Angkor Wat, the Eighth Wonder of the World
Cambodia's Angkor Wat temple became the eighth wonder of the world, surpassing Italy's Pompeii. This 800 years old temple was built by King Suryavarman II. Angkor Wat was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, but it was later changed to become a Buddhist temple. This is the largest temple in the world.
What is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat is the world's largest Hindu temple included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. This temple is basically dedicated to Lord Vishnu, whose walls have detailed depictions of various incidents mentioned in various Hindu scriptures. This temple is spread over an area of about 500 acres. This temple is established in Simrip city located on the banks of Mikang River in Cambodia. There is a lot of respect for this temple among the local people, due to which it has also been given a place in the national flag of Cambodia.
What is its History
Angkor Wat Temple was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II. Originally this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, but over time it has been converted into a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple. The temple's transition from Hinduism to Buddhism is clearly visible in the intricate carvings on its walls, which depict scenes from Hindu mythology as well as stories from Buddhism.
8th Wonder of the World
Angkor Wat Temple has been called the 8th wonder of the world because of its magnificent architecture. Spread over an area of 500 acres, this temple is surrounded by a very strong boundary wall on all sides. The central complex of the temple has 5 lotus-shaped domes, which represent Mount Meru. The decoration of the walls of the temple is quite complex, in which the influence of Khmer classical style is visible. The height of the original peak of the temple is about 64 meters. Apart from this, there are 8 other peaks in the temple, whose height is 54 meters. The entire temple is surrounded by a 3.5 km long stone wall, outside which there is a 30 meter open space followed by a 190 meter wide moat. Stone bridges have been built to cross the moat.