Angkor Wat

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For the American thrash metal band, see Angkor Wat (band).

Angkor Wat

Front side of the main complex

Location in Cambodia

Location Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

13°24′45″N 103°52′0″ECoordinates:
Coordinates
13°24′45″N 103°52′0″E

Altitude 65 m (213 ft)

 History

Builder Started by Suryavarman II Completed

by Jayavarman VII

Founded 12th century

Cultures Khmer Empire

Architecture

Architectural Khmer (Angkor Wat style)

styles

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name Angkor

Type Cultural

Criteria i, ii, iii, iv

Designated 1992 (16th session)

Reference no. 668

Region Asia and the Pacific

This article
contains Khmer text.Without
proper rendering support, you
may see question marks, boxes,
or other symbols instead
of Khmer script.

This article contains Indic

text.Without proper rendering
support, you may see question
marks or boxes, misplaced
vowels or missing conjuncts
instead of Indic text.

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Angkor Wat (/ˌæŋkɔːr ˈwɒt/; Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត, "Capital Temple") is a temple complex
in Cambodia and one of the largest religious monuments in the world, on a site measuring 162.6
hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres).[1] Originally constructed as a Hindutemple dedicated to the
god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the
end of the 12th century.[2] It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II[3] in the early 12th century
in Yaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as
his state temple and eventual mausoleum. 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. It has become a symbol of Cambodia,[4] appearing
on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.[5]
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
mythology: within a moat more than 5 kilometres (3 mi) long[6]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 devatas adorning its
walls.

Angkor Wat
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
For the American thrash metal band, see Angkor Wat (band).

Angkor Wat
 Front side of the main complex

Location in Cambodia

Location Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

13°24′45″N 103°52′0″ECoordinates:
Coordinates
13°24′45″N 103°52′0″E

Altitude 65 m (213 ft)

History

Builder Started by Suryavarman II Completed

by Jayavarman VII

Founded 12th century

Cultures Khmer Empire

 Architecture

Architectural Khmer (Angkor Wat style)

styles

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Official name Angkor

Type Cultural

Criteria i, ii, iii, iv

Designated 1992 (16th session)

Reference no. 668

Region Asia and the Pacific

This article
contains Khmer text.Without
proper rendering support, you
may see question marks, boxes,
or other symbols instead
of Khmer script.

This article contains Indic

text.Without proper rendering
support, you may see question
marks or boxes, misplaced
vowels or missing conjuncts
instead of Indic text.

Part of a series on

Hinduism

 Hindus
 History
Concepts[show]

Schools[show]

Deities[show]

Texts[show]

Practices[show]

Gurus, sants, philosophers[show]

Society[show]

Other topics[show]

 Glossary of Hinduism terms

 Hinduism portal

 v
 t
 e

Part of a series on

Buddhism

History[show]

 Dharma

 Concepts

[show]

Buddhist texts[show]

Practices[show]

Nirvāṇa[show]
 Traditions[show]

Buddhism by country[show]

 Outline
 Buddhism portal

 v
 t
 e

Angkor Wat (/ˌæŋkɔːr ˈwɒt/; Khmer: អង្គរវត្ត, "Capital Temple") is a temple complex
in Cambodia and one of the largest religious monuments in the world, on a site measuring 162.6
hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres).[1] Originally constructed as a Hindutemple dedicated to the
god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the
end of the 12th century.[2] It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II[3] in the early 12th century
in Yaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as
his state temple and eventual mausoleum. 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. It has become a symbol of Cambodia,[4] appearing
on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.[5]
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
mythology: within a moat more than 5 kilometres (3 mi) long[6]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 devatas adorning its
walls.