Angkor Wat, commonly known as Little Angkor, meansThe City of Temples. It was originally a Hindu temple and later converted to Buddhism. It is the largest religious relic in the world and the pinnacle of Khmer classical architectural art. It has become a national symbol of Cambodia and appears on the national flag.

According to legend, Angkor Wat was created at the request of Indra for his son Pricha·The palace built by Ke Mi Lie. The initial design and construction of the temple began in the early 12th century, serving as the national temple and capital of King Suryavarma II, dedicated to the worship of Vishnu. Shortly after the king's death, the construction almost came to a halt, so some relief decorations were not yet completed. In 1177, Angkor was plundered by the Khmer archenemy Champa. Afterwards, the newly appointed king Jayavarma VII rebuilt the empire and built a new capital city, Angkor City, and the national temple, Bayong Temple, several kilometers north of it.

Angkor Wat combines the basic characteristics of Khmer temples, including temple mountains and temple corridors based on early Dharma architecture. Its design symbolizes Mount Sumeru——The dwelling place of the gods in Hindu mythology. Within the 3.6 kilometer long moat and exterior walls, there are three rectangular corridors, each elevated from the previous one. The center of the temple is a five pointed plum blossom shaped pagoda. Unlike most Angkor temples, Angkor Wat faces to the west, and what is most impressive is the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, with a large number of reliefs and numerous flying goddesses on the walls, which are breathtaking.

The construction of Angkor Wat was said to have involved hundreds of thousands of people at that time, and the entire construction process lasted for decades. The builders used large stones from the plain, and there were pillars aloneMore than 1500 pieces, with a total weight of over 3 billion tons, and the tight fit between the stones, demonstrating extremely high geometric literacy, demonstrating the superb craftsmanship of the craftsmen at that time.

Angkor Wat is surrounded by a width of approximatelySurrounded by a 200 meter city, there are two walls inside, and a square stone city is also enclosed. The layers of corridors are connected vertically and horizontally, forming a series of squares. The main building of the temple stands on a truncated pyramid shaped pedestal in the center of the entire temple, with five lotus bud shaped holy towers on the pedestal. The highest one in the center, about 65 meters, represents the core of heaven. The five towers tower high into the clouds, very majestic.

Angkor Wat has three floors, each with lifelike reliefs carved on the walls, which are a reflection of the people's spirit at that time. The images of the underworld and heaven are not only reflected through the overall characteristics of the architecture, but also through the content of each layer of relief. Among them, there are stories of Vishnu fighting against demons, displays of Indian epics, and mythological legends in Mahabharata.

The grandeur and grandeur of Angkor require personal exploration to be felt. Listening attentively, you will find that every stone here, whether standing proudly or collapsed, seems to be telling a thousand year old story.