April 2010

 

Angkor Wat  is a Theravada Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious complex in the world. Located on a site measuring over 400 acres within the ancient capital of Angkor, it was constructed between 1113 and 1150 CE during the reign of the Khmer king Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. From the late 13th century onward, the complex was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple and has remained an active center of Buddhist worship for centuries. Angkor Wat is noted for its monumental scale, extensive bas-reliefs, and architectural unity characteristic of Khmer architecture, and unlike most Angkorian temples it is oriented toward the west. It is a national symbol of Cambodia and appears on the Cambodian national flag.

 

 

Sunrise at Angkor Wat

Bas-reliefs - Angkor Wat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Window detail, Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat

Monks awaiting food donations