Which country is home to Angkor Wat?

Which country is home to Angkor Wat? Cambodia. The immense temple complex lies near Siem Reap in northwestern Cambodia, within the wider archaeological region of Angkor, the former heart of the Khmer Empire.

King Suryavarman II commissioned Angkor Wat in the early 12th century, generally dated to about 1113–1150. It was originally built as a Hindu state temple dedicated to Vishnu. From the late 13th century onward, it gradually became associated primarily with Theravada Buddhism and has remained an active religious site.

Its architecture combines a temple-mountain design with long galleries, towers and extensive bas-reliefs. The central towers are commonly understood to symbolize Mount Meru, the cosmic mountain in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Unlike many Khmer temples, Angkor Wat faces west, a feature linked to several interpretations, including funerary symbolism.

Angkor Wat is not the same as the entire Angkor archaeological park: it is one monumental temple within that larger landscape. The site became a UNESCO World Heritage component in 1992 and its image appears on Cambodia’s national flag.