Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia The preeminant structure of all of the Angkor structures is Angkor Wat, the largest religious building in the world.  The temple of Angkor Wat measures 1.5km by 1.3km and required the labor of thousands to build it.  Constructed under the reign of King Suryavarman II between 1112 and 1152, Angkor Wat was built with stone quarried 50km away (from the district of Svay Leu) in what must have been one of the most complex logistical undertakings of all time.

View of the southeast corner of Angkor Wat from inside the outer wall.

View of the northeast corner of Angkor Wat from inside the outer wall with pool in foreground.

Center view of Angkor Wat from the sandstone causeway inside the outer wall.

The north library as seen from the doorway of the hall of echoes.

View of several apsaras (heavenly nymphs or angelic dancers) in the main sanctuary of Angkor Wat.

Buddha statue in the Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas.

Detail of bas relief on the western section of the north gallery depicting the battle of the gods and demons.

Detail of Graceful Apsaras that Decorate Angkor Wat by the Thousands.

View of the upper level of Angkor Wat.

Detail of Sanskrit engraving in the Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas.

Related Articles:

Yogyakarta and Prambanan, Central Java, Indonesia

Borobudur, Central Java, Indonesia

Khmer Temples of Northeast Thailand

Wat Phu Champasak, Laos

Chams of Central Vietnam

Back to Angkor Introduction