The Main Event -- Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the first half of 12th century, in the reign of Suryavarman II; it is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. It probably didn't acquire the "Wat" portion of its title until the 16th century, when it became a Theravada Buddhist monument. It is both a temple and a mausoleum for the king, and its use as a temple continues today

When I was here before in 1995, we had the place to ourselves. As you can see, that's no longer the case, with about 1.5 million visitors annually, compared to the thousand or so who came annually in 1995.

One of the two library buildings flanking the long entrance causeway