The Temples of Angkor are the architectural zenith of the Khmer Empire, which ruled from the 9th to the 13th centuries. For centuries, it was the Khmer Kingdom's capital, which at times ruled much of Southeast Asia, from modern-day Laos and Burma to Thailand and southern Vietnam.
Angkor covers more than 154 square miles — in comparison, Manhattan only covers 33.
The Temples of Angkor are inside of the Angkor Archaeological Park, which is home to many other Khmer temples that were built between the ninth and 15th centuries.
It's also home to people, as some of the villages inside the park are inhabited, their income based on rice cultivation.
Each temple has intricate designs of various gods, but also of daily life. The Bayon temple, for example, has detailed bas-reliefs featuring images of families making dinner, men drinking together, and women going into labor. It has 37 towers and is decorated with 216 faces.
Ta Prohm is one of the most photographed temples (and famous for being featured in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”). It is purposefully unrestored, and eerily magical as it's been near-swallowed by the jungle: a beautifully tangled mess of ficus and silk tree roots.
Angkor Wat, the most famous of the temples, is even on Cambodia's flag, and a source of local pride.
It was built as the spiritual home of Hindu god Vishnu, and is one of the largest religious monuments in the world, said to represent heaven on earth. Unlike most other temples in the complex, it was never abandoned, and has pretty much been in continuous use since it was built. It's still a place of worship today.
