The equinox, which is a natural phenomenon when the sun rises directly over the most important tower of the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, is predicted to occur next week, based on information from the APSARA National Authority. The equinox occurs when the length of day and night are nearly equal, unlike normal months when day or night may be longer than one another.
This phenomenon occurs twice a yr, in March (spring equinox) and September (autumn equinox). During these two days, sunlight shines directly through the central tower, creating elongated shadows on the temple’s front entrance.
In a press release issued by the National APSARA Authority on March 14, it was announced that the phenomenon would happen on March 21. The announcement explained that the event is expounded to the architectural splendor of Angkor Wat in Khmer history.
This amazing event all the time attracts 1000’s of local and international tourists to witness and capture this special moment as a souvenir. To see this phenomenon, tourists are advised to reach at Angkor Wat before 5 am.
Visitors can stand at the tip of the trail resulting in the most important tower and witness this harmony for themselves. To witness the equinox alignment at Angkor Wat in 2023, it is suggested to face just outside the temple’s western gopura (entrance gate).
You can stand at the tip of the long driveway, facing the most important tower. This way, the daylight during sunrise will likely be directly on you. As the sun rises within the east over the five towers of Angkor Wat, you will notice the central tower dramatically illuminated, its light falling on the pavement where you’re standing.
The equinox at Angkor Wat shouldn’t be a coincidence, but a part of a plan developed by the Khmer ancestors. They designed the temple architecture to align with the natural phenomenon, thus making a sunrise event at the highest of the temple.
Last yr, sunlight in the course of the event was used as a spectacular flame on the thirty second Southeast Asian Games and the twelfth Para ASEAN Games, when Cambodia hosted the games for the primary time. The first equinox event in 2023, also held on March 21, attracted 8,726 tourists, including 2,226 foreigners, to witness the event.
