Largest Temple in the World: The Angkor Wat Temple

The title of the largest temple in the world is given to Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. It is the finest architectural marvel in Cambodia, and it holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest religious structure. Built by King Suryavarman II around 1,000 years ago, it began as a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu but transitioned into a Buddhist temple. Encompassing over 1.6 million square meters, its design blends a “temple-mountain” style with elements inspired by Mount Meru from Hindu mythology, a feature of deep cultural significance. 

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About Angkor Wat Temple

Angkor Wat is a colossal Buddhist temple complex, that graces northern Cambodia. The construction of the temple began in the early 12th century, though its origins lie in Hinduism. Spanning over 400 acres, it holds the title of the world’s largest religious monument.

The name itself, translating to “temple city” in Khmer, reflects its intended purpose under Emperor Suryavarman II (1113-1150). He envisioned it as both the political heart and state temple of his empire. Interestingly, Angkor Wat wasn’t always Buddhist. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it transformed into a Buddhist site by the end of the 12th century.

Resilience and Modern Significance- Angkor Wat Temple

While no longer an active temple, Angkor Wat remains a vital tourist attraction for Cambodia. The reasons for its closure as a temple are the following:

• Unfortunately, the complex endured significant damage during regional conflicts, particularly under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.
• Despite these hardships, Angkor Wat stands tall as a testament to Cambodia’s rich cultural legacy and national identity, drawing over 2.5 million visitors annually.
• The temple also is honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Guinness World Book of Records as the largest religious structure in the world.

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List of Largest Temples in the World

If you wish to know the largest temples in the world, here is a brief for you guys. So scroll up. 

Biggest Hindu Temples in the World
Temple Name	Location	Size (in acres)
Angkor Wat Temple	Cambodia	500
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple	Trichy, Tamil Nadu	156
Akshardham Temple	Delhi, India	100
Nataraja Temple	Tamil Nadu	40
Belur Math	Kolkata, India	40
Annamalaiyar Temple	Thiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu	25
Ekambareshwarar Temple	Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu	23
Jambukeswarar Temple	Jambukeswarar Temple	18
Meenakshi Temple	Madurai, India	17.3
Vaitheeswaran Kovil	Tamil Nadu	15

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