Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap in Cambodia, is the largest religious monument in the world and the most celebrated temple of the Khmer Empire. It was built in the first half of the twelfth century, from around 1113 to 1150, under King Suryavarman II as a state temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, later becoming a Buddhist site. Enclosed by a vast moat and a rectangular outer wall, the temple rises in three concentric galleries to a quincunx of towers echoing the mythical Mount Meru, and its walls carry extensive bas-reliefs of epic scenes. Part of the wider Angkor Archaeological Park, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.

As an active place of worship set amid centuries-old ruins, Angkor Wat inspires many personal accounts of a powerful spiritual atmosphere, particularly at dawn, and occasional tales of monks and figures glimpsed in the galleries. Such stories are anecdotal and devotional rather than documented, and the site is understood chiefly through its religious and archaeological significance.

Angkor Wat remains a profound symbol of Cambodian identity, appearing on the national flag, and stands as one of the supreme achievements of Khmer art, architecture and engineering.

Angkor Wat is open to visitors as part of the ticketed Angkor Archaeological Park; passes are sold officially through Angkor Enterprise as one-, three- or seven-day tickets and must be shown at checkpoints. The park opens early to allow the popular sunrise viewing, and the temple itself is an active religious site.

Visitors should dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, especially to enter the upper level, and follow rules on conduct, restricted areas and photography. The stones and steep stairways are ancient and uneven, so care, water and sun protection are advised in the tropical heat.