Where Is Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world, covering about 162.6 hectares (including its moat). Located approximately 5.5 km north of the modern town of Siem Reap in Cambodia, it was originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, and gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century. The complex features five iconic lotus-shaped towers (the tallest reaching 65 m), elaborate bas-reliefs stretching nearly 800 metres depicting Hindu epics, and an intricate water management system. The broader Angkor Archaeological Park contains the remains of the Khmer Empire capital, which at its peak (12th-13th centuries) was one of the largest preindustrial cities in the world.