c. 1113 · Southeast Asia · Culture
Construction of Angkor Wat begins
Angkor Wat is a Theravada Buddhist temple complex, originally built as a Vaishnava Hindu temple, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is the largest religious complex in the world. Located on a site measuring 162.6 hectares within the medieval 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 as Khmer kings adopted Buddhism. Angkor Wat has remained a Buddhist monastery and an active center of Buddhist worship into the present day. It is noted for its monumental scale, extensive bas-reliefs, and an architectural unity characteristic of Khmer architecture. Unlike most Angkorian temples, it is oriented toward the west. It is a symbol of Cambodia and appears on the Cambodian national flag.