This is Angkor Wat, the most famous of the Angkor temples. It's the profile of
this temple that is part of the Cambodian flag. It was built in the 12th
century and probably took 30 years to build.
The orientation of Angkor Wat is different from
all other Angkor temples. Unlike all other Angkor temples, which are built to
enter from the east, Angkor Wat was built to enter from the west.
Some studies of Angkor Wat have
concluded that the dimensions of Angkor Wat were chosen to match numbers that
were sacred in Hindu mythology.
Angkor Wat is immense. It occupies about 500 acres. The outer wall surrounding
Angkor Wat measures 3.5 miles. The moat outside the wall is 200 meters wide.
Unlike some of the other temple moats at Angkor, Angkor Wat's moat is still
full of water. People in the area surrounding Angkor Wat still bathe and
play in the water there - and also work for the government by planting lotus.
Angkor Wat has some
outstanding bas-relief stone murals that stretch for hundreds of meters around
one level. Like other temples in the Angkor Wat complex, Angkor Wat has three distinct
sections. At Angkor Wat, each of these is built on a progressively higher
level. The uppermost level is reached by climbing up extremely steep stairs.
These photos of Angkor Wat will begin from the outside and work inward.
I hope you enjoy my photos of Angkor Wat.
The approach to Angkor Wat is by a long causeway which
crosses an enormous moat. This is the view of Angkor Wat after crossing the
moat.
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Although the typical view of Angkor Wat are these three towers, the side
towers are really just two of four corner towers surrounding a central tower.
The towers of Angkor Wat are built to look like Lotus flower buds.
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The large moat surrounding Angkor Wat (which was dug by hand) seems to set
Angkor Wat apart from everything else around it, helping to give it the
appearance of being a special place.
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Next Page: More of Angkor Wat
Previous Page: Ta Prohm
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