Angkor Wat

អង្គរវត្ត

The world's largest religious building is a Vishnu temple built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. Watching the sunrise over its five lotus-bud towers is the high point of any Cambodia trip.

Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century by the Khmer king Suryavarman II as a temple to Vishnu and a royal mausoleum. It covers about 1.6 square kilometers and is surrounded by a moat 190 meters wide. It is the largest religious monument in the world and appears on the Cambodian flag. The temple faces west, and its five lotus-bud towers represent Mount Meru. The central tower stands 65 meters high.

Highlights include the libraries and lotus pond on either side of the western causeway, the bas-reliefs along the first-level gallery, which stretch for 800 meters and depict the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, the Battle of Kurukshetra, and heaven and hell. The second level has more than a thousand apsara carvings. The central tower on the third level can only be reached by steep stairs, and the queue is long. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Visitors must wear long trousers or skirts and tops with sleeves, and children under 12 are not allowed to climb the tower. The classic approach is to arrive before 5 a.m. and watch the sunrise from the lotus pond on the north side. After sunrise, climb the central tower before the tour groups arrive, then walk the galleries to see the reliefs. In the afternoon the sun faces the western main entrance, which is good for panoramic photos.

The temple has no ticket office on site, so you must buy tickets first at the ticket center in town and carry them with you, since they are checked at several points. A tuk-tuk from the city center takes about 20 minutes.

Tips: Monkeys will grab food and sunglasses. The galleries have steep steps, so wear non-slip shoes.

Angkor Wat

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