Angkor Wat was originally built as a temple dedicated to Vishnu.
The Khmer king Suryavarman II commissioned Angkor Wat in the early twelfth century in what is now Cambodia. Unlike many earlier Khmer state temples, which were commonly associated with Shiva, this temple was dedicated to Vishnu. Its western orientation is also unusual among major Khmer temples and may relate to Vishnu or funerary symbolism.
Angkor Wat formed part of the larger Khmer capital complex at Angkor. Its galleries contain extensive bas-reliefs depicting Hindu stories, including the Churning of the Ocean of Milk and scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The central towers represent Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
The complex gradually became an important Buddhist site, and Buddhist imagery was added or adapted over time. That later history explains why Angkor Wat is often described as both a Hindu temple of origin and a major Buddhist monument today. Cambodia features its image on the national flag.