Context:

• Angkor Wat, located in Cambodia, is now considered the eighth Wonder of the World, beating Italy’s Pompeii.

Angkor Wat Becomes the 8th Wonder 

• The title of the eighth Wonder of the World is given to outstanding buildings or projects, and Angkor Wat.
• Eighth Wonder of the World is an unofficial title given to new buildings or projects or designs, among others.

About Angkor Wat:

• History: It was built by King Suryavarman II in the 12th century.
  • Suryavarman II was the king of the Khmer (Cambodian) empire renowned as a religious reformer and temple builder.
• Location: Angkor Wat, temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia.while the walls and moat honour the surrounding mountain ranges and the sea.
• Religious site: It was first a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu but later transformed into a Buddhist temple. 
  • The intricate carvings on its walls tell stories from Hindu and Buddhist myths.
  • The temple remains an active religious site, attracting Buddhist monks and devotees who come to pay their respects and engage in prayer and meditation.

• UNESCO WHS: It’s a massive religious monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site(WHS), covering about 500 acres.

Architectural wonder:

• Area of the temple: The temple spans an area of approximately 500 acres, with a massive moat surrounding its outer walls. 
• Design: The central temple complex features five lotus-shaped towers that represent Mount Meru, the mythical abode of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology.
  • Its five towers are meant to replicate the five summits of Mount Meru, while the walls and moat honour the surrounding mountain ranges and the sea.

To read more about the UNESCO WHS, refer to WHS.

News Source: Economic Times

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