The causeway
On columns.
Balon Greyjoy — Public domain · Balon Greyjoy — Public domain · Balon Greyjoy — Public domain · Balon Greyjoy — Public domain
Baphuon is a three-tiered temple-mountain inside the ancient city of Angkor Thom. A huge sandstone pyramid rises above the trees, a long raised causeway on stone columns leads to it from the east gate, and fine carvings cover its walls. It was built in the mid-11th century as the state temple of King Suryavarman I, dedicated to Shiva, and later became a Buddhist temple. It stands on an artificial hill and is called the «golden mountain»; its base is 120 by 100 m and it rises 34 m without its tower, which would have taken it to about 50 m. The Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan, visiting in 1296–1297, called it «the Tower of Bronze» and an astonishing sight. It is the model of the Baphuon style, with carvings on every surface. You walk the raised causeway, climb the stairs to the upper terraces for views over Angkor Thom and the forest, and circle the temple to see the carvings. The temple is about 3.7 km in a straight line north of Angkor Wat, beside the Bayon and the Terrace of the Elephants. The steps are high, so climb carefully. Temples are sacred places, so cover your shoulders and knees, and do not climb on carved stone.
On columns.
Angkor Thom views.
On every surface.
Inside Angkor Thom, northwest of the Bayon
Terrace of the ElephantsThe Terrace of the Elephants is a long stone platform at the heart of the ancien4 minutes walk
BayonThe state temple of King Jayavarman VII, built in the late 12th or early 13th ce5 minutes walk4.9
Angkor Thom South GateAngkor Thom, the great city, was the last and longest-lived capital of the Khmer23 minutes walk4.8The Bayon and the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom.
About an hour.