These temples are a source of inspiration and national pride for the Cambodians as they struggle to rebuild their lives after years of trauma. These temples are still a point of pilgrimage.
These are just a handful of some of the temples, that stretch across miles.
ANGKOR WAT
This is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world. It was probably built as a funerary temple in honour of the god Vishnu. There are more than 3000 apsara (heavenly nymphs) carved into the walls. Many were damaged in the 1980's during Indian efforts to clean the temple.
A steep climb to the top...
Angkor in the distance
BAYON TEMPLE
54 towers and 216 faces
These huge enigmatic faces bear a hint of a smile
Everywhere you stand these huge faces glare down at you, giving you a feeling of smallness, of being watched constantly. Big Brother was watching even back then!
Bayon in the background
Another of the huge enigmatic faces
BENG MEALEA TEMPLE
Beng Mealea means 'water flower', however it's current state no longer reflects that. Nature has been given the opportunity to totally run riot here. The temple has been consumed by jungle, much of the temple has collapsed and there is a strange sense of eeryness. Though there is a wooden walkway built to explore the temple, much of the journey involves clambering over ruins, jumping through window and doorways, navigating rocks, vines and foliage and climbing rickety wooden ladders. Boy, were we in for an adventure!
Welcome to Indiana Jones territory!
Needless to say, I felt a little out of my depth!
Giving Vedanta a helping hand...or is she helping me!
The place was teeming with bugs of all sorts; dragonflies, lizards, dragonflies, crickets, hundreds of ants carpeting the rocks including big red ones that know how to give a bite! And other creatures I've never even come across before, let alone know what they're called!
There's light at the end of the tunnel!
And as if all the physical activity and bugs weren't enough, the surrounding land just a few metres away from the temple still contained landmines. The temple area itself had been cleared of land mines.
Relaxing in the ruins
PREA KHAN TEMPLE
This temple is dedicated to no less than 515 divinities. Delicated carvings of wise men and apsara still remain. There are four walkways approaching the temple and lead to small steep steps (some barely a few inches wide) from which to climb the temple.
It was a magnificent ruin
The sheer magnitude of some of these trees and their strangulating root formations are colossal.
The roots just seem to 'melt' over everything. A very surreal feeling, felt like we were part of a Dali work of art!
The roots clamber over and through anything in their path, dislodging stones on their way, creating some stunning scenery.
Some of the scenery is so stunning in fact, that it was used in filiming Angela Jolie in 'Tomb Raider'. For those of you that have seen the movie this is the tree where Angelina picks a flower and falls through the earth into .... Pinewood Studios!
Amazing tree trunk
More roots taking over the temple
Yet more roots.... 
