5 reasons why Angkor Wat should be on every traveller’s bucket list

The world’s largest religious monument ‘Angkor Wat’ is an architectural marvel which is admired both for the grandeur and the harmony of the architecture. Angkor Wat has also been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple does not only have architectural grandeur but is also a vibrant cultural and spiritual hub. This place is a major tourist spot that attracts millions of visitors every year. The name ‘Angkor Wat’ itself means Temple City or City of Temples in Khmer language. Angkor Wat is a timeless marvel that is the perfect blend of cultural, spiritual and architectural grandeur.

Located in Siem Reap Province in Cambodia, it's around 5-6 km north of Siem Reap City. The temple is located within the ancient Khmer capital and also contains more than a thousand ancient structures. Best time to visit is during the dry season from November to February. During these months, the climate is perfect for exploration as humidity is low and rainfall is also minimal. This time is also the peak season so tourists are advised to go to the temple early in the morning or late afternoons to avoid crowds and daytime heat.

One can easily reach Angkor Wat by air, road or local transport. The nearest airport is Siem Reap International Airport, about 7 km from the city centre. From the airport, taxis or tuk-tuks are readily available to bring travelers into Siem Reap city or directly to Angkor Park. Tourists can also reach Siem Reap by bus, minivan or private car from Phnom Penh which takes about 6 hours or from Bangkok, Thailand which will take about 8-10 hours. One can also reach here by train or bus.

Here are 5 reasons why every travellers should visit this place at least once:

Largest religious monument on Earth

This temple is the world’s largest religious monument and is also considered as one of the best examples of Khmer architecture and a symbol of Cambodia. This monument was commissioned in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II. The temple complex is about 400 acres.

Spiritual significance

Angkor Wat is a Hindu-Buddhist complex located in Cambodia. Earlier, it was constructed in 1150 CE as a Hindu temple which was dedicated to Lord Vishnu and then later was transformed into a Buddhist temple by the end of the century. The temple was transformed into a Buddhist temple because the king's wife Indradevi was a devout Mahayana Buddhist who encouraged him to convert. Angkor Wat was therefore also gradually converted into a Buddhist site with many Hindu sculptures replaced by Buddhist art.

Unique blend of two faiths in one space

This temple is a rare place where two different religions come together. Both the Hindu and Buddhist history co-exist here together and the carvings on the temple walls are of both Hindu gods and Buddhist motifs. Travellers witness both ancient bas-reliefs dedicated to Vishnu and daily Buddhist prayer rituals in the same space.

Beautiful architecture

Angkor Wat is one of the best examples of Khmer architecture. This temple combines two basic plans of architecture: the temple mountain and the galleried temple. The architecture of this temple represents Mount Meru which was home of the Hindu deities and is also surrounded by a moat. At the center of the temple are quincunx of towers and the most unique feature of this temple is that it is oriented to the west even though in Hindu culture, the direction of west is associated with death, this aspect is still discussed a lot amongst scholars.

Brilliant architecture

Tourists will witness the extensive decoration on the walls of the temple. The inner walls of the temple have a series of scenes depicting episodes from the mythological Hindu epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata such as the battle of Lanka where Lord Ram defeats Ravan and the Kurukshetra War which depicts the fight of the Kauravas and Pandavas. One might also witness the scene of Churning of Sea Milk on the walls which showcases 92 asuras and 88 devas using the serpent Vasuki to churn the sea of milk under Vishnu's direction.