What Is Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a collection of interconnected temples in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is a temple complex built by the Khmers. The ancient wonder of Cambodia is Angkor Wat. This dynasty ruled over one of Southeast Asia’s most prosperous and technologically advanced kingdoms, with its capital in the city of Angkor, now known as Cambodia. A mere four miles north of Simréab sits the ancient Cambodian city of Angkor. “Classical” Cambodian history refers to the Khmer Empire’s rule over the country.

The History of Angkor Wat

After King Yashovarman I arrived at Angkor at the end of the 9th century, the Angkorian dynasty ruled a vast area stretching from the tip of the Indochinese Peninsula north to modern-day Yunnan Province in China and westward from Vietnam toward the Bay of Bengal. For this reason, these monarchs utilised the immense resources of personnel and riches to carry out several construction projects. Jayavarman VII, king of Angkor from 1181 to 1220, was notable for a decline in strength and vitality. The Khmer Empire was utterly destroyed when Ayudhia conquered Angkor in 1431.

Location and Cambodia

• It is located in the Angkor province of Cambodia and contains several ancient temples
• The Karnak Temple in Egypt, with its columns and statues, is a testament to Egypt’s ancient history, archaeology, and architecture
• The Mahayana transformed into a Buddhist temple religion of Avalokiteshvara replaced the Hindu cult of Shiva in Angkor Wat, resulting in massive structural and artistic changes
• Ancient Cambodia’s most prominent metropolis also served as the Khmer Empire’s religious and administrative centre
• Based on Indian religious and political ideals, the city’s layout and construction were later adapted to the local environment
•  When Yashovarman I called the city Yashodharapura, he established an Indian (Hindu) cosmology model for the city, maintained throughout his rule. Phnom Bakheng, the only local natural hill that could be turned into a central mountain or pyramid temple, was used as the basis for the city’s plan (symbolising Mount Meru, the home of the gods). Each temple’s centre structure represented its location on Mount Meru. Mountains are etched into the exterior walls of each temple as a monument to the ancient belief that these mountains encircled the universe. In addition to being used for irrigation and water management, the enormous reservoirs, canals, and moats of Angkor were also used as a symbolic representation of the rivers of the universe.

Later monarchs, such as Suryavarman I, Udayadityavarman II, and Jayadityavarman VII, built all of the city’s primary monuments (i.e. pyramid-style temples) in Angkor Thom or “The Great City,” which was renamed in honour of the city’s new name.

Hindu Temples in Angkor 

• Angkor has a plethora of Hindu temples because the monarch and his family used them to gain immortality by connecting with Shiva or another important deity in their realm.
• King Suryavarman II’s decision to inter his cremated remains in Angkor Wat in the 12th century symbolised his lifetime dedicated to the god Vishnu
• Angkor Wat, the most famous of the Angkor temples, is undoubtedly the most impressive and well-known
•  The third enclosure of Angkor Wat has bas-reliefs depicting episodes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, in addition to the Suryavarman holding court tableau. 
• The temple is adorned with hundreds of apsaras (angelic holy dancers).

The world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex in the Cambodian capital Angkor Wat was captured in reflection.

Angkor Wat’s 12th-century bas-relief depicts dedicated to the god Vishnu churning the ocean of milk surrounded by his turtle avatar Kurma, asuras (to the left), devas (to the right), apsaras and Indra, as well as other deities (above).

Archaeological Preservation

• Tourists flock to this ancient temple complex in Southeast Asia because Theravada transformed it into a Buddhist temple monk took it over and preserved it in the 15th century
•  A few Europeans visited the “lost city” during the French colonial period in Cambodia in 1863.
• This spurred a fresh wave of research in the field. Government funding was used to help set up the French Extrême Oriental Institute. It brought together a team of archaeologists and philosophers to conduct extensive research that shed light on the city’s rich history and complex religious and political system, which shaped daily life in the region
•  Archaeologists have rebuilt many old temples, reservoirs, and canals after a long and difficult reconstruction procedure

Conclusion:

While certain temples at Angkor were damaged and plundered throughout the second half of the twentieth century due to political and military turmoil, the most critical issue was the lack of attention. If the structures weren’t properly cared for, they fell victim to encroachment by vegetation and erosion by water and other natural forces. For the first time in 1992, Cambodia’s mediaeval city of Angkor was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites and was on the list until 2004. Many countries contributed to the restoration of Angkorian structures when international initiatives were launched.