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All about Angkor temple: The 8th wonder of the world
Originally constructed as a Hindu temple honoring Lord Vishnu, Angkor Wat eventually developed into a significant Buddhist shrine.
Angkor Wat / Wikimedia Commons
Situated in the province of Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, the Angkor Wat temple recently became the eighth Wonder of the World, surpassing Pompeii in Italy.
Informally, the "Eighth Wonder of the World" can refer to any structure, project, design, or even person that is considered to be comparable to the seven World Wonders.
Angkor Wat's elevation to the status of eighth wonder of the world was welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Manet upon hearing the news. He expressed his happiness by saying, “Congratulations to Angkor Wat Temple for defeating Italy’s Pompeii and becoming the world’s eighth wonder.”
Angkor, sometimes called Yasodharapura, is a fascinating place. The name "Angkor" comes from the Sanskrit word "nagara," meaning "city," and the Khmer word "nokor," meaning "kingdom." Millions of worshippers travel from far and wide to visit the Angkor Wat temple each year. With its 1,200 square meters of finely carved bas reliefs, it is the biggest religious monument in the world.
Hindu Connect
In the eleventh century, the Hindu temple Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer emperor Suryavarman II. The temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu at first, but it was gradually converted into a major Buddhist temple during the reign of Jayavarman VII, who succeeded him and also built the famous Buddhist temple of Bayon nearby.
The temple is renowned for its eight-armed Vishnu statue, which the villagers revere and regard as their guardian deity. The ornate sculptures that adorn the walls of the Angkor Wat temple attest to the fact that the religion was converted from Hinduism to Buddhism. They depict mythical scenes from Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
The magnificent ruins of the Khmer Empire's many capitals, which flourished from the ninth to the fifteenth century, can be discovered at Angkor Wat, a 400 km long complex consisting of woodland areas. It is regarded as one of Southeast Asia's most important archaeological sites.
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