Angkor Wat is a temple complex, indeed the largest religious structure in the world, and part of the capital city of the Khmer Empire, which controlled all the area in what is today the modern country of Cambodia, as well as parts of Laos and Thailand, between the 9th and 13th centuries AD.
The Temple Complex includes a central pyramid of some 60 meters (200 ft) in height, contained within an area of about two square kilometers (~3/4 of a square mile), surrounded by a defensive wall and moat. Known for breathtaking murals of mythological and historical figures and events, Angkor Wat is certainly an excellent candidate for one of the new wonders of the world.
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Jan Smith says:
Angkor and the surrounding temples are magnificent - works of art, beauty, culture, religion, and history (not to mention technical skills). And they represent the amazing spirit and fortitude of the Cambodian peoples. The amount of time and labor to create not just the buildings but the surrounding waterways and roads certainly rivaled those of the other "Wonders". When I climbed the steps to the main tower, or when I marveled at the long panels of bas-relief carvings, or simply walked among the ruins, I was moved by such a sense of Wonder and spiritual uplift - that I believe it is most truly a world treasure. I have also been fortunate to have visited the Pyramids, Petra, Machu Pichu, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall (also Alexandria). They each have their own amazing history and splendor, but in my opinion, Angkor rivals or surpasses them all.
