Southeast Asia is well-known for its ancient temples and Angkor Wat is one of the major temples tucked deep in the rainforests of Cambodia. “Wat” means a monastery and in the early days, it was used as one.

This huge temple, built around 1113 and 1150 AD by Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire, is the epitome of Khmer architecture, and is considered to be one of the most astonishing architectural achievements. It took more than 30 years for the construction of this temple.

Angkor Wat’s massive stone towers rise to heights of almost 200 feet and have awed visitors from around the world, every since Henri Mouhot, the French explorer discovered the ruins in the midst of a dense jungle, in 1861.

King Suryavarman II dedicated this temple to the Hindu god Vishnu.  It depicts the Hindu influences from India even before Buddhism became the religion of dominance. The design, consisting of a series of concentric rectangles, represents the Hindu cosmos.  There are five towers at the center of Angkor Wat that represent the five peaks of the mythic Mount Meru, the home of gods.  The intricate and laborious craftsmanship stands witness to the skill of the craftsmen from centuries ago.

Twenty-seven years after the death of Suryavarman II, the Khmer empire was restored by King Jayavaraman VII, who was a Hindu.  He was later deposed by his son-in-law who was an ordained Buddhist monk. This led to King Jayavaraman coming to the conclusion that this happened because Hindu Gods failed him, and it was then that he decided to convert the official religion of the Khmer empire to Buddhism.  He later converted Angkor Wat into a Buddhist temple during the 15^th century.  All the Hindu deities and other decorations at the temple were replaced by Buddhist statues and carvings.

Angkor Wat is the prime attraction of Cambodia and thousands of visitors visit the temple each year from all corners of the globe.  It is the pride of the nation and now appears as a symbol on the Cambodian national flag.