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Angkor Wat
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- Name
- Angkor Wat
- Continent
- ASIA
- Alt Name:
- Angkor Vat
- Country:
- Cambodia
- Period:
- High Medieval (1000AD–1300AD)
- Sub-Region:
- -
- Date:
- 1100AD - 1199AD
- City/Town:
- Siemreab
- Figure:
- -
- Resorts:
- Siemreab,
Batdambang,
- Related:
- Preah Vihear Temple,
about Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is an enormous 12th century temple complex in Cambodia and the best preserved of its kind.
Incredibly grand and ornately decorated, Angkor Wat’s sand-coloured buildings rise up to form five towers, representing the home of the Hindu deities. Friezes and sculptures are found throughout, depicting both day-to-day life from the time it was built and religious events.
Whilst the complex in Angkor is believed to have been founded circa 980 AD by Yasovarman I, king of the Khmer Dynasty, Angkor Wat itself is thought to date back to the twelfth century.
It was the Khmer king Suryavarman II who built Angkor Wat between 1113 and 1150. He dedicated it to the Hindu deity Vishnu and there are images of Suryavarman as Vishnu throughout Angkor Wat in the form of sculptures. It is also thought that Angkor Wat was the site of Suryavarman’s tomb.
Invaded by Thai raiders in 1431, Angkor and its temple then laid undiscovered until the 19th century.
Today Angkor Wat is one of Cambodia’s most popular tourist sites. There is an incredible amount to see and it’s a good (although relatively expensive) idea to get a licensed tour guide.
Angkor Wat has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992.
Just as empires rise and fall so do entry fees and opening hours! While we work as hard as we can to ensure the information provided here about Angkor Wat is as accurate as possible, the changing nature of certain elements mean we can't absolutely guarantee that these details won't become a thing of the past. If you know of any information on this page that needs updating you can add a comment above or now.
contact details
Address: Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phone: Contact local tourist office
E-Mail: webmaster@tourismcambodia.com
useful information
Directions:
Angkor Wat is located around 6km north of the province of Siem Reap, which is off National Highway 6 (turn right onto Charles de Gaulle). It is around 320 km northwest of the city of Phnom Penh. Siem Reap - Angkor International is located nearby (10km from the site) and is Cambodia’s second largest airport.
Ticket Information:
Angkor Wat is generally open from sunrise (around 5am) to sunset. Admission costs US$20 for a one day pass, US$40 for a two day pass and US$60 for a three day pass. Make sure to only buy passes at the entry gates.
Links:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/668
http://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/angkor/angkor-wat.htm
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