Considered as the world’s largest religious monument, Angkor Wat is visually stunning in many ways. It is also a testament to the ingenuity of ancient architects and engineers, considering it has stood the test of time despite damage to many parts over the years. Nevertheless, visiting this three-tiered pyramid (yes, it’s actually a type of pyramid) with its five lotus-like crowns is one of the highlights of any visit in Cambodia. You’ll realise why the Cambodians have proudly placed Angkor Wat front-and-centre on their national flag.

At the height of the Khmer empire, more than a million people lived in Angkor and king Suryavarman II exploited that manpower to construct a religious behemoth dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It became his main temple, although archaeologists and historians suggest that it might have been constructed to commemorate his rule after he died. This theory stems from the fact that the temple’s westward orientation is very uncommon for a place of worship.