🌄 A Symbol of Khmer Greatness
Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument, built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer Empire. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it later transformed into a Buddhist temple — reflecting Cambodia's spiritual evolution over time.
Located in Siem Reap, Angkor Wat is not just a temple — it's a city of gods carved in stone, surrounded by a moat and lush jungle, built as a cosmic replica of the universe in Khmer cosmology.
🛕 The Beginning: A King with a Divine Vision
King Suryavarman II ruled from around 1113–1150 CE. He was a devout follower of Vishnu, breaking tradition from previous kings who worshipped Shiva. Suryavarman dreamed of an eternal city that mirrored Mount Meru — the center of the universe in Hindu belief.
With immense ambition and thousands of workers, artisans, and architects, he began constructing Angkor Wat around 1116 CE. It took over 30 years to build — using more than 10 million sandstone blocks transported from over 50 kilometers away.
✨ Design and Symbolism
Angkor Wat was built as a temple-mountain:
The central tower represents Mount Meru.
The five towers symbolize the five peaks of the sacred mountain.
The surrounding walls and moat symbolize the mountains and ocean of the cosmos.
The temple is famous for its bas-relief carvings:
Epic scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Apsaras (celestial dancers) and devatas (deities) carved with incredible grace.
Historical battle scenes — even showing King Suryavarman himself.
Unlike other temples that face east, Angkor Wat faces west — symbolizing Vishnu, who is often associated with the setting sun and death. Some historians also believe it may have been the king's funerary temple.
📜 After Suryavarman: Rise and Fall
After King Suryavarman II's death, the empire began to weaken. In the 13th century, Jayavarman VII, another great Khmer king, rose to power. He was a Mahayana Buddhist and shifted religious focus from Hinduism to Buddhism, transforming many temples — including Angkor Wat — into Buddhist shrines.
But by the 15th century, the Angkor civilization was in decline due to:
Internal conflict and weak leadership
Foreign invasions, especially by the Siamese (Thai) kingdom of Ayutthaya
Environmental changes and failing water systems
Eventually, Angkor Wat was abandoned as a political center, though Buddhist monks continued to care for it.
🌿 Rediscovery and Restoration
Angkor Wat was never completely forgotten. Local Khmer people always knew of it. But to the outside world, it was largely hidden until 1860, when French explorer Henri Mouhot wrote about it, calling it "a rival to that of Solomon, and erected by an ancient Michelangelo."
Since then, Angkor Wat became a symbol of Cambodian national pride, even appearing on the national flag — the only flag in the world to feature a building.
Conservation efforts have been ongoing since the 20th century, with support from UNESCO, which declared Angkor a World Heritage Site in 1992.
🌟 Angkor Wat Today
Today, Angkor Wat:
Attracts over 2 million visitors each year
Is an active place of worship and pilgrimage
Represents the soul of Cambodia — blending Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, royal legacy, and stunning architecture
It's more than just stone and carvings — it's a living memory of one of the most powerful and advanced civilizations in Southeast Asia.