Why was Angkor Wat built and who actually made it?
Posted on Oct 16, 2025 / Travel
Angkor Wat wasn’t just a temple — it was basically the king’s statement piece. Built in the early 1100s by King Suryavarman II, it was meant to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and show off the empire’s power. The Khmer people were at their peak then, and this was their version of building something eternal. It later became a Buddhist site, which is why you’ll see both Hindu carvings and Buddha statues today. That mix gives it a layered vibe — part ancient devotion, part living shrine. The layout mirrors Hindu cosmology with its towers symbolizing Mount Meru, the mythical home of gods. It’s less about “just architecture” and more about showing how a kingdom saw the universe.
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