8Angkor – Cambodia
The sprawling city of Angkor was the heart of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Angkor Wat, the most famous temple within the city, is the largest religious monument in the world. The city was abandoned in the 15th century after attacks from neighboring kingdoms and environmental changes. Overgrown by dense jungle, Angkor remained largely forgotten until French explorers uncovered it in the 19th century. Today, the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of Cambodia’s rich cultural history.
