Elephant carvings
Near life-size.
Balon Greyjoy — Public domain · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Balon Greyjoy — Public domain · Marcin Konsek — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Terrace of the Elephants is a long stone platform at the heart of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. A sandstone wall is carved with a procession of near life-size elephants and their riders, stone trunks reach down to the ground at the stairs, and a wide grassy square opens in front. The terrace is 350 m long. King Jayavarman VII used it as a platform to watch processions and public ceremonies, and it was the base of his great audience hall. It joined the palace of Phimeanakas, of which few ruins remain because most of the original building was of organic material that has long gone. The middle of the wall bears garudas and lions, and the famous elephant parade runs toward either end. You walk the length of the terrace and in front of it to see the elephant carvings, climb on top to look over the great square as the king once did, then carry on to the nearby Terrace of the Leper King. The terrace is about 3.8 km in a straight line north of Angkor Wat, close to the Baphuon. The sun is strong on the open square, so visit in the morning or late afternoon. Temples are sacred places, so cover your shoulders and knees, and do not climb on carved stone.
Near life-size.
At the stairs.
In front.
Central square, Angkor Thom
The Baphuon and the Terrace of the Leper King.
Morning or late afternoon.
