Angkor: Architecture

"They were the masters of their world. It was quite wonderful. There was peace and order. Temples full of riches. Happy brahmans full of good rice, good food. And, of course, some of the most magnificent temples ever built. Nothing in that part of the world could compare"

- Bernard Philippe Grolier

One of the most beautiful things about Angkor is its architecture. The city covers 124 square miles and was built during three different building periods. In the 9 th century Jayavarman II unified surrounding parts to produce the outskirts of Angkor. In the 10 th century Angkor was declared as the capital of the Khmer. During its golden age in the 11th and 12 th centuries king Suryavarman I built the palace of Angkor Thom and later Suryavarman II built Angkor Wat.

Angkor's architecture shows a strong dedication to the Buddhist and Hindu religions. Images from both religions are present on all temples. Some historians state that when the majority of the Khmer became Buddhist, most temples were rebuilt at a great expense to the economy. This was one of the major causes of the downfall of Angkor.

One can not help but noticing the extensive use of water in the Khmer architecture. Water was used to reflect the buildings, so their size and beauty would double. The building of barays, or water storage tanks, started early in the development of Angkor. A large part of the year the melting of snow from Tibet and the monsoons create an excess supply of water. These tanks store the water and are connected to an irrigation system throughout the whole city. When water supply is low, the water from the barays is used, awaiting to be refilled again.

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