Covering an area of more than 240 hectares, this massive monument consists of a tall three-tiered main pyramid enclosed by four stone towers - each is linked by galleries. The central pyramid is the highest building in Angkor Wat. Inside the temple are pools, libraries and courtyards. The entire temple complex is surrounded by a 200-meter wide moat.

However, the main draw of Angkor Wat temple is its long and elaborate galleries of bas-reliefs. The 2-meter high reliefs are carved in sandstone with panels covering a surface area of about 1 square kilometre. They depict the legends of Vishu, King Suryavarman II and scenes of the Hindu mythology of Ramayana. Scenes of the battle and ways of life of ancient Khmers are also displayed in some sections of the galleries too.

Perhaps the most famous scene is the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, which is located along the southern wing of the east gallery. The 47 meter long bas-relief is exquisitely carved in details, depicting the struggle between the good and evil. The scene features an image of the benevolent gods pulling on the Naga snake at one side and the evil gods pulling the Naga on the opposite end. Fish and mythical water creatures are caught in this maelstrom. Liquid emerging from this churning is the liquor of immortality that creates the celestial dancers, the apsaras. Other galleries feature a scene of a procession of king Suryavarman II’s troops and an image of Yama, the God of Death, mounted on his bull ordering his henchmen to take sinners to the regions of hell, for example.