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Crowds Flock to Angkor Wat for Rare Equinox Sunrise Spectacle

Large crowds of tourists gathered at Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple at dawn to witness the stunning spring equinox sunrise, a phenomenon where the sun rises directly aligned with the temple's central tower. Tourism Minister Huot Hak noted the event draws visitors seeking memorable photos of this rare spectacle, which occurs only twice a year. The APSARA National Authority explained the equinox provides insights into the faith and science of the Khmer ancestors who built the temple complex. Angkor Archaeological Park, home to Angkor Wat, is a major tourist destination that generated millions in revenue from ticket sales last year.

Key Points: Angkor Wat Equinox Sunrise Draws Huge Tourist Crowds

  • Rare biannual equinox event
  • Sunrise aligns with central tower
  • Draws national and international tourists
  • Managed by APSARA National Authority
  • Major revenue generator for Cambodia
2 min read

Huge crowds of tourists enjoy equinox sunrise at Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat

Tourists gathered at Cambodia's Angkor Wat to witness the rare equinox sunrise, a stunning phenomenon that aligns the sun with the temple's central tower.

"The Angkor equinox is an event... providing insights into both faith and science. - APSARA National Authority"

Siem Reap, March 22

Huge crowds of tourists rallied in front of the famed Angkor Wat temple here in northwest Cambodia early Sunday morning to watch the stunning sunrise during the spring equinox.

"A large number of national and international tourists gathered to capture memorable photos of the sunrise aligning with the central tower of Angkor Wat," Tourism Minister Huot Hak said in a post on social media.

"Equinox sunrise is an extraordinary and rare phenomenon that occurs only twice a year," he added.

The APSARA National Authority (ANA), the government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, said the Angkor equinoxes happen twice a year.

The first event, called the Vernal Equinox, which can happen between March 21 and 23, and the second event, called the Autumnal Equinox, which can occur between September 21 and 23, reports Xinhua, citing ANA's quote in a news release.

"The Angkor equinox is an event during which the sun rises above the central tower of Angkor Wat, creating a stunning spectacle that our Khmer ancestors bequeathed to humanity and providing insights into both faith and science," the ANA said.

Angkor Wat is one of the major temples in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. The 401-square-kilometre park is home to 91 ancient temples, which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

The Southeast Asian country's most popular tourist destination attracted a total of 955,131 international tourists in 2025, generating a gross revenue of 44.7 million US dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Nearly a million tourists! That's incredible revenue for Cambodia. We have so many similar heritage sites in India that could benefit from this kind of global promotion. Our tourism boards should take notes on how to market these astronomical events.
D
David E
While the phenomenon is stunning, I worry about the impact of such huge crowds on the preservation of the temple. We've seen similar issues at historical sites worldwide. Hopefully the authorities are managing the footfall responsibly.
A
Ananya R
The science behind this is fascinating! Our ancestors across cultures were brilliant astronomers. This reminds me of the equinox at Brihadeeswarar Temple where sunlight falls exactly on the deity. Shared human ingenuity 🙏
V
Vikram M
Great to see tourism bouncing back in Southeast Asia. Cambodia and India have strong cultural ties dating back centuries. More of our people should explore these neighboring wonders instead of just dreaming about Europe or America.
S
Sarah B
The photos must be breathtaking! It's on my bucket list. Though I wonder if the experience is diminished by the crowds. Sometimes these magical moments are best enjoyed in relative quiet.

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