What is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat is a temple complex located in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. It was built in the early 12th century by the Khmer Empire, a powerful civilization that ruled over much of Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th century.
The Khmer Empire was responsible for constructing many impressive structures, including Angkor Wat, which is considered one of the most significant and impressive archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.
Who built Angkor Wat?
It was built during the reign of King Suryavarman II, who ruled from 1113 to 1150 AD. The temple complex was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, but was later converted into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century.
Why is Angkor Wat popular?
Angkor, the largest pre-industrial city in the world, was more expansive than modern-day Los Angeles or Paris and ANY medieval European cities.
Flourishing around the 12th and 13th centuries, it spanned over 1,000 square kilometers with a population between 700,000 to 900,000.
Its urban planning and architecture were advanced, with extensive roads, canals, and sophisticated water management systems supporting its large population and agriculture.
Angkor Wat, the city’s centerpiece, showcased elaborate construction techniques and detailed stonework, illustrating the Khmer Empire’s cultural richness and organizational prowess. Compared to medieval London’s 50,000 residents, Angkor’s scale was monumental.
Angkor Wat is significant for its incredible architectural design and intricate carvings, which depict scenes from ancient Hindu epics and everyday life in ancient Cambodia. The temple complex is also a symbol of the Khmer Empire’s power and cultural achievements during its heyday.
The complex includes several smaller temples surrounding Angkor Wat such as Ta Prohm Temple which has been left mostly untouched since its discovery in 1858; Bayon Temple which features four giant stone faces carved into towers; Banteay Kdei Temple whose walls are decorated with intricate carvings depicting Hindu mythology; Preah Khan (Sacred Sword) Temple which contains some well-preserved sculptures from Buddhist iconography; Phnom Bakheng Hill where visitors can enjoy stunning views over Siem Reap city at sunset time ; Banteay Srei (“Citadel of Women”); and many more!
Who are the Khmer?
The Khmer people are an ethnic group that is native to Cambodia and parts of neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.
The Khmers have a long and complex history, and are believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent.
They are related to the people of India and other parts of South Asia through a shared cultural and linguistic heritage, and were heavily influenced by Indian religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
What’s does India got to do with Angkor Wat?
The Khmer Empire was particularly influenced by Indian culture, and many of its art and architectural styles were inspired by Indian models.
For example, the design of Angkor Wat is believed to have been inspired by the Indian temple architecture of the Pallava dynasty in southern India. (See more South Indian temples)
The Khmer people also adopted many Hindu and Buddhist religious beliefs and practices from India, which greatly influenced their culture and way of life.
See this for more details and what to do when you visit Angkor Wat.