<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Angkor Wat (/ ˌæŋkɔːr ˈwɒt /; Khmer: អង្គរ វត្ត, "Capital Temple") is a temple complex in Cambodia and the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m; 402 acres). It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, gradually transforming into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century . It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (Khmer: យសោធរបុរៈ, present - day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum . Breaking from the Shaiva tradition of previous kings, Angkor Wat was instead dedicated to Vishnu . As the best - preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation . The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture . It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors . </P> <P> 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 more than 5 kilometres (3 mi) long 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 . </P>

What was the original purpose of angkor wat