Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century under the reign of King Suryavarman II. For almost a thousand years, this temple has experienced all kinds of stories. After the fall of the Angkorian Empire, the temple was hidden in the middle of the forest until exploration from the 16th century.

Who were the first people to visit Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat has a massive moat surrounding the central temple complex

Among the explorers were Europeans. In fact, the first Europeans who came to Angkor Wat were not French. It was the Portuguese who came to this magnificent temple.

According to several historical records, Portuguese Catholic priest Antonio da who arrived at the temple before other nations in Europe. He described to Portuguese historian Diogo do Cuoto that the architecture could not be interpreted in pen because there was no structure like Angkor Wat in this world.

However, Angkor Wat began to make a name for itself when French naturalist Henri Mouhout arrived there and wrote Book of Adventures in Siam, Cambodia and Laos, 1858-1860. The book gradually attracted European and Western tourists to Angkor Wat during the colonial period.

Angkor Wat, drawing picture

Source: BBC