Cambodia | Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the most breathtaking temple of Angkor, and is believed to be the largest religious structure in the world in volume. It's the best preserved site as it was never abandoned to the elements. Nowadays it's a well recognizable symbol in Cambodia (the flag of Cambodia contains the symbol of the temple, or the national beer named Angkor Beer). The temple was built between 1113 and 1150, with some later additions. The surface is about 200 hectares, a rectangle of 1.5 km by 1.3 km.

A striking detail is that the temple is oriented towards the west, which is symbolically the direction of death. When you know it was probably built as a funerary temple/mausoleum for the God-King Suryavarman II and dedicated to Vishnu, it seems quite logic. Angkor Wat, "the city (which became a) pagoda", was more than just a temple. At the end of the 12th century Angkor counted as much as 1 000 000 inhabitants. At the same time London was a small city counting 50 000.

Exif: 22mm, F8, 15s, ISO 100 

Nikon D300, Tokina 12-24, B + W UV filter.

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