ANGKOR WAT CAMBODIA
From a distance, Angkor Wat transfi xes you with its grandeur. On walking closer,
the stone structure reveals intricate carvings and bas-relief decorations that depict
mythological tales. It is a study in ingenious architecture—the 500-acre complex
consists towers, curved roofs, galleries, porches, and courtyards, all standing testimony
to a time when Khmer kings fl ourished in the region. Part of the Angkor Archaeological
Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), it was built in the 12th century by King
Suryavarman II as the palatial home of Hindu Lord Vishnu. There were 3,00,000 workers
and 6,000 elephants employed to construct it and even after 30 years, the complex
was never fi nished. Later, it was converted into a Buddhist shrine and is still sacred to
Buddhist monks, who are often seen here in their saffron robes, chanting and praying.
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