Angkor Wat at dawn New Years Day 2007 Cambodia
Angkor Wat is a temple at Angkor (near Siem Reap), Cambodia. Built for King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city, it is the largest and best-preserved temple at the site. Angkor Wat is the only temple to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation—first Hindu, dedicated to Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temples. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the gods in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall km ( miles) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.
Size: 5020px × 3347px
Location: Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Photo credit: © nidpor / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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