Built between 1113 and 1150 for the Khmer king Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world. It was first a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, and probably meant as the king's mausoleum. From the late 13th century it gradually became a Buddhist temple, and it remains a place of Buddhist worship today.
Its layout is commonly read as a model of Mount Meru, the home of the gods. A broad moat and an outer wall surround three galleries, each raised higher than the last, rising toward a central group of five towers. The galleries are lined with extensive carved reliefs. Unusually for an Angkor temple, it faces west.
Angkor Wat is the symbol of Cambodia and appears on the national flag.
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