Largest Hindu Temple

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EntranceThe main entrance to the temple proper, seen from the eastern end of the

Naga causeway [3] History An 1866 photograph of Angkor Wat by Emile Gsell

The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half

of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113-c. 1150).

Dedicated to Vishnu, it was built as the king's state temple and capital city,

with the royal palace located between the temple and the north gate, and the

city filling the remainder of the outer enclosure. In the 14th or 15th century

the temple was converted to Theravada Buddhist use, which continues to the

present day. Unusually among Angkor's temples, although Angkor Wat was somewhat

neglected after the 16th century and required considerable restoration in the

20th century, it was never completely abandoned. Its moat also provided some

protection from encroachment by the jungle. During this period the temple was

known as Preah Pisnulok, after the posthumous

title of Suryavarman. The temple's modern name means "City Temple": Angkor is a

vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the Sanskrit word nagara

(capital), while wat is the Khmer word for temple. Conservation efforts at the

temple continue, notably the German Apsara Conservation Project, which

endeavours to protect the devatas or apsaras and other bas-reliefs which

decorate the temple from damage. The organisation's survey found that around

20% of the devatas were in very poor condition, mainly because of natural

erosion and deterioration of the stone. ANGKOR WAT Outside walls of Angkor

Wat, main entrance and stretch of water Entrancebook shopAngkor Wat, One of

the rare surviving statues, the statue of the god Vishnu with 8

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