Angkor Wat

The layout follows a symbolic Mount Meru, with a broad moat, an outer wall, and three concentric galleries that rise toward a central quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, the complex faces west, a choice linked to its original dedication to Vishnu. Walls are covered with extensive bas‑reliefs and rows of devatas, allowing visitors to walk beneath stone narratives that depict mythic and historic scenes. The central tower cluster, rising from the highest gallery, creates a visual axis that frames the sunrise and sunset over the surrounding plains.

Commissioned by King Suryavarman II as a state temple and probable mausoleum, the site transitioned to Buddhist worship from the late 13th century onward, a continuity that aided its preservation. International restoration began in the 20th century under the UNESCO‑coordinated ICC‑Angkor, with contributions from France, Japan, India, Germany, the United States, South Korea, China and Italy. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Wat draws more than 2.5 million visitors each year. Its five‑tower silhouette, echoing the mythic mountain, remains the image most associated with Cambodia.