Angkor Wat

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Lore & Background

Angkor Wat was commissioned by the Khmer king Suryavarman II (ruled 1113–c. 1150) in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura, the capital of the Khmer Empire. Construction began in 1122 CE and was completed in 1150 CE, on the suggestion of Divākarapaṇḍita (1040–c. 1120). The temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and built as the king's state temple. Its original name is unknown, but it may have been known as Vrah Viṣṇuloka after the presiding deity. Work ceased after the king's death, leaving some bas-relief decoration unfinished. After the Khmer empire was sacked by the Chams in 1178, Jayavarman VII restored the empire and converted Angkor Wat into a Buddhist site, influenced by his wife Indradevi who was a devout Mahayana Buddhist. From the late 13th century onward, it became predominantly associated with Theravada Buddhism. The temple was never completely abandoned, and fourteen inscriptions from the 17th century record Japanese Buddhist pilgrims establishing small settlements alongside Khmer locals. One inscription tells of Ukondayu Kazufusa celebrating the Khmer New Year at Angkor Wat in 1632. European rediscovery began in the 16th century with Portuguese traders and missionaries; one of the first recorded visitors was António da Madalena, a Capuchin friar who explored the ruins in 1586. The temple was effectively rediscovered in 1860 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot, who popularised it in the West through his travel notes, writing: 'One of these temples, a rival to that of Solomon... It is grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome.'

Reader's Guide

Angkor Wat is significant as the largest religious complex in the world and a masterpiece of Khmer architecture, noted for its monumental scale, extensive bas-reliefs, and architectural unity. Its design combines the temple-mountain and galleried temple forms, symbolizing Mount Meru, a cosmological concept in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Unlike most Angkorian temples, it is oriented toward the west. The complex has been in continuous religious use for centuries, which contributed to its preservation. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 and attracts more than 2.5 million visitors every year. Restoration efforts, coordinated by the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) established in 1993, have involved multiple international agencies including France (via the École française d'Extrême-Orient), Japan (JASA), India (Archaeological Survey of India), Germany (GACP), the United States (World Monuments Fund), South Korea, China, and Italy. Angkor Wat remains a major religious, cultural, and national symbol of Cambodia.

Did You Know?

• Angkor Wat is oriented toward the west, unlike most Angkorian temples.
• The temple's original name is unknown, but it may have been called Vrah Viṣṇuloka, meaning 'the sacred dwelling of Vishnu'.
• Construction began in 1122 CE and was completed in 1150 CE, on the suggestion of Divākarapaṇḍita (1040–c. 1120).
• Japanese Buddhist pilgrim Ukondayu Kazufusa celebrated the Khmer New Year at Angkor Wat in 1632.
• The temple complex houses a population estimated between 3,000 and 4,300 residents, based on modern analyses.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some believe Angkor Wat was originally a Buddhist temple, but it was actually constructed as a Vaishnava Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu between 1113 and 1150 CE and only later converted to Buddhism. Another common misconception is that Angkor Wat was "lost" and then rediscovered by Europeans in the 19th century; in fact, the temple was never completely abandoned, and Japanese Buddhist pilgrims visited and settled there as early as the 17th century. Additionally, while Henri Mouhot is often credited with its rediscovery in 1860, European visitors such as Portuguese friar António da Madalena had already toured the ruins in 1586.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

Angkor Wat endures not only as an architectural and spiritual marvel but as a living symbol of Cambodian identity, appearing on the national flag and remaining an active center of Buddhist worship for centuries. Its continuity across Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and its resilience through conquest and change, speaks to the enduring human need for sacred spaces that connect the past to the present.