Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the twelfth century by King Suryavarman II as a temple to Vishnu, and later became a Buddhist shrine. Surrounded by a wide moat, it rises in three galleried tiers to five lotus-bud towers, the outline that appears on Cambodia’s flag.

The outer galleries are lined with some of the finest bas-reliefs in Asia, including long panels from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and the famous Churning of the Ocean of Milk, the Samudra Manthan, with gods and demons pulling on the serpent Vasuki. A good guide brings the stories to life.

The classic way to begin is with sunrise over the towers from the reflecting pools near the entrance, then exploring before the heat builds. Shoulders and knees must be covered to climb to the upper level, which has very steep steps and is not open to young children.