Cambodia contains the ancient city of Angkor, whose temple complex includes Angkor Wat.
Angkor was the capital region of the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of mainland Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Its monuments lie near present-day Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia.
Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century under King Suryavarman II and was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Later, it became an important Buddhist temple. The larger Angkor archaeological area also includes Bayon, Ta Prohm, and many reservoirs, roads, and other temples.
Angkor’s sophisticated hydraulic infrastructure helped support a large urban population, although scholars continue to study how climate shifts, warfare, political change, and water-management problems contributed to its decline. Angkor became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and Angkor Wat appears on Cambodia’s national flag.