Built in the early 1100’s by the Khmer King Suryavarman II, the temples at Angkor represent one of the most advanced architectural achievements in relation to its time. The temple was originally dedicated to the Hindu god, Vishnu, but later became a site for practitioners of Buddhism. Today, the site is a major tourist location, pulling in upwards of 600,000 foreigners every year. Efforts to preserve and restore the temple have been ongoing since the 1980’s and various countries have made efforts to protect the site including, the U.S., France, Germany, and Japan.
Conflicting theories exist in relation to the temple’s purpose. Unlike most of the other temples in the area, Angkor Wat’s main entrance faces westward. This has led some historians to believe that the temple was actually built as a funerary site for Suryavarman II. However, others reason that the temple faces west because the Hindu god, Veshnu, was affiliated with that direction. Regardless of the site’s purpose, though, it is agreed that Angkor Wat was once one of the largest cities in the world, and that it combined secularism and spiritualism.
Angkor Wat was built early in 1100s by Suryavarman II over an estimated 30 year period. It honors Vishnu, and the ruins are a symbolic structure of Hindu cosmology. The temple is located about 4 miles to the north of Siem Reap and south of Angkor Thom, its only accessible entrance through the gate to the west.
Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious sites in the world, covering around 500 acres of land. Its five walls and moats are a representation of mountainous chains, as well as the cosmic ocean. The vast compound’s short dimensions are aligned precisely along the north-south axis, and the east to west axis was diverted deliberately 0.75° to give its observers an anticipation of the equinox in spring for three days.
Pictures & Photos
Who is He Smiling At? Found At Bayon Temple, Angkor ThomPhoto by: The Wandering Angel
This was not helpful for my report.
I’m very happy that i can see the best photo of ANGKORWATT
This is so interesting for me that I can see Angkorwatt that is described in my text book.
Angkor Temple is the world largest Vishnu Temple of Hinduism
Si su dios hablara…
It’s really great to see Angkor Wat temple here. Cool! it’s proud for Khmer (Cambodia) to show out to the world. Instead of all Khmer thanks for this.
Angkor is the most wonderful temple in the world.
I’m Cambodian. I’m proud that Angkor Wat stand on this website. Thank you very much that you wrote nicely about Cambodia. I’m proud to be Khmer. Welcome for all who want to visit Cambodia. We serve you the best. Cambodia kingdom of Wonder. 🙂
i support Angkor Wat for the world best Things !
I love Cambodia. Cambodia ,kingdom of wonder!
Ankor Wat is the best wonder of the world. It was built by Khmer’s greatest ancestors to symbolize that this nation is the greatest nation in South East Asia.
Cool !!! Interesting photos & facts about Angkor Watts….
ive been their last december, what a magnefacient world.ii was amaze by there structure…
I really love Angkor Wat. We are warmly welcome all visitors from over the world.
Wow….what a splendid construction from a south-indian king(Suryavarman)……chancelz…….very proud!!!!
I am from Cambodia
I love Angkor Wat Temple and cambodia
What’s an amazing temple I have ever seen in my life? I love Angkor Wat. 🙂
I love Cambodia, I love Angkor Wat and other temple in Cambodia.
Hello to every one thank you very much for showing like this picture of angkor wat temple and I am suprise to see that and I big fame of old and historicial things from the childhood and like this place very much tamil king come through the sea and acros he develop a kingdom to people those living there once thank you very much taking such wonderful picture
I very much like the Angkorwat Temple, which is so much ancient, but still stood in very much steady condition. Its Architecture design is so beautiful and so large that it attracts me to visit Cambodia…..
Angkor Wat is the masterpiece among hundreds stone buildings of Khmer civilization that its beauty and dimension reached final expression…
So very beautiful – thank you for the lovely pictures! I would love to see Angkor Wat in person some day but, at the same time, I worry that constant tourist traffic could be detrimental to this wonder…
it is fabulous, It’s nice to be there someday
I love Angkor wat very much
I love Angkor wat very much because it is our heart of culture so we must look after and protect all together.
I was very amazed by the grandeur of angkor wat, I really want to go there someday … , Famouswonder.com thanks for the information. 🙂
Angkor wat acelestial beuty dropped on earth. I salute the great people of Kambodia who have built this. My earnest will to visit AW anytime in my life.
This is a dream to me that one time i will enter the Great Angkor Wat Vishnu temple. Starting the dream when i was first saw the Angkor Wat temple in my regular history book.
nice photos
of corse they are reply if u agree
i love learning about this
WELL, THANKS TO THE INDIAN KING WHO BUILT THIS TEMPLE, AND TO SHOW HINDU ‘S ARCHITECTURE TO WORLD
I love Cambodia & anhkor wat Temple I love Indian king thank you Cambodia with live
Khmer King, Suryavarman ii’s temple, just one of 1000 Khmer’s magnificent temples in the khmer empire. this is the largest religious monument/structure in the world, and it floats over subterranean water. it is sad to see people from thousands of miles away in india try to claim a temple they did not create.
I am very proud to be born Khmer that there are many temples from ancient Khmer king like Angkor wat is the wonder of the world .so being Khmer we have to protect n take care of these temples for young generations
Angkor Wat is the amazing place but ppl from there are not honest 80% .they just trying to hunting money .
My wife and I visited Seam Reap last November 2013, the magnificient temples are beautiful, the people are very friendly. Angkor Wat is one of the wonders in the world and also go to Angkor Thomto see many more. Must visit again.
amazing places to visit..i was there in january 2012
Visited Angkor Watt in 2010 and was happy to have visited the temples there. I really admired the constructions and the drawings, carvings of Mahabaratham and Ramayanam on the walls. I have written a book in Tamil on my visit to Angkor Watt after coming back to Malaysia and in the process of publishing. I intend to make one more visit with my friends and family.
it is really awesome i love the structure of angkor wat i love it very much
I am very proud to visit this ancient and largest religious temple in the world and which was omitted from the list of WORLD WONDER. If not today in future this temple may be included in new world wonders list. This temple was built by our Chozha Dynasty King Surya Varman II between 1130 – 1150 AD who ruled Cambodia from 1113 – 1150