Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was constructed during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12ᵗʰ century. Unlike many earlier Khmer royal temples associated with Shiva, it was dedicated to Vishnu. The temple was conceived as a sacred representation of Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain of Hindu tradition. Its enormous moat, galleries, towers and sculptural programme combine religious symbolism with royal power. Over subsequent centuries the monument transitioned into a Buddhist sacred site. It remains one of the best-preserved monuments of the Angkor complex and one of Cambodia's most important national symbols.