Angkor was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
Located in northern Cambodia near Siem Reap, Angkor is one of the world’s most important archaeological areas. It contains the remains of several Khmer Empire capitals and major temples, including Angkor Wat, Bayon, and Ta Prohm. The site reflects centuries of religious, political, artistic, and engineering development.
Angkor Wat was originally built in the early 12th century under King Suryavarman II and was dedicated to Vishnu. Later rulers expanded the urban complex, while the Bayon became strongly associated with the reign of Jayavarman VII. Angkor’s large reservoirs, canals, roads, and planned settlements show that it was far more than a group of isolated temples.
The World Heritage property is broader than Angkor Wat alone. Angkor Wat is the best-known monument within the archaeological park, but the UNESCO site encompasses a much wider cultural landscape. Cambodia’s Temple of Preah Vihear is a separate World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2008.