Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument, built in the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman and was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Preserver of the Universe. Hindu temples are built as a dwelling place for the Gods, so Angkor Wat’s architecture mirrors Mount Meru. The five central towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru while the moat represents the surrounding ocean and the world beyond. After being invaded in 1177, King Jayavarman decided that the Hindu Gods had failed him and built another temple near Angkor Wat dedicated to Buddhism. Soon after, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine, and the Hindu art was accompanied with Buddhist art. So, let’s take a look at the Angkor Wat’s cultural and historical significance.
Built during the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire between 1110 to 1150, the Angkor Wat represents Khmer architecture, also referred to as Angkorian architecture. Khmer architecture was largely inspired by religious Indian temples and sculptures. When Angkor Wat operated as a Hindu shrine, bas-reliefs and sculptures of Indian mythological scenes were formed into the walls, columns, and friezes. The reliefs illustrate a variety of animals, lotuses, and garlands with extra attention given to the headdresses, hair, garments, postures, and jewelry on the Devatas and human figures. The southern gallery holds a representation of the 27 heavens and 32 hells of Hindu mythology, and the eastern gallery houses an infamous frieze featuring Vishnu showing 88 Devas and 92 Asuras, called ‘Churning of the Sea of Milk’.
Angkor Wat is located in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument, built in the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman and was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Preserver of the Universe. Hindu temples are built as a dwelling place for the Gods, so Angkor Wat’s architecture mirrors Mount Meru. The five central towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru while the moat represents the surrounding ocean and the world beyond. After being invaded in 1177, King Jayavarman decided that the Hindu Gods had failed him and built another temple near Angkor Wat dedicated to Buddhism. Soon after, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist shrine, and the Hindu art was accompanied with Buddhist art. So, let’s take a look at the Angkor Wat’s cultural and historical significance.
Built during the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire between 1110 to 1150, the Angkor Wat represents Khmer architecture, also referred to as Angkorian architecture. Khmer architecture was largely inspired by religious Indian temples and sculptures. When Angkor Wat operated as a Hindu shrine, bas-reliefs and sculptures of Indian mythological scenes were formed into the walls, columns, and friezes. The reliefs illustrate a variety of animals, lotuses, and garlands with extra attention given to the headdresses, hair, garments, postures, and jewelry on the Devatas and human figures. The southern gallery holds a representation of the 27 heavens and 32 hells of Hindu mythology, and the eastern gallery houses an infamous frieze featuring Vishnu showing 88 Devas and 92 Asuras, called ‘Churning of the Sea of Milk’.
