Ankor Wat, one of the greatest World wonders, is the most famous temple in the whole Ankor plain. It was built in the middle of the 12th century as a replica of the Hindu religion. The construction took more than thirty years. Lately, during the 15th century, it was converted into a Buddhist temple.

When the first independent Khmer Kingdom was established, Ankor became the capital of the Khmer State. At that time the flourishing Khmer civilization covered much of SE Asia. The Ankorian period lasted from the early 9th century to the early 15th century.

The stone construction of palaces and temples, covering an area of more than 60 km, required thousands of workers and technicians. It is clear that the Khmer State possessed a significant strong army and had a large central administration. The stone carvings manifest the grandeur of such an ancient Asian culture. The impressive stone buildings were the focus of Hindu and Buddhist religious ceremonies. They had a dual function of both temple and tomb. The Ankor Wat ruins are located about 12 km near the town of Siem Reap.