Angkor Wat in Cambodia was originally built as a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
The temple was commissioned in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavarman II, whose reign is generally dated to about 1113–1150. It formed part of the Khmer Empire’s capital region at Angkor and served as a state temple as well as a major religious monument.
Angkor Wat’s orientation toward the west and its extensive bas-reliefs distinguish it from many other Khmer temples. The reliefs depict scenes from Hindu epics and royal religious imagery, including the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. Later, the temple became an important Buddhist religious site, which explains why it is sometimes assumed to have been Buddhist from its beginning.
Angkor Wat is the best-known monument in the Angkor archaeological complex, but it is not the entire ancient city. Cambodia’s national flag features a representation of the temple’s distinctive towers.