Have you ever heard about Angkor Wat, the biggest religious monument in the world? It is located in Cambodia, and was built to be a Hindu temple, but was later transformed into a Buddhist temple. Scroll down to learn more great facts about this fascinating building.
1. “Angkor Wat” means “City of Temples” or simply “City Temple,” and was built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD.
2. In the beginning, it was a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, however in the 14th century it was converted into a Buddhist temple.
3. Angkor Wat is surrounded by 650-feet-wide, 13-feet-deep moat that encompasses a perimeter of more than 3 miles. It was used to stabilize the temple’s foundation, preventing groundwater from rising too high or falling too low.
4. In 1992 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. Angkor Wat is the main tourist attraction of Cambodia. It is even featured on their national flag.
6. Jaqueline Kennedy visited the temple ruins during the Vietnam War in 1967 to “fulfill her lifetime dream.”
7. In 2001, Angkor Wat was also featured in the hit movie Tomb Raider.