Angkor Wat contains the world’s longest continuous bas-relief gallery.
The Cambodian temple complex was built in the early 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II. Its galleries carry extensive carved scenes from Hindu epics, including the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as images connected with the king and the Hindu god Vishnu. The reliefs form an important part of the monument’s artistic and historical significance.
Angkor Wat was originally dedicated to Vishnu, unlike many later Khmer temples associated more strongly with Shiva. It gradually became a Buddhist site, and Buddhist worship continues there today. The central temple is surrounded by a moat and concentric enclosures, creating a carefully ordered sacred landscape.
The complex is often used as a synonym for Angkor, but Angkor is the broader archaeological region containing many temples and former urban areas. Angkor Wat itself is the best-known single monument within that wider historic landscape.