The first of this year’s equinox events at Angkor Wat Temple saw an unprecedented surge in attendance, with record-breaking visitor numbers exceeding 10,000 on both March 21 and 22, showcasing the site's global allure.

Long Kosal, spokesman for the APSARA National Authority, said the early-morning events attracted numerous national and international guests.

“On the first day, we recorded over 10,000 attendees, and on the 22nd, the number surged close to 12,000. Today, we've seen more than 2,600 foreign guests,” he told The Post.

In the pre-dawn hours of March 22, a diverse crowd of international tourists congregated at the historic gates of Spean Hal, eagerly awaiting the 5am opening, as they prepared to witness the celestial spectacle of the equinox at Angkor Wat. 

As the gates parted, a procession of visitors, including enthusiastic shutterbugs and seasoned travelers, advanced along the ancient walkway of the temple, enlivened by the anticipation of observing the sun rise perfectly aligned with the temple's central tower—a twice-yearly occurrence that transforms the site into a stage for an ethereal performance by the sun.

With the first light of dawn, the silhouetted spires of Angkor Wat became a focal point for a multitude of cameras, as visitors from every corner of the globe sought to capture the moment when day and night find equilibrium.

The atmosphere brimmed with a sense of unity, as individuals of various backgrounds shared the common goal of memorialising the unique experience. 

The buzz of whispered languages intertwined as the horizon began to blush with the hues of sunrise, creating a collage of human expression framed against the backdrop of one of humanity's most enduring monuments.

A tourist from Italy, visiting Cambodia for the first time with three of his family members, who gave his name as Mark, expressed his surprise at the large crowd gathering to watch the sunrise at the temple.

Mark took a selfie with his brother and told The Post, “It's a bit crowded, but I like it. It's really nice, almost like a concert. It's a pleasant sensation.”

The Italian tourists are spending seven days in Cambodia, visiting Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. They explained that they had specifically come to watch the 5.40am sunrise.

Joost Jansen from the Netherlands expressed his excitement to an English-speaking tour guide, after witnessing the Equinox on March 21.

"It was truly amazing, and it was a very beautiful experience to enjoy the view," he says. 

Thim Sereyvuth, acting director of the Siem Reap provincial department of tourism, said on March 21 that Siem Reap Angkor International Airport had seen a significant influx of tourists. 

A total of 23 flights were recorded, comprising 20 international flights and 3 domestic ones, with a combined passenger count of 2,579. 

“At Angkor, 3,701 individuals purchased tickets, with 2,098 opting for single-day passes, 1,572 choosing three-day passes, and 31 selecting week-long passes,” said Sereyvuth. “Additionally, approximately 2,800 domestic tourists and 5,500 local visitors were reported on this bustling day.” 

The phenomenon of the equinox at Angkor Wat is a testament to the extraordinary astronomical knowledge and architectural prowess of the ancient Khmer civilisation. 

The equinox is a biannual event where the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the sun, resulting in a day and night of approximately equal length. Twice a year, Angkor Wat becomes the stage for a breathtaking spectacle. 

The temple, aligned along a west-east axis, is perfectly positioned so that when the sun rises on the equinox, it appears to ascend directly over the central tower, casting a symmetrical play of light and shadow across the temple's intricate facade.

This alignment is no accident, but a deliberate design by the Khmer architects, intertwining celestial movements with the earthly grandeur of the temple, turning Angkor Wat into a harmonious bridge between the heavens and the human realm at this time of cosmic balance.

This natural spectacle takes place during on March 20-22 and September 21-23 each year, attracting throngs of spectators eager to witness the sun's rays in perfect vertical alignment with the temple, a marvel of both cosmic phenomena and architectural intent.