History

The Glorious Past Of Building Angkor Wat

Summarize the HISTORY of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the early 12th century by King Suryavarman II , as a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu ,between A.D. 1113 and 1150, as a dedication to the Hindu god Vishnu in accordance with Brahmanism. It was located in the capital city of Yasodharapura. The construction required the labor of around 300,000 workers, over 6,000 elephants, and more than 10 million tons of sandstone.

King Suryarman II

Angkor Wat First Built

After King Suryavarman II passed away, the construction of Angkor Wat appears to have halted shortly afterward, leaving behind unfinished carvings and decorations in some parts of the temple.

In 1177, about 27 years after the king’s death, Angkor Wat was looted and damaged during an invasion by the Cham people.

Later, the Khmer Empire was restored by King Jayavarman VII. By the end of the 13th century, Angkor Wat began to gradually transform into a Theravāda Buddhist temple, a role it still serves today.

By the 15th century, following the decline of the Angkorian Empire and the fall of Angkor to invading forces (around 1431), Angkor Wat was no longer used as a royal Hindu temple. Instead, it gradually became a Theravāda Buddhist monastery, where monks continued to live and worship.