Travel Asia

The Angkor Wat temple, located in Cambodia, is one of the most impressive religious buildings in the East and is a very popular tourist attraction in the region. It has been very well preserved. It is the only temple that continues to be a religious center.

The temple is one of the most impressive feats of architecture in the world with its dominating towers, intricate carvings in the walls, and endless, courtyards and passageways outside of the temple. Angkor Wat has drawn praise above all for the harmony of its design, which has been compared to the architecture of Greece or Rome.The main entrance to the temple overlooks a gorgeous stretch of water. The Temple reflects in the water, creating a beautiful scene for all to view. People come to see the beautiful sculptures.

Angkor Wat is the prime example of the classical style of Khmer Architecture, which used sandstone in addition to brick to create unique designs. It has stood the test of time because quality of the constuction was not sacrified for the beauty of it. The basic of both was perfect. Many modern day architectures are at awe with the balace of the elements and style.

It is a representative symbol of Cambodia, displayed on the National Flag. The temple is said to be indestructible. The people of Sieam Reap took refuge inside the temple during the war that broke out in 1970. The Guinness Book of World Records lists it as the largest religious structure in the world. In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the monument, and the whole city of Angkor, a World Heritage Site..

History of Angkor Wat,Cambodia

This temple is suspected to be built more than eight centuries ago by King Suryavarman, who ruled from 1113 to at least 1145. It was built as the king’s state temple and capital city. The temple was dedicated to the Hindu God, Vishnu. When the city was left in the 1400’s, this magnificent temple was occupied by Buddhist monks. They continue to reside there today.

A monk who visited in 1586 and said that it “is of such extraordinary construction that it is not possible to describe it with a pen, particularly since it is like no other building in the world”. The temple became known around the world after a French explorer wrote of his travels there. The Angkor Wat is truly one of the greatest representations of the traditional Cambodian culture.