Angkor was
the site of a
series of capital cities of the Khmer empire.
Their
ruins are located
amid forests and farmland
to the
north of the Great Lake ( Tonle Sap )
near modern day Siem Reap
and are a
UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
The number
of temples at Angkor exceed one thousand
ranging in
scale from piles of rubble to the magnificent Angkor Wat
-
claimed to be the world's largest, single, religious monument.
Angkor
Wat ( Angkor Vat) was 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 Angkor
and is
the only one to have remained a
significant religious centre since its foundation
- first
Hindu (
dedicated to Vishnu ) - then Buddhist .
The temple
is the epitome of
the classical style of Khmer architecture
and has
become a symbol of
Cambodia appearing on the national flag.
Angkor
Wat is the country's
prime attraction for visitors.
Angkor
Thom, established in the late twelfth century by king Jayavarman VII,
was the
last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire.
It
covers an area of 9 sq Km with the Bayon - Jayavarman's state temple
-
at the centre of the city.
