![](https://www.indiaherald.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=750/imagestore/images/breaking/134/worlds-largest-hindu-temple-has-references-to-ramayana-and-its-not-in-india0a7d3d88-c1c1-4319-b5ff-125de9eebe01-415x250.jpg)
Many people may be surprised to learn that Angkor Wat, the greatest Hindu temple in the world, is really in cambodia rather than India. Angkor Wat, the world's most stunning religious complex, is an architectural masterpiece that spans over 400 acres and features over 70 structures. Built in the twelfth century by the Khmer Empire, this complex of Hindu temples is devoted to the deity Vishnu.
Millions of tourists travel from all over the world to Angkor Wat every year because of its immense size and splendor. The 1,200 square meters of finely sculpted bas-reliefs in the temple are well known. Scenes from well-known Hindu epics including the Mahabharata and the Ramayana are shown in great detail in these sculptures. The eight-armed statue of Lord Vishnu, who is regarded by the villagers as their protector god, is one of its numerous features.
The sanskrit term "nagara," which means city, is the source of the Khmer word "nokor," which means kingdom. Initially devoted to Lord Vishnu, the temple was constructed in the 12th century by the Khmer Emperor Suryavarman II. As Jayavarman VII, his successor, took over, Angkor Wat eventually changed into a Buddhist temple, reflecting the changing religious climate in the area.