Visitors Flock to Angkor Wat for Equinox Sunrise
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Synopsis
A large crowd of tourists gathered at Angkor Wat to witness the breathtaking sunrise during the spring equinox on March 22, 2024. The event saw over 37,000 attendees, showcasing the temple's alignment with the sun's rise. Angkor Wat continues to be a major tourist attraction in Cambodia.
Key Takeaways
- 37,003 tourists witnessed the sunrise at Angkor Wat.
- Angkor Wat is part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- The temple aligns perfectly with the sunrise during the equinox.
- Generated 47.8 million US dollars in ticket sales.
- Ranked as Asia's most photogenic UNESCO site.
Siem Reap, March 22 (NationPress) A significant number of tourists gathered at Cambodia's renowned Angkor Wat temple early Saturday morning to witness the breathtaking sunrise during the spring equinox, as reported by the APSARA National Authority.
According to the release, "A total of 37,003 tourists, comprising 33,500 domestic visitors and 3,503 international guests, experienced the sunrise of the spring equinox at Angkor Wat on the morning of March 22," it stated.
During this event, attendees could observe the sun rising perfectly in line with the central tower of the Angkor Wat temple.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak noted that this year’s spring equinox spanned from Friday to Sunday.
Angkor Wat is a prominent temple located within the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province. This expansive park, covering 401 square kilometers, is home to 91 ancient temples constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries.
The most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian nation attracted 1.02 million international visitors in 2024, generating approximately 47.8 million US dollars in ticket sales, as per Angkor Enterprise, a state-owned entity, reported by Xinhua.
Moreover, it was recognized as the most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage site in Asia last year.
The Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, shared a list from Times Travel in September 2024 that highlighted Asia's top 10 most photogenic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This list featured Angkor Wat in the top position, alongside other remarkable sites such as India’s Taj Mahal, China’s Great Wall, Myanmar’s Bagan, Indonesia’s Borobudur, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, Kyoto’s Historical Monuments of Japan, Jordan’s Petra, the Rice Terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras, and India’s Hampi.
