Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia becomes 8th wonder of the world, defeats Italy's Pompeii

Angkor Wat temple, located in northern province of Siem Reap in Cambodia, has defeated Pompeii in Italy to become the eighth Wonder of the World.

The unofficial title “Eighth Wonder of the World” is sometimes given to buildings, structures, projects, designs, or even people who are thought to be comparable to the seven Wonders of the World.

About Angkor Wat temple

Lakhs of devotees from across the globe visit Angkor Wat temple every year. It is the largest religious monument in the world, comprising some 1,200 square metres of intricately carved bas reliefs.

Angkor Wat also holds the Guinness World Records for being the largest religious structure in the world.

The Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century as a Hindu temple by the Khmer Emperor Suryavarman II. The temple was dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and gradually converted into a major Buddhist temple by his successor Jayavarman VII, who also built the famous Buddhist temple of Bayon nearby.

Angkor is also famous for its statue of eight-armed Vishnu, also believed and worshipped by the locals as their protecting deity.

The Hinduism to Buddhism transition is evident in the intricate carvings that adorn the temple walls at Angkor Wat. They depict scenes from Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

They include the well-known Angkor Wat Temple and the Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom, which has numerous sculptural decorations.

Angkor Wat spans 400 km and includes forested areas, contains the magnificent remains of the Khmer Empire’s various capitals from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

It is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites of Southeast Asia.

Interesting fact about Angkor Wat

One of the interesting facts about Angkor Wat is that it is also popularly called Yasodharapura.

The name Angkor is derived from nokor, a Khmer word meaning “kingdom,” which is derived from Sanskrit nagara, which means “city.”

UNESCO has established a comprehensive programme to protect this historic site and its surroundings.

People also throng to Angkor Wat to witness the sunrise over its majestic towers. As dawn breaks, the temple is soaked in shades of pink, orange, and gold, make the sight breathtaking.

Architectural brilliance

The magnificent architect of Angkor Wat makes it a wonder. The structure is built of sandstone blocks.

A 15-foot-high wall surrounded by a wide moat protected the city, temple, and residents from invasion, and much of that fortification remains.

Scores of bas-reliefs depict deities and figures in Hindu and Buddhist religions. The temple walls also adorn key events in its narrative tradition.

The central temple complex is a work of art in terms of symmetry and precision, with five lotus-shaped towers representing Mount Meru, the mythical abode of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.