Last Updated on May 21, 2021
How tough is it to get out of bed before 4:00 am on a vacation to see a sunrise? But if hundreds of people wake up at that ungodly hour every morning to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, it must be worth it, right?
The early morning wake up
As we stood along the lotus pond waiting for the sun to rise, we were joined by hundreds of other tourists who would have dragged themselves out of their beds too, maybe a little later than we had dragged ourselves out!! And as they filled in the gaps behind us, we thanked Tes for telling us to get up early and our hotel staff for not just waking us up at that early hour but for also giving us flashlights and a packed take-away breakfast.
And yes we had to wake up at 4 am to get ready to see the famous Angkor sunrise. The temple gates open at 5 am and by the time we reached the entrance, tourists were slowly trickling in and tuk-tuks and other vehicles were lining up outside.
A major chunk of tourists tries to find a prime spot along the ponds found on the left and right side of the causeway or on the side galleries. The pond on the left side is more popular because from that spot, the sun appears to rise from behind the temple towers.
Sunrise over Angkor Wat
As we waited patiently, the sky slowly turned from pitch black to blackish-blue to pink, purple, and then a vibrant orange. And as the orange sun rose over the temple, the colours became so intense and all we could hear were the cameras clicking and the self-sticks folding up and down, along with the occasional ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’.
We had worried that this moment wouldn’t feel special with so many fellow tourists around. But standing there with others who were just as excited as we were, it did feel all the more magical. The lotus pond, the reflection of the five temple towers on the water, the sun and the timelessness of Angkor Wat.
Finally, we decided to take a look at the bas-reliefs while the temperature was still low. The morning sun had begun to light up the outer courtyards and it was a perfect time to wander around as the bas-reliefs lay bathed in the early golden morning light.
The warm orange hue and the mist that hung around the temple compound added an extra layer of peace and tranquillity. So don’t let that early morning laziness and the yearning for an air-conditioned hotel room keep you from experiencing the beautiful sunrise over Angkor Wat.
All sunrises are worth waking up at an early hour. What do you think? Have you even gotten up so early to watch a sunrise on a vacation?
