What is Angkor Wat?

About Angkor Wat:

• It is the largest religious monument in the world.
• It covers an area of 200 acres.
• It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman IIin the first half of the 12th century, around the year 1110-1150, making Angkor Wat almost 900 years old.
• It was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu before becoming a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century.
• In 1992, the temple complex was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Features:
  • The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture.
  • Sandstone blocks were used to build the structure. 
  • The precision in carving and the fitting together of stones without the use of mortar is a testament to the engineering skills of the Khymer builders, and the technique used is yet to be ascertained correctly, though a section claims it to be wooden paste or a lime plaster mix.
  • It is protected by a 15-foot-high wall and a wide moat.
  • The temple can be accessed only via small bridges spanning across the moat from the eastern and western sides.
  • The temple has five major towers symbolising the peaks of Mount Meru, believed to be the abode of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
  • Thousands of bas-reliefs depicting important deities and figures in Hindu and Buddhist religions, as well as key events in their narrative traditions, adorn the temple walls.
• Where is Angkor Wat?
  • It is located in the northwestern province of Siem Reap in Cambodia.
  • The city of Angkor, home to Angkor Wat, was the capital of the Khmer Empire and thrived between the 9th and 15th centuries.
  • Angkor itself stretched over 400 sq.km. and is now home to the magnificent remains of a variety of temples, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple, and Ta Prohm.