Described as a “Hindu heaven on earth”, the temples of Angkor are world-famous, and are the main reason Cambodia has become such a hot spot for wanderlust-driven backpackers.

Angkor served as the seat of the Khmer Empire for over 600 years, and was home to at least 0.1 percent of the entire population of Earth in the early 1000s. That may not sound like a lot, but think about how many people there on the planet and you’ll realise just what a big deal this place was.

The ruins of the city, including the remains of over 1000 legendary temples, are available for visiting now, and are truly stunning, leading up to the breathtaking centrepiece Angkor Wat, the largest and one of the most distinctive religious monuments in the world.