Caption

Angkor Wat was built for King Suryavarman II (ruled 1113-50) in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the Angkor site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers

Date

Mar 01, 2013

Credit line

Photo12/imageBROKER/David Henley

Reference

BRK25G94_416

Model release

NA

Property release

No

License type

Rights managed

Available size

49,8Mb (4,5Mb) / 17,1in x 11,3in / 5120 x 3401 (300dpi)

Keywords

deserted Memorial UNESCO ruin Buddhism building sacral building temple architecture antiquity archeology history sculpture statue relief art faith Hinduism God religion mythical creature fantasy Southeast Asia Asia depiction demon religious deity Asian temple site Ruins complex Hinduist historic Buddhist figure tourist attraction World Heritage Site magic culture archeological Cambodian old artistic Cambodia Khmer UNESCO World Heritage heritage bas-relief Angkor Wat Vishnu mythology travel photography ancient civilization Siem Reap Province Angkor Region Siem Reap ancient city Asura deva archaeological site Indra Angkor Archaeological Park Hindu temple sculptural ancient angkor angkor vat david henley kampuchea kampuchean naga preah pisnulok suryavarman suryavarman ii vasuki no one Monument Ruined building structure sacred building ancient world archaeology belief imagination Southeastern Asia representation Asiatic temple complex ruin site ancient times historical Buddhistic piece place of interest World Heritage magical archaeological UNESCO site low-relief ruined town archaeological area No People Memorial site construction religious building character Famous Place archeologic Unesco World Heritage Site nobody archaeologic uninhabited empty Memorials ruins buildings temples sculptures statues reliefs arts Gods religions mythical creatures depictions demons deities temple sites Altertum Hindu figures tourist attractions cultures Artistically heritages bas-reliefs mythologies ancient civilizations ancient cities Asuras devas archaeological sites Hindu temples Ruined buildings temple complexes ruins site historically pieces places of interest low-reliefs ruined towns archaeological areas constructions religious buildings Famous Places temple's lord South east Asia depicting history image history images sight landmark tourist landmark oldest world hertiage Angkor ruined city representing Unesco world Site tourist spot