Where Is Angkor Wat Located?

Wondering where is Angkor Wat located? Angkor Wat is a huge temple located in Cambodia. It is an ancient complex that has become a source of great national pride in the 900-odd years since it was first constructed. The Khmer kings, particularly Suryavarman II who commissioned the piece, built this large palace from the ground up as an offering to the Vishnu. It is world-renowned for its stunningly beautiful architecture, its sublime surroundings, and the hundred years of history represented by its walls. The construction of the palace displays the highest achievements in craftsmanship during the time of its building, the epitome of Khmer architecture.

Angkor Wat is located in Angkor, Cambodia, a nation once known as Kampuchea.  Cambodia is a part of the Indochinese Peninsula, and it is surrounded by the nations of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

The Angkor region of Cambodia was the seat of the great Khmer Empire, which for nearly 400 years controlled the Indochinese Peninsula. It is situated amid beautiful, lush forests. In fact, until efforts by the French to restore the site to some of its former beauty in the 19th century, many of the beautiful temples and artifacts throughout the region remained hidden under the dense growth of the Cambodian forest - creating the frequent question, "Where is Angkor Wat located."

The nearest town is Siem Reap, and many travelers to the area visit Siem Reap before continuing to the Angkor Wat temple. Archaeological evidence and satellite photographs have demonstrated that the outer limits of the ancient city of Angkor extended far beyond most ancient cities, with an urban sprawl extending for hundreds of miles.

Style and Architecture 

The Angkor Wat is considered the pinnacle of Angkor architecture, and one of the greatest architectural feats of the entire world, rivaling the coliseum of ancient Rome and the great pyramids of ancient Egypt. Indeed, many believe the site was designed to serve as a huge tomb for king Suryavarman II due to its westward orientation and the orientation of the figures carved in bas-relief, which would make it among the most labor-intensive funerary monuments in the history of the world. The towers of the Angkor Wat are shaped like sacred lotus flowers, and the bas-relief etched figures are considered devatas, minor female deities who are depicted dancing around the ancient temple. 

While brick and laterite were often used in the construction of similar structures throughout the region, the Angkor Wat is constructed almost entirely out of sandstone, with parts of the structure supplemented by laterite bricks. No one knows what adhesive was used between the bricks to keep the structure together, but many of the joints are so incredibly tight that it is difficult to find where one piece of stone ends and the next begins.

Modern Angkor Wat 

When it was realized internationally that Angkor Wat was an important archaeological and historical site, countries throughout the world began preservation efforts. In the 20th century especially, restoration began in earnest on the site. The Khmer Rouge regime from the 1970s to the 1980s halted restoration for a period, but Angkor Wat has been a site of particular attention from the mid-eighties through today.

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, maintains the site, and since 1992, has pushed the government of the region to continue preserving the structure. Visitors to the Angkor Wat have often visited the local city of Siem Reap, which has recently rebuilt its international airport, hotels, and restaurants to cater to tourists.

Angkor Wat tours often begin at this site.  From there, visitors are encouraged to embark on tours that will take them throughout the region, from some of the lesser-known Angkor temples to the Angkor Wat itself. 

About half of the tourists to Cambodia visit Angkor Wat as part of their excursion into the ancient portions of the country.  Most of the work on the site is carried out by foreign countries who wish to preserve the relics, although Cambodian authorities have poured considerable energy and money into preserving the temple.