In 802 AD, the Angkor period started. The Angkor kingdom of the Khmer was one of the most important kingdoms in the whole of Asia. Angkor lies in Cambodia. Suryavarman II an Angkor king made the land world famous by building the temple Angkor Wat. This is a temple for Vishnu and is a UNESCO world heritage site.
This rectangular temple is one and half kilometres long, and is surrounded by a wide moat. Five towers in the shape of lotus buds surround the main temple. These towers represent Meru, the world-mountain. Scenes from the Ramayana and the life of Krishna are carved on the walls of the temple. The sandstone buildings are almost completely covered with ornamentation. Around two million people visit Angkor Wat every year.