The temple complexes of Angkor and Bagan are two of Southeast Asia’s great masterpieces. Both boast an enormous variety of historic temples, steadily photographed sunrises and sunsets, and a scale unimaginable to anyone but an art historian.
Bagan was largely built between the ninth and thirteenth centuries and served because the capital of a pagan kingdom. At its peak, it boasted 10,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas. The number remaining today is estimated to be between 4,400 and a pair of,000. You should allow no less than two days for Bagan, even for those who’re not a temple buff. If so, indulge yourself in a lifetime of exploring the hundreds of crumbling temples scattered across miles of desert.
Angkor was the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from the ninth to fifteenth centuries and at one point controlled most of Southeast Asia. There are over 1,000 temples within the Angkor complex, essentially the most famous of which is Angkor Wat, inbuilt the twelfth century and sometimes described as the biggest religious monument on the earth. The entire Angkor complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it’s price planning no less than two days to do it justice.
Travelers who’ve limited time in Asia often face a dilemma. With only two weeks of vacation, which ancient ruins are price visiting: Bagan within the desert sands of Burma or Angkor on the outskirts of the developed, tourist-friendly city of Siem Reap in Cambodia?
The Huffington Post put these two monuments head to head in our Ancient Ruins Race. See who won:
Individual temples
Angkor he beat Bagan. Thanks to meticulous conservation work carried out during the last several many years, you will notice exquisite stucco decorations and elaborate complexes that you’ll not find in Bagan.
Anywhere else on the earth will you are feeling right at home Legends of the Hidden Templethat Nickelodeon show from the 90’s?
In addition to the small print present in restored temples, there are also several that, although falling apart, have their very own unique beauty. Perhaps essentially the most famous is the Ta Prohm temple complex, where Angelina Jolie filmed Tomb Raider. When nature overtakes architecture in this manner, all you wish is as much scenography as needed.
Cost
Angkor is dear by Southeast Asian standards. A 3-day pass costs $40, while per week pass in Bagan is the equivalent of $10.
This is why, Bagan wins on affordability, regardless that neither is prohibitive when it comes to cost.
Enormous views
Bagan it’s hands down. Angkor Wat has some good spots for sunrises and sunsets, but nothing competes with this one:
Angkor’s popularity with tour groups also means it gets crowded, so you’ll need to jostle for spot to benefit from the views. Although Bagan and Burma have gotten an increasing number of popular, you will not find such crowds in Angkor:
Local interaction
Unless you think about being harassed by kids who need to sell you every part from coconuts to flutes fun, I’d say Bagan has this category. Sure, there are sand painters and postcard sellers, but whenever you say no, they leave you alone. Sometimes they even give a tour of the temple and explain the history, an motion we were glad to reward with a tip.
The Burmese visit Bagan for a similar reason as you – to see the temples with their very own eyes and feel closer to the history of their land. For essentially the most part, they’re incredibly excited to see you there. They don’t need to sell you things; they need a photo.
Difficulties in transportation
Our mode of transport for each Bagan and Angkor was by bike, although there are various other options including tuk-tukshorse-drawn carriages and even cars.
Since we were traveling on two wheels, it was the winner when it comes to ease Angkor. Almost all roads are paved and no less than I in some way managed to get there two flat tires immediately the roads became easier to navigate than the dust and sand of Bagan. That said, the actual roads did make the temples a bit less atmospheric. Just have a look at this dust in Bagan:
Lodging
Angkor takes this category. Like most guesthouses in Burma, Bagan was overpriced and in desperate need of redevelopment.
In Siem Reap, we paid $25 an evening for a fantastic latest resort room with an infinity pool, huge breakfasts, fast Wi-Fi, and air con that at all times worked!
Food and drinks
Depending on what you are searching for, it’s tricky. For us, the dimensions tipped towards Angkor/Siem Reap. Bagan had its Restaurant Row, but the choice was small and the nightlife was non-existent. While in Burma we enjoyed tea leaf salads and curry, Siem Reap charmed us with its diversity. With 50-cent beers on tap and restaurants starting from touristy to authentic to gastronomic, There is something for everybody in Siem Reap.
Some people complain that Siem Reap is simply too touristy and so they are right. But after just a few months of living on rice and pasta, variety became appealing, even when it got here with a spring break-like atmosphere.
Final rating: 4-3 in favor of Angkor
Angkor wins our ancient wreck race by a slim margin, but here’s something to contemplate: unless you could have more time to travel like we do, you most likely won’t need to spend your entire vacation in Cambodia. This means you will likely be visiting Angkor from Thailand or Vietnam, which is able to incur additional transportation and visa fees.
Bagan, nonetheless, is in Burma and stays so one of the interesting places we now have ever been to. If you could have two weeks, you possibly can not only visit Bagan, but in addition see it idyllic Inle Lake and learn concerning the Burmese culture that has been hidden from the world for thus many many years.
So if I had limited time and had to decide on only one, I’d actually do it BAGANdespite problems with food and accommodation.
For tips about visiting Bagan, read our two-day tour. You may browse our Bagan AND Angkor photography trips.
This article was first published in Huffpost on April 27, 2014
