Situated in Angkor, the Angkor Wat is a grand temple complex built for the king Suryavarman II as his state temple, in the early years of 12th century. The Angkor Wat is unusual in Khmer temples in that it faces the west, instead of the east, leading many to speculate that Suryavarman intended it to serve as his funerary temple. Based on the decorations and structures found there, scholars believe that the temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu, a supreme god in Hindu religion.
Angkor Wat, which means city temple in Khmer, demonstrates the epitome of high classical style of Khmer architecture. The temple itself was designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology. The quincux of towers in Angkor Wat represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, while the surrounding walls and moat represent the surrounding mountain ranges and seas. This style of temple design was the dominant scheme for the construction of state temples in the Angkorian period, and was known as temple mountain.
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