When we planned our trip to Angkor Wat we were largely focused on the artwork and architecture that we’ve seen in photographs. Pinterest and Instagram are full of amazing photos depicting the ancient temples and the surrounding Cambodian forests. We were excited to put on our walking shoes, charge up our camera, and spend a few days capturing amazing photos. Once we arrived, it occurred to us that we didn’t know the answer to a couple of basic questions about the temples –
- Who built Angkor Wat?
- Why Angkor Wat was built?
Fortunately, our tuk-tuk driver was able to answer our questions as he had done this tour thousands of times. First, it’s important to differentiate Angkor Wat, the temple, from the ancient city of Angkor. Angkor Wat is a temple that was the centerpiece of the ancient city of Angkor, which contained many other temples. These temples are also worth seeing when you visit Angkor Wat.
Who Built Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the ancient city of Angkor. Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire. Historians consider him to be one of the empire’s greatest kings. This is due to his reign’s monumental architecture, numerous military campaigns, and use of strong government.
Why Angkor Wat was Built
The temple was constructed in the early 12th century with the purpose of being his state temple. However, there is speculation that it was also intended to be used as the King’s mausoleum, since the temple faces west towards the sunset, which is unusual for Khmer temples.
It was initially built as a Hindu temple, and then later converted to a Buddhist temple. Angkor Wat is still in use today and is one of the best preserved temples in Angkor. Be prepared to take your time and enjoy the multilevel temple and the surrounding moat.
For more information…
This article doesn’t cover everything since it’s mostly what we learned from our tour driver. It’s hard to remember everything after such a long day in the sun, and seeing so many temples. Therefore, if you want more information you can checkout the Wikipedia page on Angkor Wat here.