Angkor Wat

Cambodia · ancient temples · architecture

Massive religious complex. Angkor Wat is the biggest religious building in the whole world, covering an area as large as about 230 soccer fields! It sits in the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia and is so important that it appears on Cambodia's national flag.

Built for a king. King Suryavarman II ordered workers to construct this incredible temple between 1113 and 1150 CE, which is about 900 years ago. It was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu.

Changed religions. Starting in the late 1200s, Angkor Wat gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple, and Buddhist monks have worshiped there ever since. Today it's both a historical marvel and an active place of worship.

Decorated with stories. The temple walls are covered with incredible carved reliefs, like stone comic strips, that tell stories and show scenes from ancient times. These carvings are so detailed and beautiful that they show how skilled the Khmer artists were.

Faces the sunset. Unlike almost every other temple at Angkor, Angkor Wat faces west toward the setting sun, which makes it unique and special in ways experts are still studying.