The ancient Khmers erected monuments and temples in honor of the Hindu and Buddhist religions, but abandoned them when the Thai army conquered Angkor in 1431. The French rediscovered the temples in the 1860s, and several restoration efforts have since been undertaken. Now, Angkor is Cambodia’s biggest tourist draw.
Demystifying Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat–the largest and best-preserved monument in Angkor–was built in the early 12th Century by King Suryavarman II in honor of Hindu god Vishnu. It took thousands of laborers 37 years to build the massive structure, which was later converted to a Buddhist temple. Archeologists have long debated whether Angkor Wat was built as a temple or tomb. But most believe that it was used by the king for worship, then became his mausoleum after his death.
