splendour of the other seven galleries.
In total, here are seven other galleries which highlight the ancient Khmer civilisation in both display and video presentations. The video presentations are very well done and appreciated by visitors who usually have little to no knowledge of the achievement of the ancient Khmer empire. After leaving the Gallery of the 1000 Buddha the remaining six galleries follow on from one another. The first two concentrate on the Pre-Angkor period of the civilisation, religion and belief system. The roles of the Great Khmer kings are honoured in the next gallery with the four kings who formed the Khmer kingdom. These galleries tell the tale of the rulers who’s vision guided the creation of the ancient cities of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
The next two galleries gave an insight into architecture and engineering tents of the two cities and gives the visitor an educational background which would enhance their experience when visiting the Angkor complex. The museums large scale model of the Angkor Archaeological Site area gives the visitor a useful overview if viewed before their trip to the temples. The penultimate gallery shows, through the use of stone inscriptions, how people lived in ancient Khmer times. The final gallery is tastefully painted in earth colours that blend in with the displays of traditional Khmer clothing and costume.
Arts and Crafts
To complete the museum experience, the souvenir shop has a selection of genuine Cambodian arts and crafts available, created by local artisans, for purchase.
For those with little knowledge of Khmer culture the Angok National Museum is an excellent introductory resource for visitors.