Angkor Thom
After visiting the
Angkor Wat temples, we proceeded to Angkor Thom. The south gate of Angkor Thom is just 1.7 km north of Angkor Wat.
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| South gate of Angkor Thom |
Angkor Thom, known as Big City, is a 3 km squared walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. After Jayaraman VII recaptured the Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city. He began with existing structures and built a grand enclosed city around them adding the outer wall/moat and some of Angkor's greatest temples including his state-temple, Bayon, which is set at the center of the city. There are five entrances (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal point, and the victory gate leading to the Royal Palace area. Each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces.
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| Close up of the Hindu demons |
Angkor Thom is in the Bayon style.
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| A Hindu God |
Holiday Travel Tips:-
Notice that some of the heads are missing and some are a very light clayish colour as these are not original and have been replaced.
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| One of the five gates with Hindu gods and demons |
The bas reliefs on the southern exterior wall of the lower level as seen here depict the real-life scenes from the historical sea battle between the Khmer and the Cham.
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| Bas reliefs on the Southern exterior wall |
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| Bayon Temple |
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| Beautiful |
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| Columns in a row |
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| Get your picture taken |
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| A very popular tourist spot |
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| Apsara |
Holiday Travel Tips:-
Should you not have much time to visit all the Angkor Wat temples, then at least make time for Angkor Wat as well as the Bayon temple
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| Faces of Avalokiteshvara at Bayon Temple |
The giant stone faces of Bayon have become one of the most recognisable images connected with classic Khmer art and architecture. There are 37 standing towers with most but not all sporting four carved faces.
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| Intricately designed |
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| Carved reliefs on a temple of Angkor Thom |
As can be seen from most of these Angkor Wat temples ruins, you can admire the various bas reliefs of the many mythological figures of gods and goddesses from Hinduism to Buddhism.
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| Apsara |
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| Lovely works of art |
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| Buddha |
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| Bayon |
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| Lions and dragons |
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| UNESCO site - World Cultural Heritage |
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| Faces everywhere |
Terrace of the Elephants
Terrace of the Elephants is an impressive, two and a half metre tall, 300 metre long terrace wall adorned with carved elephants and garudas that spans the heart of Angkor Thom. The northern section of the wall displays some particularly fine sculpture.
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| Terrace of the Elephants |
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| Check out the carvings - young elephant learning how to catch a boar |
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| More sculptures |
Ta Prohm
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| Conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm temple |
Ta Prohm was constructed in the mid 12th to early 13th century by King Jayavarman VII in the Bayon style. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom, this sprawling Buddhist monastic complex is only partially cleared of jungle overgrowth.
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| Trees literally grow on the temple |
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| See how huge the trees are, just by the roots |
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| Ta Prohm temple |
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| History of Ta Prohm temple |
Intentionally left partially unrestored, massive fig and silk-cotton trees grow from the towers and corridors offering a 'jungle atmosphere' and some of the best 'tree-in-temple' photo opportunitites at Angkor. The unusual sight of trees towering from the ruins of Ta Prohm have made it one of Angkor's most visited temples, with many calling it the 'tree temple'.
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| Beautiful carvings |
Ta Prohm was one of King Jayavarman VII's first major temple projects and dedicated to his mother whilst Preah Khan was dedicated to his father.
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| Such a pity, all in ruins |
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| Restoration works being carried out |
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| Laborious but necessary... labeling of each and every stone to be put back in the exact spot |
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