5 Amazing Facts You Probably Don’t Know About Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat. Photo by Cristian Moscoso on Unsplash

Angkor Wat is one of Cambodia’s most popular attractions and the largest religious monument in the world. This ancient temple attracts thousands of tourists every day, but there’s still a lot most people don’t know about this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Facing West

Unlike other temples in the region, Angkor Wat is facing west, probably as a way of establishing the superiority of Vishnu, the Hindu deity it was dedicated to.

Three Tiers

It’s not a coincidence that this religious monument comes with the three towering tiers. Each one has spiritual meaning, and they’re dedicated to Vishnu, the moon, and Brahma – the creator god in Hinduism.

Building Process

Angkor Wat was a true architectural feat when it was built back in the 12th century, and the vegetable compound was used during its construction to bond bricks together.

Mysterious Carvings

The amazing carving adorning its walls is one of Angkor Wat’s signature traits. One of them is very reminiscent of a stegosaurus, but cynics believe it probably depicts a boar or a rhino.

Underground City

There’s still a lot of mystery surrounding Angkor Wat, and according to research published in The Guardian, there’s an entire network of ancient cities sitting underneath.