Cool facts about Angkor Wat

Posted on Oct 16, 2025 / Travel

Here are some random-but-awesome things most travelers don’t know until they go digging or visit with a good guide.

Angkor Wat faces west, which is unusual for temples and might hint at a connection to funerary rituals or Vishnu, who’s linked to the west in Hinduism.
It’s the largest religious monument in the world, covering about 400 acres — a whole ancient city disguised as a temple.
Every sunrise photo you’ve seen? The reflection pond in front was originally part of a hydraulic system tied to agriculture, not a photo prop.
Some of the sandstone blocks have tiny holes that may have helped workers lift them with bamboo poles or ropes — ancient engineering hacks.
Monkeys roam freely around the temple grounds, and locals consider them part of the site’s spirit family — just don’t feed them.
The bas-reliefs are read counterclockwise, possibly to match ancient funeral processions or solar movement — history with a ritual twist.
In the dry season, the main causeway almost glows gold at sunset, which makes the whole temple look like it’s alive with light.

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