Look familiar? If you have ever visited Angkor Wat you stood right here, on the Cruciform Platform before entering the temple from the West. In the real photo at the bottom, did you notice the scaffold on the right side of the central tower, 20 stories above the Cambodian jungle...? Stay tuned!

Siem Reap, Cambodia – If you’re lucky enough to travel to the jungles of Cambodia, the temple of Angkor Wat will take your breath away. Scientists are still speculating how an engineering feat of this magnitude was accomplished nearly 1,000 years ago. Then there’s the mystery of 1,780 angelic Khmer women portrayed in elaborate detail, dominating every level of the monument…

One company is using digital 3D technology to make Angkor Wat, and other extraordinary monuments around the world, as accessible as your home computer. Vizerra now offers virtual tours of Angkor Wat, Taj Mahal, Tatev Monastery and Old Town Square in Prague, with virtual visits to many other landmarks on the way.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what about reality?

These images show Vizerra’s 3D reality next to digital photos of Angkor Wat. I took them with a Pentax K20D digital camera using a Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 Aspherical Macro Lens (more appropriate for devata portraits). Naturally, perspective and depth of field will cause minor variations but the 3D renderings only few significant technical errors, noted below.

The point is that I captured the 3D  images while “walking” around the virtual Angkor Wat that Vizerra built. The program has a handy image capture function built right in so you can save any view that you like. Vizerra plans to continue increasing  their level of detail, interactivity and information for each world heritage site that they digitize.

Can an ice cold virtual Angkor beer at the concession stands be far behind?

This view greets you walking directly north from Angkor Wat's south gate. And the technical error? The 3D stairs in the outer perimeter wall appear slightly to the left, instead of to the right. A true mistake, or an illusion of photography? Email your photos to settle this question.

View from the northwest, walking from the concession stands (I actually couldn't wait for Vizerra to invent the "virtual ice cold Angkor beer." Sorry.)

This view of Angkor Wat is looking East just north of the Cruciform Platform.

People began calling these buildings "libraries" more than 100 years ago. No one knows what they really were. This structure is surrounded by 46 devata images. The 3D rendering repairs the west portico, and seems to truncate the structure's true shape.

The view east from the platform of Angkor Wat's north "library."

The temple of Angkor Wat is a study of balance in the universe. Therefore, there is also a south "library" and this is this view from its platform toward the east. The south libary, however, only has 20 devata portraits. A work in progress, or a more exclusive club? Join the research and help us understand the truth.

Climbing up from the Cruciform Galleries, you arrive at the second level of Angkor Wat facing east with the stairs to the highest level in front of you. The Vizerra 3D rendering removes the unattractive restoration scaffolding to let visitors enjoy the entire structure.

A dramatic view of the southwest tower of Angkor Wat's top level from the courtyard of the second level. The top level is home to more than 400 devata. The outside walls are surrounded by 201 devata. Inside, there are 126 more, with 64 surrounding the holiest inner circle of the central tower itself. Dozens more, as yet not part of Devata.org's inventor, grace the tower tops.

View from the Top of Angkor Wat

To me, this was the most extraordinary proof of Vizerra’s quality. In November 2009, a temporary restoration scaffold gave me access to a view that only a handful of people have seen in the past millenneum…a view that even even the mighty King Suryarvarman II who built this masterpiece had probably never witnessed.

Kent Davis unveiling "Angkor the Magnificent" by Titanic survivor Helen Churchill Candee at the top of Angkor Wat in November 2008.

I was briefly allowed access to unveil DatAsia’s newest historical publication Angkor the Magnificent, but I also took the time to snap a few photos of the panoramic view, twenty stories above the jungle. Imagine my surprise when Vizerra effortlessly took me to that same location to duplicate the architectural accuracy of that same priceless view!

The three comparison photos below show how close Viezerra’s virtual reality has come to the real experience.

So the question is…would you like to experience Angkor Wat? You can be there in just a few minutes.

From the central tower this is the view to the southwest. Vizerra did not include the Buddhist temple that was later built just outside the perimeter walls of Angkor Wat.

A spectacular view west-southwest from the top of the central tower at Angkor Wat. The southwest tower of the quincunx is visible at left with the south library of the third level just visible behind the tower. Directly ahead, gazing over the Cruciform Galleries we see the exterior north and south libraries with the West Gopura, entry temple to Angkor Wat, in the distance.

Northwest view from the top of Angkor Wat. Again, Vizerra did not recreate the modern Buddist temple or concession stands that now stand to the right of the reflecting pool.

Article and photos © Copyright 2009 Kent Davis - High resolution images are available for republication by educational organizations at no charge.

Aerial view of the top level of Angkor Wat at dawn with Vizerra's virtual tour software.

Siem Reap, Cambodia – Internet users can now visit Angkor Wat and other world famous landmarks in highly-detailed 3D tours on the educational portal Vizerra.com, a website created by 3DreamTeam. Company founder, CEO and world traveler, Arman Gukasyan, has long been fascinated by the Khmer civilization. After seeing Angkor Wat in person he was inspired to share his experience as one of Vizerra’s first virtual tours.

Vizerra’s tour of Angkor Wat is now available to download free of charge. It begins with a narrated tour and breathtaking aerial views of this architectural wonder of the world. Visitors can then explore the temple, including interior passages, in high-resolution 3D by either walking or flying.

Vizerra's view of Angkor Wat approaching from the southwest by air.

Angkor Wat’s famous bas reliefs, pediments and devata are now only included for artistic effect, but adding that level of detail accurately seems possible within the near future, especially as Vizerra offers more sophisticated products for educational institutions. A July 2009 press conference in Prague states that Vizerra offers “the world`s first educational software application to that allows users to download and tour 3D models of famous and historically remarkable locations in revolutionary quality, with editorial descriptions and fully-functional Google Maps service.”

Vizerra tour location projects - 08/2009

National Geographic Russia worked with 3DreamTeam to create the first three virtual locations of Angkor Wat, the Incan Empire city of Macchu Picchu and India’s Taj Mahal. Interest in their technology is attracting new partners from around the world. With the help of Czech Republic associates, 3DreamTeam has just introduced its newest tour of  the Old Town Square in Prague.

Every destination includes a professionally narrated introductory tour and other selected information. Destinations under development with 3DreamTeam partners now include: the Orthodox Church of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Ukraine), Swayambuthnath Stupa (Nepal), the medieval Kölner Dom Cathedral (Cologne). St Mark’s Square (Venice) and the New Jerusalum Monestary (Russia).

This 300+ meg download is well worth the time if your bandwidth allows. Vizerra offers the best virtual tour experiences available worldwide. So what are you waiting for…visit Angkor Wat today!

Additional photos of the Vizerra 3D virtual tour of Angkor Wat:

Vizerra's view west toward Angkor Wat walking on the elevated causeway.

Vizerra's classic view of Angkor Wat reflecting in the north pool. CLICK TO SEE HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGE

Vizerra's view at the northwest corner of Angkor Wat. CLICK TO SEE HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGE.

The Vizerra virtual tour of Angkor Wat now includes devata, pediments, and bas reliefs for artistic effect. Future technology may allow carvings to be represented in precise detail and scientifically accurate locations.

Vizerra's view to Angkor Wat's top level, from the southwest corner of the second level courtyard.