Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (/ˌæŋkɔːr ˈwɒt/; Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត "Buddhist Monastery in the city"^[2]) is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world by land area,^[1] on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1.626 km²; 402 acres).^[3] Originally constructed as a Hindu temple in the early 12th century,^[1] it was converted into a Buddhist Temple towards the end of 12th century, which continues to present day.^[4]

It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II^[5] in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple for the Empire.^[6][4] Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu.

As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture.Today, it is one of the most important pilgrimage site for the Buddhists in Cambodia and around the world.^[7] It has become a symbol of Cambodia,^[8] appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.^[9]

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple-mountain and the later galleried temple. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology within a moat more than 5 kilometres (3 mi) long^[10] and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous statues of Buddhas and Devas adorning its walls.