Siem Reap · Siem Reap Province
Angkor Wat — Siem Reap, Cambodia (the world's largest religious monument at 162.6 hectares — Guinness-certified; originally a Vishnu temple built by Suryavarman II 1113-1150 CE; UNESCO 1992)
Angkor Wat — Khmer Angkorvatta (Angkor Wat = 'temple city'); the Vishnu temple + mausoleum built by Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1150 CE); five-spire-quincunx symbolising the five peaks of Mt. Meru; west-facing (the unique funerary-orientation explanation); later (13th-14th centuries) gradual conversion to a Theravada Buddhist site
अन्य नाम: Angkor Vat · Angkorvatta · City Temple
इस मन्दिर की विशेषता
Originally Vishnu (Khmer-Vaishnava; Suryavarman II's central court religion); later Theravada Buddhist images installed (13th-14th centuries)
Khmer-Vaishnava Vishnu-mausoleum-temple form; devaraja-Vaikuntha-loka theology
सम्प्रदाय: Originally Khmer-Vaishnava (Pancharatra-parallel); administered by APSARA Authority (apsaraauthority.gov.kh) — the Cambodian government regulator; tickets via Angkor Enterprise (ticket.angkorenterprise.gov.kh); active Theravada Buddhist monks present
Suryavarman II (reigned 1113-1150 CE) built Angkor Wat as a Vishnu-centred temple and his own mausoleum. The posthumous name **Paramavishnuloka** ('the one who entered the Vaikuntha-loka') — Suryavarman II's direct Vaikuntha-loka identification is the primary epigraphic evidence. ~Three-decade construction span. Wikipedia + Britannica + World History Encyclopedia 3+ multi-consensus.
Five lotus-bud spires symbolise Meru's five peaks (the abode of the gods); the 200m-wide moat symbolises the 'world ocean'; three concentric galleries. The central spire is 65m high. Britannica + Wikipedia multi-source.
Three-gallery bas-reliefs: Ramayana scenes + Mahabharata Battle of Kurukshetra + Samudra Manthan scenes + the historical Suryavarman II procession. Central to a Sanatan-Dharma scriptural monument. Wikipedia + World History Encyclopedia + Britannica.
Unusual west-facing orientation among Khmer/Hindu temples (which face east by convention) — in Hindu cosmology the west is the direction of death; the counter-clockwise reading of the bas-reliefs parallels antyeshti rites. No physical burial evidence has been found; the temple functioned as both a worship site and Vishnu-mausoleum. Wikipedia + World History Encyclopedia 2+ multi-consensus.
Following the 1431 Ayutthaya sack of Angkor + the late-13th-century rise of Theravada Buddhism under the Khmer dynasty; Buddha images were added in the galleries. Active Theravada Buddhist monks remain on site to this day. Wikipedia + Yale Macmillan SE Asia + Phnom Penh Post multi-source (date-conflict: 'late-13th' vs 'late-12th' vs '14th century' — the consensus phrasing is 'late 13th-14th century'; no single year is fixed).
05:00 (gates open at 5:00 AM for sunrise viewing; ticket office 04:30) से 18:00 तक · मध्याह्न विश्राम None
वस्त्र-संहिता: Dress code strictly enforced — shoulders + knees covered (especially at the upper Bakan sanctum + Bayon central + Baphuon entry); guards strictly enforce; hats must be removed inside the inner sanctums
फोटोग्राफी: General photography allowed; flash + tripods forbidden inside the upper Bakan sanctum
विशेष नियम: Bakan-sanctum entry requires age 12+ + shoulders/knees covered mandatorily (strictly enforced by guards); entry to all of Angkor Park requires the Angkor Pass (not only Angkor Wat); Pass-2026 prices USD 37 (1-day) / USD 62 (3-day within 10 days) / USD 72 (7-day within 30 days); children under 12 free (passport required); a 1-day Pass after 5 PM is also valid the next day
The peak Angkor Wat-spire darshan experience; Angkor Pass required.
Daily darshan for Angkor Pass holders; bas-relief galleries + three concentric sanctums.
Entry to the upper-sanctum central Vishnu garbhagriha; age 12+ + dress code strictly enforced.
A twice-a-year sunrise central-spire-alignment viewing; a 30,000+ pilgrim-tourist gathering.
Pass for entry to all of Angkor Park (not only Angkor Wat); under 12 free; passport required.
From the west entrance the sun appears aligned with the top of the central spire; proof of Khmer astronomical engineering; a 30,000+ pilgrim-tourist gathering
Cambodia's national new year; the Angkor visit peak period
Cambodia's 15-day Theravada Buddhist ancestral commemoration period
A national festival commemorating the reversal of the Tonlé Sap river's flow
The Guinness-certified world's largest religious monument by area; UNESCO 1992 inscribed; the original Vishnu temple darshan sankalpa tirtha
स्रोत: Guinness World Records + UNESCO + Wikipedia multi-source
The Vishnu-centred temple + mausoleum built by Suryavarman II; posthumous 'Paramavishnuloka' Vaikuntha-loka direct identification darshan sankalpa
स्रोत: Wikipedia + Britannica + World History Encyclopedia
Three-gallery bas-relief Sanatan-Dharma scriptural monument darshan sankalpa; Ramayana + Battle of Kurukshetra + Samudra Manthan counter-clockwise reading
स्रोत: Wikipedia + World History Encyclopedia + Britannica
A twice-a-year sunrise central-spire-alignment viewing sankalpa; proof of Khmer astronomical engineering; a 30,000+ pilgrim-tourist gathering
स्रोत: Khaosod + AKP Cambodian government + Cambodge Mag
Five lotus-bud spires Mt. Meru five-peak symbol + 200m moat world-ocean symbol darshan sankalpa tirtha
स्रोत: Britannica + Wikipedia multi-source
The only temple in the world depicted on a sovereign national flag; the central darshan sankalpa tirtha of Cambodia's national pride
स्रोत: Wikipedia
The capital-centre of Angkor; the Bayon temple has 200+ Buddha-face sculptures; built by Jayavarman VII
Small Circuit-central; built by Jayavarman VII; unique tree-root structure
Pink-sandstone-built; unique fine carving
Grand Circuit-central; built by Jayavarman VII
The Angkor visit gateway city; hotels + food + transport centre
Cham dynasty Hindu temple complex; SE Asia Hindu circuit
9th-century Hindu temple complex; SE Asia Hindu circuit
Central temple; the world's largest religious monument; UNESCO 1992 inscribed
5 मंदिर
The peak of the three great surviving SE-Asia Hindu temple complexes
3 मंदिर