Which country contains the ancient site of Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is in Cambodia. The temple complex was built in the early twelfth century during the reign of King Suryavarman II, when Angkor was the center of the Khmer Empire.

The monument was originally dedicated to Vishnu and designed as a Hindu temple. Its towers, galleries, bas-reliefs, and surrounding moat create a monumental representation of Hindu cosmology. The central towers are often interpreted as Mount Meru, the sacred mountain at the center of the universe.

Later, Angkor Wat became a Buddhist center, and Buddhist use helped preserve the site after the Khmer capital declined. The bas-reliefs depict scenes from Hindu epics and royal history, including the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area. It appears on Cambodia’s national flag and forms part of the Angkor archaeological complex, which UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site in 1992.