Wonders of the World: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The 12th century temple complex of Angkor Wat is a striking monument to the powers of King Suryavarman.

By Emily Craig
The Telegraph, UK
29 Dec 2009

The temple complex at Angkor Wat, built by the Khmer king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, is a place of immense historical and religious significance. Angkor Wat means “city temple” and Angkor, once the capital of the region, boasted a population of one million at its zenith.

Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, the temple tower represents the deity’s dwelling place. Within the temple there are bass-reliefs depicting devatas, or guardian spirits, and the struggles between the gods and demons of Hindu mythology.

King Suryavarman no doubt intended Angkor Wat to reflect his own status; the temple decorations are unfinished in parts and it is thought that work on it ended shortly after his death. Later in the 12th century, the Chams, enemies of the Khmers, plundered the city, and when king Jayavarman VII acceded to the throne he decided to build a new capital to the north.

In time the temple was neglected and the site became overgrown although, on rediscovering it in the 19th century, a French explorer proclaimed it to be “grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome”.

Angkor Wat is open from sunrise to sunset and entry passes cost from around £12. Bamboo Travel (www.bambootravel.co.uk) offers a “Wonders of Cambodia” 14-day tour from £1,849 per person based on two people sharing, for departure dates in March, 2010.