Thailand Travel Pages – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

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Angkor Wat:

Angkor Wat is probably the most well known of all the ancient Khmer temples of Cambodia. A powerful symbol of Cambodia, the temple’s popularity has seen it become a source of great public pride as witnessed by its inclusion on the national flag.

Construction of this ancient Khmer temple began in the first half of the 12th century during the reign of Suryavarman II. Originally the temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, however in the late 13th century the then king, King Srindrvarman converted to Buddhism, and therefore Angkor Wat has traces from both religions.

As you first approach the temple area you will be greeted by the sight of an impressive 190 m wide moat, inside which stands a 4.5m high wall skirted by a 30m strip of land. Main access to the temple grounds are via a sandstone causeway located at the west, which is adorned with giant naga (serpent gods).

The temple's boundary wall encloses an area of 820,000 square meters. Originally, besides the temple itself the area was occupied by the city and was full of buildings. These buildings were all made from wood and other perishable materials and so nothing accept the faint traces of the streets remains.

The temple itself is said to represent the home of the gods 'Mount Meru', with each tower symbolizing the five peaks of the mountain, the surrounding walls representing the mythical mountain ranges and the moat, the ocean.

Angkor Wat is considered to be the classical example of Khmer architecture. Constructed from laterite dressed with sandstone it's builders were so highly skilled and each piece was so carefully constructed that no cement was needed to join the blocks together.

The true purpose of the temple is unclear; however many speculate that it was intended to serve as Suryavarman II's funerary temple. The evidence for this is scant, but unlike most Khmer temples, Angkor Wat is oriented towards the west (rather than to the east); the highly intricate bas-reliefs that adorn the internal walls are viewed in a counter-clockwise direction, which is the same direction as used during the 'prasavya' or Hindu funeral rites; and archeologists have uncovered the remains of a container inside the central tower that may have been a funerary jar.

Approximately 25 years after Suryavarman II's death, Angkor Wat was invaded by the Chams, an ancient tribe from the area now known as Vietnam. When the empire was restored by the new king Jayavarman VII (who reigned c.1181-1215), he established a new capital city (Angkor Thom) a few kilometers to the north.

A 'must-see' for any travelers to Cambodia, the enduring sight of Angkor Wat will stay with you forever.

Getting there

Angkor Wat lies 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap.