Angkor National Museum

This was one of the first stops on my trip, and it was the perfect introduction to Khmer history and culture. The museum is modern, clean, and thoughtfully curated. Exhibits range from ancient sculptures and religious artifacts to displays of traditional costumes and architecture. The Gallery of 1,000 Buddhas is especially impressive. Highly recommend visiting here before going to Angkor Wat. It gives helpful context that makes the temples even more meaningful. Also, great for escaping the afternoon heat in Siem Reap! 😄

Highly recommended to visit this museum before going to Angkor Wat or other temples. It gives great background on Khmer history, religion, and architecture, which helps you understand what you’ll see at the temples. The museum is clean, air-conditioned, and well laid out. Don’t miss the 1,000 Buddha gallery. Entry is $12, worth it for the insights.

Well laid out Museum. Boards in English with clear explanations of historical phases of Angkor Wat. The museum has an open courtyard, a pond? and a spiral walkway up to the first floor. It has several galleries. The first with the thousand buddhas was impressive, although I personally enjoyed the smaller gallery with the explanations of Lintel design. Plenty to see for those interested in art history, religion and temple design. For everyone else, the air conditioning is very welcome.

This is a wonderful museum in Siem Reap. It covers the history of the area going back to before the temples were constructed. There is a room that has 1000 statues of Buddha. They explain the reasoning of the different poses. There were about 8 different galleries and each one focused on a different time period of history. This is a must see for visitors and I would go here before I would go to the temples. You will understand a lot more when you visit them. The price for admission for adults is $12. They did have me leave my backpack in a locker when I entered. Some of the rooms had a little bit of AC and others were hawt.

I wish I would have gone earlier in my trip, especially for the Angkor Wat exhibit, before visiting the actual temples. A good introduction to Khmer culture and the area. Definitely recommend. Pictures aren't allowed in most of the rooms but good to go regardless.

Come here before you visit Ankor Wat. You will greatly benefit from the various movies and exhibitions. The layout is easy to follow, and the audio tour is essential. This is a world-class museum. I spent 2+ hours here and my time was very well spent.

Absolutely marvelous presentation a wonderful history and story. This museum should not be missed. It should be the top destination after Angkor. It is a very good idea to see this during the afternoon while it is very hot outside it is air-conditioned and a beautiful place. Remember, it is sacred dress appropriately. Number one museum cultural attraction in Siem Reap.

As someone who has visited Angkor Vat many times, I have to say I am a bit disappointed in this museum. Firstly because 15 dollars to see national treasures - not just from the Angkor period, but pre- hindu goddesses; tapestry from villages in Northern India; Nepal, China; Bangladesh- humanity's treasures- should include an audio guide. This exceedengly important historical knowledge should be available to everyone, included and at choice. Regrettably, a few of the videos are at present outdated. The video room about Naga for example, a principal in Bhuddism- We couldn't make out a single word of what they were saying, the audio quality was unpleasant at best, inaudible in truth. You see that serpent? On all bills, guarding all temples, all parks, all bridges? But you're destined to google it instead: if you bother, that is. What is the point of having a giant pool on the first floor? Did I miss out since I didn't have enough for the audio guide? Just splendour? You could put up a plackard. For sure it's connected to the water pool of Ankor Vat. And the exhibit supposed to be dedicated to "life in the The Angkor period", missed- just that! It is the diety room, the bhuddas. What of the people who flourished there, the engineering of this civilisation-by means of water- all absent: what they wore, what they wrote, how they ate, how many they were- reconstructions of life around Siem Reap at the time, not to mention the wars fought over these temple grounds? From dynasty to dynasty, religion to religion. More relevant now than ever - missing reconstructions. Why? And now I stop my criticisms. The lovely, lively and exquisitely curated representations of bhuddas (must be one of the largest in the 🌎?.) From all over Asia and even Africa - is a SIGHT, the dim lighting, firebrick and crimson walls, highlighting faces and bodies: A room that calls you to the present. Stepping in there it came to me how Bhuddism could reach so many, because these bhuddas undeniably look like like women or girls, they look like a neighbour, like someone familiar; a stranger at peace. The same way Siddharta never became a god, nor did he want to- but "a scent, a heartbeat, the thread in everyone". This room is to bow for. Aaaand there should be a restaurant here that serves small portions of food, not just drinks.