Angkor Wat Temple is in Cambodia and also the largest religious monument in the world, with the site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built for the Khmer Empire by King Suryavarman II as his state temple in the early 12th century in the capital of the Khmer Empire and gradually remodeling into a Buddhist temple toward the end of the twelfth century.
Angkor is the only one to have stayed a religious center from its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high artistic style of Khmer architecture.
Angkor is the only one to have stayed a religious center from its foundation. The temple is at the top of the high artistic style of Khmer architecture.
The ruins of Angkor Wat are situated within the Angkor archeological Park, and the entrance to the park is found about 3km north of modern-day Siem Reap. There aren't any hotels inside the park grounds, and most visitors stay in Siem Reap which they make daily visits to the temples.
When one first visits Angkor Wat, the impact is exciting, and simply seeing photos cannot compare to the reality of this majestic structure. Approaching along the causeway, at first the design and description against the sky makes it appear nearly two- dimensional, like a vast, real-life post card. However, as one gets nearer, the detail and involution become more and more apparent.
Best Time to Visit
The wonderful structure as an entire is best viewed in soft light. The best lighting conditions are after 2:00 p.m. and a common location for sunrise viewing is the northern reflective pool. You’ll need to get there early before sunrise starts because that is when the most stunning colors are spread over the temple.