Angkor Wat — literally "Temple City" — is the largest religious monument ever built and the centrepiece of the Angkor Archaeological Park. Commissioned by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and eventual mausoleum, it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and converted to a Buddhist temple in the late 13th century. Its five lotus-bud towers, rising from a huge rectangular moat, have become the symbol of modern Cambodia and appear on the national flag.
The best approach is via the west causeway at dawn, when the silhouette of the temple against the rising sun is unforgettable — and, unfortunately, extremely crowded. The bas-reliefs along the outer gallery, running for nearly a kilometre, depict scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, and the historical battles of Suryavarman II. The central sanctuary, once accessible only to priests and the king, can now be climbed by visitors via a steep modern wooden staircase. Allow at least three hours for a thorough visit. Tickets are purchased at the main Angkor ticket centre on the road from Siem Reap.