Culture Tour

Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious monument and a symbol of Cambodia, featured on its national flag. Built between 1113–1150 CE by King Suryavarman II, it was originally a Hindu temple and later became a Theravada Buddhist site, remaining an active place of worship for centuries.

The temple is admired for its grand scale, detailed carvings, and harmonious design, symbolizing Mount Meru in Hindu-Buddhist cosmology. Its layout includes a wide moat, outer walls, and five central towers.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor Wat attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually. Restoration efforts since the 20th century have involved international organizations under UNESCO, including France, Japan, India, Germany, the U.S., South Korea, China, and Italy.

Bayon Temple

Bayon was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as a state temple for the seat of the Khmer Empire. It was commissioned by King Jayavarman VII and originally called “Jayagiri” meaning “Victory Mountain.” The temple was dedicated to Buddha and renamed “Bayon” likely because of the many banyan trees on site. The temple underwent modifications during power shifts between Buddhism and Hinduism.

The recognizable face towers were added later by Jayavarman VII. There may have been up to 54 towers, one for each province in the Khmer Empire. Today only 37 remain due to the passage of time .