Angkor Wat, located near Siem Reap, Cambodia, is a vast temple complex built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. It is the world’s largest religious structure, covering 400 acres, and represents the high point of Khmer architecture. Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, it transitioned to a Buddhist shrine under King Jayavarman VII, with many Hindu images replaced by Buddhist art. The five central towers symbolize Mount Meru, the dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology. The temple's walls feature detailed bas-relief sculptures depicting Hindu gods, Khmer scenes, and stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Today, Angkor Wat is a major pilgrimage site and tourist attraction.

Where is Angkor Wat located?

Angkor Wat, a temple complex, is located near Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire constructed it in the 12th century. Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure, encompassing over a thousand buildings across 400 acres, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a marvel of Khmer architecture and a significant pilgrimage shrine in Southeast Asia, drawing many tourists. The temple complex appears on the Cambodian flag.

Who built Angkor Wat and when was it built?

Angkor Wat, located near Siem Reap, Cambodia, was constructed in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire, who reigned from 1113 to around 1150. This vast temple complex, one of the world's great cultural wonders, served as Suryavarman's funerary temple, intended to house his remains. Construction spanned approximately three decades. Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, Angkor Wat's five central towers symbolize Mount Meru, the dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology. After the Cham people sacked Angkor in 1177, King Jayavarman VII, Suryavarman's son, shifted the dedication to Buddhism. Despite being abandoned in the early 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, ensuring its survival as a pilgrimage site. Today, Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major pilgrimage and tourist destination in Southeast Asia.

What is the main purpose of Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat was primarily constructed as a vast funerary temple by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, intended to house his remains after death. Dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, its design reflects Hindu cosmology, with its five towers symbolizing Mount Meru, the gods' dwelling place. The temple's enormous moat represents the cosmic ocean. However, after the Cham sacked Angkor, King Jayavarman VII, believing the Hindu gods had failed him, shifted the temple's focus to Buddhism. Despite the abandonment of Angkor in the 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, ensuring its survival as a pilgrimage site. Today, Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a significant pilgrimage and tourist destination.

What are some unique architectural features of Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat, constructed in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II, is the world’s largest religious structure. The temple's design includes unique architectural features, blending Hindu motifs with Khmer artistry. Key features: * Symbolic Towers The five central towers symbolize Mount Meru's peaks, the gods' dwelling in Hindu mythology. * Vast Moat An enormous moat represents the oceans surrounding Mount Meru. * Detailed Bas-Reliefs The temple walls feature high-quality bas-relief sculptures depicting Hindu gods, Khmer scenes, and stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. * Curved Towers The contour of the towers is curved, not rectilinear, suggesting the stories grow out of one another like a sprouting shoot. * Apsaras Relief carvings of apsaras, celestial singers and dancers, adorn the walls, symbolizing erotic joys.

Why is Angkor Wat considered important to Cambodian culture and history?

Angkor Wat is immensely significant to Cambodian culture and history, as seen by its presence on the Cambodian flag . Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II as a funerary temple, it was initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, with its five towers symbolizing Mount Meru, the gods' dwelling place in Hindu mythology. Later, it transitioned into a Buddhist shrine, and despite being abandoned in the 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained it as a pilgrimage site. Angkor Wat represents the high point of Khmer architecture and the kingdom's technological prowess, especially its sophisticated irrigation system that supported the region's agricultural prosperity. It stands as a symbol of Khmer identity, ingenuity, and spiritual heritage.

Angkor Wat

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Images & Videos

Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, with its towers and palm trees reflected in a large still pool under a blue sky.

Map of Southeast Asia highlighting Cambodia, with a labeled marker showing the location of Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia and the capital city Phnom Penh in the south. Surrounding countries such as Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia are also labeled, along with major bodies of water. An inset globe in the upper right shows the region's location in Asia.

The mystery and preservation of Angkor's temple complex

Angkor Wat temple complex in Angkor, Cambodia, with its towers and palm trees reflected in a large still pond under a blue sky.

Oblique aerial view of Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, showing its central towers, long causeway, and surrounding moat, with dense forest in the background.

Towers of Angkor Wat reflected in a pond, Angkor, Cambodia.

At a Glance

Angkor Wat summary

Angkor Wat

temple complex, Angkor, Cambodia

Also known as: the Wat

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Quick Facts

Location: Angkor, near modern Siem Reap, Cambodia
Built: Early 12th century
Built by: King Suryavarman II (Khmer empire)
Original purpose: Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu
Religious affiliation: Originally Hindu; later Buddhist
Architectural style: Khmer
UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1992 (as part of Angkor)
Known for: Largest religious structure in the world; extensive bas-reliefs

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Hopes for tourism recovery at Cambodia's famed Angkor Park as peak season arrives • Nov. 10, 2026, 10:28 PM ET (Toronto Star)

Top Questions

What is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat, located near Siem Reap, Cambodia, is a vast temple complex built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. It is the world’s largest religious structure, covering 400 acres, and represents the high point of Khmer architecture.

Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, it transitioned to a Buddhist shrine under King Jayavarman VII, with many Hindu images replaced by Buddhist art. The five central towers symbolize Mount Meru, the dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology. The temple's walls feature detailed bas-relief sculptures depicting Hindu gods, Khmer scenes, and stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Today, Angkor Wat is a major pilgrimage site and tourist attraction.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where is Angkor Wat located?
Angkor Wat, a temple complex, is located near Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia. King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire constructed it in the 12th century. Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure, encompassing over a thousand buildings across 400 acres, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a marvel of Khmer architecture and a significant pilgrimage shrine in Southeast Asia, drawing many tourists. The temple complex appears on the Cambodian flag.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who built Angkor Wat and when was it built?
Angkor Wat, located near Siem Reap, Cambodia, was constructed in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire, who reigned from 1113 to around 1150. This vast temple complex, one of the world's great cultural wonders, served as Suryavarman's funerary temple, intended to house his remains. Construction spanned approximately three decades.

Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, Angkor Wat's five central towers symbolize Mount Meru, the dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology. After the Cham people sacked Angkor in 1177, King Jayavarman VII, Suryavarman's son, shifted the dedication to Buddhism. Despite being abandoned in the early 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, ensuring its survival as a pilgrimage site. Today, Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major pilgrimage and tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Southeast Asian arts: Kingdom of Khmer: 9th–13th century
2. Angkor Wat
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is the main purpose of Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat was primarily constructed as a vast funerary temple by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century, intended to house his remains after death. Dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, its design reflects Hindu cosmology, with its five towers symbolizing Mount Meru, the gods' dwelling place. The temple's enormous moat represents the cosmic ocean.

However, after the Cham sacked Angkor, King Jayavarman VII, believing the Hindu gods had failed him, shifted the temple's focus to Buddhism. Despite the abandonment of Angkor in the 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, ensuring its survival as a pilgrimage site. Today, Angkor Wat is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a significant pilgrimage and tourist destination.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Southeast Asian arts: Kingdom of Khmer: 9th–13th century
2. Angkor Wat
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some unique architectural features of Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat, constructed in the 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II, is the world’s largest religious structure. The temple's design includes unique architectural features, blending Hindu motifs with Khmer artistry.

Key features:
* Symbolic Towers The five central towers symbolize Mount Meru's peaks, the gods' dwelling in Hindu mythology.
* Vast Moat An enormous moat represents the oceans surrounding Mount Meru.
* Detailed Bas-Reliefs The temple walls feature high-quality bas-relief sculptures depicting Hindu gods, Khmer scenes, and stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics.
* Curved Towers The contour of the towers is curved, not rectilinear, suggesting the stories grow out of one another like a sprouting shoot.
* Apsaras Relief carvings of apsaras, celestial singers and dancers, adorn the walls, symbolizing erotic joys.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Why is Angkor Wat considered important to Cambodian culture and history?
Angkor Wat is immensely significant to Cambodian culture and history, as seen by its presence on the Cambodian flag. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II as a funerary temple, it was initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, with its five towers symbolizing Mount Meru, the gods' dwelling place in Hindu mythology.

Later, it transitioned into a Buddhist shrine, and despite being abandoned in the 15th century, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained it as a pilgrimage site. Angkor Wat represents the high point of Khmer architecture and the kingdom's technological prowess, especially its sophisticated irrigation system that supported the region's agricultural prosperity. It stands as a symbol of Khmer identity, ingenuity, and spiritual heritage.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Angkor Wat, temple complex at Angkor, near Siem Reap, Cambodia, that was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II (reigned 1113–c. 1150) of the Khmer empire.

The vast religious complex of Angkor Wat comprises more than a thousand buildings, and it is one of the great cultural wonders of the world. Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure, covering some 400 acres (160 hectares), and marks the high point of Khmer architecture.

Construction and architecture

The city of Angkor served as the royal center from which a dynasty of Khmer kings ruled one of the largest, most prosperous, and most sophisticated kingdoms in the history of Southeast Asia. From the end of the 9th century until early in the 13th century, numerous construction projects were undertaken, the most notable of which was Angkor Wat. It was built by Suryavarman II as a vast funerary temple within which his remains were to be deposited. Construction is believed to have spanned some three decades.

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All of the original religious motifs derived from Hinduism, and the temple was dedicated to the god Vishnu. The five central towers of Angkor Wat symbolize the peaks of Mount Meru, which according to Hindu mythology is the dwelling place of the gods. The mountain is said to be surrounded by an ocean, and the complex’s enormous moat suggests the oceans at the edge of the world. A 617-foot (188-meter) bridge allows access to the site. The temple is reached by passing through three galleries, each separated by a paved walkway. The temple walls are covered with bas-relief sculptures of very high quality representing Hindu gods and ancient Khmer scenes as well as scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

Religious history

After the Cham people of modern-day Vietnam sacked Angkor in 1177, King Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181–c. 1220) decided that the Hindu gods had failed him. When he built a new capital nearby, Angkor Thom, he dedicated it to Buddhism. Thereafter, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine, and many of its carvings and statues of Hindu deities were replaced by Buddhist art.

In the early 15th century Angkor was abandoned. Still, Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat, which remained an important pilgrimage site and continued to attract European visitors. Angkor Wat was “rediscovered” by explorer Henri Mouhot after the French colonial regime was established in 1863.

Restoration and preservation

In the 20th century various restoration programs were undertaken, but they were suspended amid the political unrest that engulfed Cambodia in the 1970s. When work resumed in the mid-1980s, the required repairs were extensive. Notably, sections had to be dismantled and rebuilt. In 1992 the Angkor complex, which included Angkor Wat, was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO and was immediately added to the list of World Heritage in Danger. In the ensuing years, restoration efforts increased, and Angkor was removed from the danger list in 2004. Today Angkor Wat is one of the most important pilgrimage shrines in Southeast Asia and a popular tourist attraction. The temple complex appears on the Cambodian flag.

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Ethan Teekah.

Angkor Wat

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