About Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is part of the largest temple complex in the world and one of the most iconic landmarks in Southeast Asia.
Nestled amidst the lush jungles of Cambodia, the Angkor temple complex is a testament to the grandeur of the Khmer Empire that thrived from the 9th to 15th centuries. The site encompasses over 1,000 temples on an area equivalent to modern-day Paris. It is renowned worldwide for its stunning architectural symmetry, intricate carvings, and rich jungle setting.
Construction on the complex began in 900AD, and was continuously added to over 300 years by a lineage of Khmer Kings trying to one-up each other. The construction of Angkor Wat, the most famous temple on the complex, was ordered in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II to be his state temple, and eventually his mausoleum.
In addition to Angkor Wat, highlights of Angkor include Bayon, a temple known for its 200 smiling stone faces, and Ta Prohm, which is slowly being enveloped by the elephantine roots of cotton-silk trees, making it feel like the set of an Indiana Jones film.
Initially, the site's temples were devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu; the grounds were built to represent Mount Meru, the Hindu equivalent of Mount Meru. Towards the end of the 12th century, though, the site gradually became a Buddhist temple, which it continues to be to this day.
A one-day pass to visit the temples is included with your visit to Angkor Wat. A three-day pass is also available at an additional cost. Please let us know if you are interested in this.