Early Morning at the Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat (អង្គរវត្ត, “City/Capital of Temples”) is a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Krong Siem Reap (Siem Reap City, ក្រុងសៀមរាប), Cambodia, located on a site within the ancient Khmer capital city of Angkor.
Originally constructed in 1150 CE as a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Vishnu, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the century.
It is considered the largest religious structure in the world by Guinness World Records.
Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.
The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and devatas adorning its walls.
The Angkor area was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. It is regarded as one of the best examples of Khmer architecture and a symbol of Cambodia, depicted as a part of the Cambodian national flag.
Video Source: ទិដ្ឋភាពព្រះអាទិត្យរះនៅអង្គរវត្ត/Siem Reap Angkor from Narith_Paysage_Officiel on Youtube ⁄ CC BY
