Dream good

Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer king  Suryavarman II  in the early 12th century in  Yaśodharapura  (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum. Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the  temple-mountain and the later  galleried temple . It is designed to represent  Mount Meru , home of the  devas  in  Hindu mythology  and is surrounded by a  moat  more than 5 km (3.1 mi). Enclosed within an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) 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 with scholars divided as to the significance of this.  The temple complex fell into disuse before being restored in the 20th century with various international agencies involved in the pro...

In the 12th century, the ancient Khmer kings of  Cambodia  packed the equivalent of all of Europe’s great cathedrals into an area the size of Los Angeles, making the fabled  Temples of Angkor  a veritable Disneyworld for history enthusiasts.  These majestic temples in northwest Cambodia are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, topping the history hit list for many travelers to Southeast Asia. The ultimate statement of Khmer architectural ingenuity,  Angkor Wat  is the largest religious building in the world and a perfect blend of religious symbolism and symmetry. The temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia and a source of fierce national pride – amongst other things, this is the only building featured on a national flag. Almost every inch of this immense complex is covered with intricate carvings and motifs and there's a huge amount to see, so it pays to do a little homework on this most iconic of temples before planning your bucket list adventure ...