Siem Reap, Cambodia
Sunrise at Angkor Wat
Local time now21:35
Dedicate this sunrise · from $4.99Local time at the place (Asia/Phnom_Penh) · 13.4125° N, 103.8670° E · calculated live with the same rules as our certificates.
Angkor Wat was built in the twelfth century as a temple to Vishnu and later became a Buddhist shrine. It is the largest religious monument in the world, surrounded by a moat and the forest of the old Khmer capital near Siem Reap.
The temple faces west, unusual for Angkor, so the most famous view is at sunrise from the western side: the five towers stand black against the sky as it brightens, reflected in the lotus pools. Around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun rises almost exactly over the central tower.
A sunrise over Angkor Wat is a gift that people cross the world for — the moment the outline of the temple appears out of the dark.
The best season
November to March is dry and cooler, with clear sunrises. The equinoxes in March and September bring the sun up over the central tower. The rainy season from May to October gives dramatic clouds and full reflecting pools.
Where to watch
The northern reflecting pool in front of the western entrance shows the towers mirrored in the water at sunrise. For sunset, the hill temple of Phnom Bakheng looks out over the forest.
Give this moment
Dedicate a sunrise, sunset or full moon night at Angkor Wat to someone you love, the nearest one or on the day you choose — from $4.99. They get a gift page with a live countdown, and a certificate with the exact minute, ready right after payment.
The SunriseDedicate this sunrise
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The Full Moon NightDedicate the full moon night
Questions
What time is sunrise at Angkor Wat today?
It changes by a minute or two every day. This page calculates today’s sunrise and sunset live for the exact point (13.4125° N, 103.8670° E), in local time (Asia/Phnom_Penh), with the same rules as the almanacs: the moment the upper edge of the sun clears the horizon.
Can I dedicate the sunrise at Angkor Wat to someone?
Yes. Choose The Sunrise, The Sunset or The Full Moon Night with this place, the nearest one or on the day you choose: it is dedicated to the person you name, they receive a gift page with a live countdown, and the certificate with the exact minute of the moment is ready right after payment.
What if it is cloudy?
The sun rises and sets whatever the weather. The certificate records the real astronomical moment, and the gift page tells the story of the sky at that minute.
When does the sun rise over the central tower of Angkor Wat?
Around the spring equinox in March and the autumn equinox in September, the sun rises almost directly above the central tower when seen from the western entrance.
Why does Angkor Wat face west?
West is associated with Vishnu and with death in Hindu tradition; many scholars believe the temple was also the king’s funerary monument.
Nearby places
- Sunrise at Ha Long Bay · Ha Long, Vietnam
- Sunrise at Marina Bay · Singapore
- Sunrise at Boudhanath · Kathmandu, Nepal