Siem Reap, Cambodia – Cambodian monks journey each year to Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, for meditation, reflection and renewal.
The initial design of Angkor Wat’s main temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II, in the early 1100s. Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, it was built to serve as the Khmer Empire’s capital city.
In the late 13th century, Srindravarman deposed his father-in-law, King Jayavarman VIII, who was Hindu.
Srindravarman was an ordained Buddhist monk, so when he took power he converted the Khmer Empire’s official religion from Hindu to Buddhist – and the Temples of Angkor became Buddhist shrines. They remain so today.
More Angkor Wat pictures here.
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This post reminded me to look at your pictures from Cambodia. They are so beautiful. You should make a RTW coffee table book. Do you think this can happen in the next month as I have holiday presents to buy
possibly the most inspiring and powerful place on earth
Fascinating place with so much history and I like to read about this place.
This looks like a fascinating place, I would love to see it some day and experience the culture.
my friends went to Cambodia few times already and they said it is really a fascinating country yet to be touched by the tourist crowd as per nearby Thailand, although is picking it up, and Angkor Wat was a real mystical experience. Pitty we could not go this time.
When on earth did you go to find the place so quiet? We were here a week or so ago and were completely floored by it!