Terrace of the Elephants (Siem Reap)

Cambodia / Siem Reab / Siem Reap
 UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic ruins, 13th century construction, tourist attraction
The Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom, a ruined temple complex in Cambodia. The terrace was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform from which to view his victorious returning army. It was attached to the palace of Phimeanakas, of which only a few ruins remain. Most of the original structure was made of organic material and has long since disappeared. Most of what remains are the foundation platforms of the complex. The terrace is named for the carvings of elephants on its eastern face.

The 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king's grand audience hall. It has five outworks extending towards the Central Square-three in the centre and one at each end. The middle section of the retaining wall is decorated with life size garuda and lions; towards either end are the two parts of the famous parade of elephants complete with their Khmer mahouts.
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Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_of_the_Elephants
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   13°26'45"N   103°51'31"E

Comments

  • The first time I visited it was in 2002. At that time the weather was bad. I returned in 2006 and 2008. I managed to get the best shots in 2006. http://www.big-world-out-there.com/c/cambodia/angkor/terrace-of-the-elephants.htm