Being one of the most prominent historical sites in Asia, Angkor has many temples that represent the history and culture of Cambodia.
The temple
Angkor Wat translates to Temple City and was originally a Hindu temple that was dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Built by the Khmer Empire, this temple then became a Buddhist place of worship at the end of the 12th century.
History
King Suryavarman built the temple in the early 12th century, at a place that was called Yasodharapura back then. This place is Angkor today. Even though the place was abandoned for years in between, the moat around the temple saved it from being eaten up by the jungles around it.
Location
The temple is about 6 kilometres away from Siem Reap and if you are staying at a luxury hotel in Siem Reap, for example, at Anantara Angkor Resort, planning a trip to visit the temple will be no hard feat.
Architecture
The design and architecture represent the Khmer Empire, but as the work on the temple was paused after the death of the King, it is seen only in some parts of the temple. After the Chams took over Angkor in 1177, they completed the work on the temple.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
