Unearthing the Secrets of Angkor Wat: How Old is this Ancient Masterpiece?

1. Unearthing the Secrets of Angkor Wat: How Old is this Ancient Masterpiece? Angkor Wat is a gigantic Buddhist temple complex in the north of Cambodia. The temple is famous worldwide, with many tourists planning the ANGKOR WAT Tour each year. Angkor Wat is ranked as the largest religious monument in the world, making it a bucket list attraction for many. But how old is the temple, and what's the mysterious history behind the heart and soul of Cambodia? This travel guide will answer all your questions. Let's get started to unearth the secrets of Angkor Wat. Exploring the History of Angkor Wat Angkor Wat is an architectural masterpiece that covers an area four times the size of Vatican City, making it the largest religious monument in the world. The temple was built in the first half of the 12th century, during 1110-1150, by the Khmer King Suryavarman II. It means Angkor Wat is more than approximately 1,000 years old. The temple complex was built in the Khmer Empire's capital and took around 30 years to build. It's believed that the temple was initially built as the Hindu god Vishnu temple before turning into a Buddhist temple by the end of the 12th century. Moreover, according to ancient texts, Antonio de Madalena was one of the first Western visitors to the temple. He was a Portuguese friar and visited Angkor Wat in 1586. The French explorer Henri Mouhot rediscovered the temple in the 1840s. He described the temple

2. complex as 'grander than anything left to the world by Greece or Rome' and let the Western world know about this incredible monument. The French restored the Angkor War for tourism purposes in the early 1900s, when they used to rule Cambodia. However, the restoration work was disrupted by the Cambodian Civil War during the Khmer Rouge rule. However, Angkor Wat sustained minimal damage. Travelers booking the Cambodia tour packages to visit Angkor Wat can still find the bullet holes in the temple's outer walls because of the battles during the Khmer Rouge regime. It was in 1953 that Cambodia gained independence from France and had complete control over Angkor Wat since then. In 1992, UNESCO named the temple complex a World Heritage site, making it a top-rated Cambodian tourist attraction. Approximately 2 million visitors visit Angkor Wat every year. Many travelers prefer visiting Angkor Wat in the early morning to witness mesmerizing sunrise over this incredible temple. What is Angkor Wat Located? Angkor stretches over 400 km2 and is now home to the magnificent remains of Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Bayon Temple. Today, Angkor Wat is located north of Cambodia, approximately 5.5km north of Siem Reap. When planning the ANGKOR WAT Tour, you can visit Siem Reap's livery bars, colorful markets, sere hotels, and popular tourist attractions to explore the ancient world of Angkor. Angkor Wat's Design Angkor Wat covers an area of 200 acres and is protected by a 15-foot-high wall and wide moat. Centuries back, it included a city, emperor's palace, and temple. However, since the temple's walls were built of sandstone, not wood, it remains the only structure today. Moreover, according to Hindu and Buddhist faiths, Angkor Wat is popularly known to represent Mount Meru, the home of the gods. The five towers at Angkor Wat represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, while the walls represent the surrounding mountain ranges, and the moat signifies the sea. Final Words Visiting Angkor Wat is top of many people's bucket lists, and thus, they plan Cambodia tours to explore this awe-inspiring temple. Angkor Wat translates to "City of Temples" in the Khmer language and is famous for its enormous size and incredible detail. You will have the adventure of a lifetime when exploring Angkor Wat, the incredible UNESCO World Heritage site.