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Bayon (Siem Reap)

Cambodia / Siem Reab / Siem Reap
 ruins, interesting place, UNESCO World Heritage Site, buddhist temple, 12th century construction
The Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which just out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak.[1] The temple is home also to two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which depict an unusual combination of mythological, historical and mundane events.

www.digital-culture.de/indochina/kambodscha/angkor/angk...

www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/20/cambodia/angkor/bay...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   13°26'28"N   103°51'32"E

Comments

  • Amy Youngberg (guest)
    While the above description of Angkor Wat is correct, the area highlighted is not Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is the temple (correctly labled) to the Southeast. I believe that this is the temple of Bayon, known for its "smiling faces". Bayon also has several bas-reliefs, as well as apsaras lining the walls.
  • Michael Sehested (guest)
    I agree with Amy Youngberg: this is Bayon, which is "in my humble opinion" could be the most beautiful of all temples in the Siem Reap area.
  • Timothy Tye
    The Bayon is among my favorite monuments at Angkor. It is located right at the very center of Angkor Thom, the ancient city located north of Angkor Wat. Unlike other Angkorian monuments, you don't find a wall around it. That's probably because the walls around Angkor Thom itself is the wall for Bayon too. Many people, including myself, like this temple because of the stone faces, which many believe is that of King Jayavarman VII, or perhaps the Avalokitesvara. It's an amazing sight to approach Bayon for at first what appeared to be mountains of rock gradually take shape into a profusion of stone faces. I describe this in more detail on my own webpage: http://www.big-world-out-there.com/c/cambodia/angkor/bayon.htm