Angkor Wat - Angkor, Cambodia - Great Buildings of the World on Waymarking.com

The principal temple of the Angkorian region, Angkor Wat, was built between 1113 and 1150 by King Suryavarman II. Though Angkor Wat was constructed as a Hindu temple, it has served as a Buddhist temple since Buddhism became Cambodia’s dominant religion in the 14th century.

Angkor Wat is a unique combination of the temple mountain, the standard design for the empire's state temples, the later plan of concentric galleries, and influences from Orissa and the Chola of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods: the central quincunx of towers symbolises the five peaks of the mountain, and the walls and moat the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean.

Unlike most Khmer temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west rather than the east. This has led many to conclude that Suryavarman intended it to serve as his funerary temple. Further evidence for this view is provided by the bas-reliefs, which proceed in a counter-clockwise direction—prasavya in Hindu terminology—as this is the reverse of the normal order. Rituals take place in reverse order during Brahminic funeral services.

The end of the Angkorian period is generally set as 1431, the year Angkor was sacked and looted by Ayutthaya invaders, though the civilization already had been in decline in the 13th and 14th centuries. During the course of the 15th century, nearly all of Angkor was abandoned, except for Angkor Wat, which remained a Buddhist shrine.

Angkor Wat is the main tourist attraction in Cambodia. It has become a symbol of the country, appearing on its national flag.

Admission fees: Passes are sold in one-day ($20), three-day ($40) and seven-day ($60) blocks.

Sources: (visit link) and (visit link)

City, State or City, Country: Cambodia, Southeast Asia Year Built: 1140 Architect: unknown Webpage from GreatBuildings.com or other approved listing: [Web Link] Other website with more information about building: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Submit a photo you have taken of the building or an interesting detail of the building. (No GPS photos wanted) If you have additional information about the building please add it to your visit log.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   11/17/2021 silliemillie visited it 08/03/2020 csara visited it 02/17/2019 franketmuriel visited it 02/23/2018 CL60 visited it 01/28/2016 Demonici visited it 03/29/2015 ChrisA33 visited it 03/26/2015 Castor007 visited it 05/21/2014 merlot visited it 12/28/2013 juhanili visited it 10/07/2013 osendemix visited it 04/07/2013 candido73 visited it 01/26/2013 Lachlan1.77 visited it 07/02/2012 Take & Ilona visited it 12/29/2011 Atrivis visited it 03/25/2010 André de Montbard visited it 01/14/2002 Metro2 visited it

View all visits/logs