Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia that is the world's biggest religious monument, covering 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres). Angkor Wat was consecrated to Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, breaking with the Shaiva practice of prior kings. The construction of the temple took 27 years, and it was formerly known as "Varah Vishnu-lok." It went through various religious transformations, including conversions from Hinduism to Buddhism.

Suryavarman II, the Khmer King, erected it as his state temple and eventual mausoleum in Yaodharapura, the Khmer Empire's capital, in the early 12th century. Angkor Wat was consecrated to Vishnu, breaking with the Shaiva custom of past kings. The temple-mountain and the subsequent galleried temple are the two primary plans of Khmer temple construction that Angkor Wat incorporates. Within a moat more than 5 kilometers (3 miles) long and an outside wall 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next, to resemble Mount Meru, the home of the devas in Hindu mythology. A quincunx of towers lies at the heart of the temple. Angkor Wat, unlike most Angkorian temples, is oriented west; experts disagree about the importance of this. The temple's architecture is recognized for its grandeur and harmony, as well as its large bas-reliefs and countless devatas gracing its walls.

Angkor Wat is the only temple on the site that has remained an important religious center since its creation, and it is also the best-preserved. The temple represents the pinnacle of Khmer architecture's high classical style. It has become a national symbol of Cambodia and is the country's most popular tourist attraction.

Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia