Suryavarman II, posthumously named Paramavishnuloka, was the ruler of the Khmer Empire from 1113 until his death in either 1145 or 1150. He is most famously known as the builder of Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world, which he dedicated to Vishnu. His reign's monumental architecture, numerous military campaigns and restoration of strong government have led historians to rank Suryavarman II as one of the empire's greatest rulers.
King Suryavarman II depicted in a bas-relief at Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, built by Suryavarman II
The Khmer Empire was a Hindu-Buddhist empire in Southeast Asia, centered around hydraulic cities in what is now northern Cambodia. Known as Kambuja by its inhabitants, it grew out of the former civilisation of Chenla and lasted from 802 to 1431. Historians call this period of Cambodian history the Angkor period, after the empire's most well-known capital, Angkor. The Khmer Empire ruled or vassalised most of mainland Southeast Asia and stretched as far north as southern China. At its peak, the Empire was larger than the Byzantine Empire, which existed around the same time.
Temple of Banteay Srei, built 967 A.D.
Bakong, one of the earliest temple mountains in Khmer architecture
Banteay Srei, a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva
Ta Keo, a state temple built around the year 1000
