Angkor Wat

The Largest Temple on Earth

Built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is the largest religious structure ever built — a 1.6 km² complex of towers, galleries, and bas-reliefs oriented to the rising sun. Originally Hindu, it later became Buddhist and remains an active place of worship.

Engineered for the Monsoon

The Khmer built vast reservoirs (barays) to manage the seasonal floods of the monsoon, allowing the Angkor civilization to support an estimated 750,000 people — one of the largest preindustrial cities on Earth.

Reclaimed by the Jungle

Abandoned and overgrown for centuries, Angkor Wat was never fully lost and is now the symbol of Cambodia, appearing on the national flag. It is a time capsule of an empire that mastered both stone and water.