Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor is a complex of religious temples at the various capitals of the Khmer Empire, covering about 400 square kilometers and making up the most important archaeological site in the entire region. The most famous of these temples is Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple built under the rule of King Suryavarman II in the Temple Mountain architectural style. Angkor Wat, which means Ctiy of Temples in Khmer, was the state temple and capital city, and later became a mausoleum for Suryavarman II.

Angkor Wat differs from many other temples because it is oriented to the west rather than the east. This could have been because the king wanted it to be a burial temple for himself, or it may have been because it was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, who has associations with the west. The temple is surrounded by a rectangular moat with entrances on the west and east. A statue of Vishnu, called Ta Reach is among the artwork and many decorations around Angkor Wat.

After the King’s death in around 1150, construction on the temple ended. It was conquered and later restored by King Jayavarman VII, who built a new temple, Bayon, and moved the new state capital to Angkor Thom. Angkor Wat became a Theravada Buddhist site in around the 13th century.

Angkor Wat is the biggest tourist attraction in the country, and has become an important part of Cambodian history and culture, and is even featured on the nation’s flag.