Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor wat originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the khmer. It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman 11( reigned 1113 – c. 1150 ). The vast religious complex of Angkor wat comprises more than a thousand buildings, and it is one of the great culturmal wonders of the world.

Angkor wat in siem Reap, cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world. We have little knowledge of how this temple was referred to during the time of its use, as there are no extant texts or inscriptions that mention the temple by name – this is quite incredible if we consider the fact that Angkor wat is the greatest religious construction project insouthesst Asia. It was built Suryavarman II as a vast funerary temple within which his remains were to be deposited. Construction is believed to have spanned some three decades. All of the origious motifs derived from Hinduism, and the temple was dedicated to the gods Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. The five Central towers of Angkor wat symbolize the peaks of Mount Meru, according to Hindu mythology is the dwelling place of the gods.

The temple is reached by passing through three galleries, each separated by a paved walkway. The temple walls are converted with bas-relief sculptures of very high quality, representing Hindu gods and ancient khmer scenes as well as scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Where is Angkor wat temple – The city of Angkor, home to Angkor wat, was the capital of the khmer Empire and thrived between the 9th and 15th centuries. Angkor itself stretched over 400km2 and is now home to the magnificent remains of a variety of temples including Angkor wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon Temple and Ta prohm made famous by Lara croft in Tomb Raider! we now know that Angkor was the centre of a city as large as Berlin – it was the heart of the largest empirr of its time.

Design – Angkor wat, protected by a 15 foot high wall and wide moat, covers an area of 200 acres. During its height of popularity, Angkor wat included a city, temple and the emperor’s palsce. However, it was only the temple and walls that were built out of sandstone, not wood, and therefore the only structures still remaining to day. The building of Angkor wat is likely to have necessitated some 300,000 workers, which included architect, construction workers, masons, sculptors and the servants to feed these workers. Construction of the site took over 30 years and was never completely finished. The side is built entirely out of stone, which is incredible as close examination of the temple demonstrates that almost every surface is treated and carved with narrative or decorative delails.

Materials used – During the establishment of the Angkor wat, the technology was lacking. According to mannika, sandstones blocks, bronze sheets, woods, and carvings were used (27). The sandstones were used to build the outer walls and the towers. The sandstones were quarried approximstely 40km away from Angkor and transported by underground canals or elephants. Furthermore, bronze sheets were used in the holes of the sandstone blocks. People and animals were mainly the main source of the work force and ice roads lubricated with water enable workers to slide block stones by use of gravitational force.

Photographing an Angkor wat temple – The amazing structure as a whole is best viewed and photographed in soft light. The best lighting conditions are after 2 pm. • The light is worst in the morning, but a visit at sunrise can be magical. • A popular location for sunrise viewing is the northern reflecting pool. You should get there early, before sunrise starts. You see the most beautiful colours just before the sun break over the horizon. • When the sun come up behind Angkor wat, the temple’s distinctive shape from a silhouette against the colourful sky. • You get a good overview of the temple complex from the nearby Bekheng Hill. The view is at its best around sunset, but be sure to bring a zoom lens. What to bring and how to dress — … A visit to Angkor wat involves a lot of walking around in Combodia’s tropical climate. Light and comfortable clothing are strongly recommended, as is sunscreen, a raincoat and or umbrella will be very helpful. You should bring mosquito repellent if you’re there at at sunrise or sunset. . There are many vendors and restaurants in the Angkor Archaeological park, especially near temple entrance. They sell item such as guidebooks. Snacks, souvenirs and postcards. Some of their their prices are a little inflated especially for drinks.