Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (in the Khmer language Temple of the city) is a Khmer temple within the archaeological site of Angkor, Cambodia, near the city of Siem Reap. It was built by King Suryavarman II (1113-1150), at Yasodharapura, the capital of the empire. The king ordered that the construction of the gigantic building start from the 4 sides at the same time, so that the work was completed in less than 40 years. Today it is the largest religious monument in the world. Originally conceived as a Hindu temple, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.

Breaking the traditional Shivaism of previous kings, the complex was dedicated to Vishnu. Angkor Wat is the best preserved temple in the area and is the only one to have remained an important religious center since its foundation, representing one of the highest points of the classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become the symbol of Cambodia, so much so that it appears on the national flag and is today the place of the country most visited by tourists.