• Bangladesh!

    Bangladesh: Traditional houses. Go Now!

    Bangladesh
    This low-lying country has historic ties to India and Pakistan, but today maintains a wholly unique culture. Explore Bangladesh!

  • Indonesia!

    Indonesia: Lombok. Go Now!

    Indonesia
    This archipelago nation is culturally diverse from big cities to isolated islands. Begin Your Journey!

  • Jordan!

    Jordan: Petra. Go Now!

    Jordan
    Tucked away in this Middle Eastern country, the famed city of Petra (pictured) links the past to the present culture. Explore Jordan!

  • Mongolia!

    Mongolia: Desert. Go Now!

    Mongolia
    This vast country has a culture that spans past and present... a nomadic life shifting to a modern & sedentary society. Begin Your Journey!

  • Kyrgyzstan!

    Kyrgyzstan: Tian Shan Mountains. Go Now!

    Kyrgyzstan
    The mountains, including the Tian Shan Mountains (pictured), give Kyrgyzstan a unique culture, partially formed from this isolation from the mountains. Go Now!

Architecture of Cambodia

Little remains from early Cambodian architecture, but the city of Angkor is still standing and since that time, much has been built in stone so there is a great architectural history since then, the 800s. However, all Cambodian architecture, from that time until today is based off of their most famous monument, the city of Angkor.

Cambodian Architecture - Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat

Many of Angkor's temples and buildings are modeled after a mountain and since this time, this tradition of building with the inspiration of a mountain has continued. More than this, Angkor grew over time technologically, most noticeably in the movement of earth and in structuring waterways and irrigation systems, which allowed life in Angkor and later in other less-hospitably areas. Angkor was a full city and developed over time as both houses and temples were built; leading to numerous transformations in these buildings.

Angkor Wat (1100s; wat meaning temple) is considered the peak of Khmer architecture. This Hindu temple is perfectly uniform and is filled with sculptures on nearly every wall.

Angkor's temples also shift from being Hindu temples in its early years to becoming Buddhist temples in the 1200s when the kings converted to this religion; the massive temple of Bayon is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in the sight.

Cambodian Architecture - Angkor
Angkor

Developing parallel to Angkor were a couple Champa ruins, a kingdom that lived and ruled in the region at times, although they generally fell in the region that is today Vietnam. Although all of the Champa's best ruins are in Vietnam today, their primarily Hindu-influenced architecture had a small impact on later Cambodian architecture. However, it was the Khmers in Angkor that more heavily influenced later Cambodian architecture.

Housing in Cambodia has traditionally been built in a rectangle and is often times on stilts, if they live in a flood zone. Houses are generally very simple and a community effort to build.

This page was last updated: October, 2012