History

In the 15th century, the temple of Angkor Wat was largely abandoned. While Theravada Buddhists maintained the temple during this period of abandonment, the Kingdom of Angkor and its rulership was largely dismantled. Angkor Wat was “rediscovered” in 1863 after the establishment of the French colonial regime in Cambodia. In the 20th century, the temple underwent significant restoration programs, but they were suspended and dismantled in the 1970s under the political unrest of the Khmer Rouge. Following the Khmer Rouge, restoration programs resumed, and the temple has since been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing into the modern day, Angkor Wat represents one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in Southeast Asia and has solidified itself as a popular tourist destination worldwide. There exist largely held beliefs that the temple no longer served as a religious holy site following the dismantling of the Angkorian Kingdom in the 15th century, but this could not be farther from the truth. In fact, since the 15th century, Buddhists have maintained and utilized the temple for various forms of religious worship, with religious practice continuing into the modern day.