Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the
temple-mountain and the later
galleried temple. It is designed to represent
Mount Meru, home of the
devas in
Hindu mythology: within a
moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a
quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive
bas-reliefs, and for the numerous
devatas adorning its walls.
The modern name, Angkor Wat, means "Temple City" or "City of Temples" in
Khmer;
Angkor, meaning "city" or "capital city", is a vernacular form of the word
nokor (
នគរ), which comes from the
Sanskrit word
nagara (
नगर).
Wat is the
Khmer word for "temple grounds" (
Sanskrit:
वाट vāṭa ""enclosure").
Angkor Wat, the most balanced, the most
harmonious, and the most perfect Khmer temple. It shows Khmer art, which
reached the height of it glory in the 12th century. Climbed Bakheng hill to have
bird’s-eye view of sunset, Angkor Wat and western Baray.
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