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Best Things to Do
Popular Best Things to Do in Angkor Thom [2025]
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Angkor Thom
4.8
/5
696 reviews
5.0
Based on 8,669 reviews
14.4 km from downtown
Phone +85563965414
Address: Angkor Archaeological Park, Krong Siem Reap 17000
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Moat surrounds & adds mystery
54 Khmer-smiling Buddha statues
Saved by 195 users191 positive reviews
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【Angkor Thom】
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom, also known as Angkor Thom, was built in the 9th century and covers an area of nearly 9 square kilometers. It was the capital built by King Jayavarman VII and the last capital before the end of the glorious era of Angkor civilization. According to the description of "Records of Cambodia" by Zhou Daguan, an envoy of the Yuan Dynasty, Angkor Thom was prosperous and bustling at the end of the 13th century, with magnificent buildings, which was no less impressive than the cities of the Yuan Dynasty in China at that time.
Angkor Thom has a total of five gates, with Buddha statues carved on all four sides of the gates. There is a long row of stone statues on both sides of the gates, which is a famous attraction in itself. There are many Angkor ruins scattered in Angkor Thom, the more famous ones are Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King.
At the south gate of Tsurugi Castle, the path leading to the gate crosses the moat. The bridge is crowded with people. From afar, you can see the iconic stone-carved human-faced tower smiling at the four directions above the gate of Tsurugi Castle. As soon as you step onto the path, you can see the head of the Naga snake god standing tall. The long rope-like body of the Naga snake god runs through the entire path. There are two rows of stone statues evenly distributed on both sides, each with 27 2.5-meter-high kneeling stone busts lined up in a row. On one side are the gods, and on the other side are the Asuras, and the two sides are wrestling fiercely. The most interesting thing is that the facial expressions of the statues on both sides of the path are completely different. The statue on the left is a good god, with kind eyes and a smile on his face; the statue on the right is an Asura, with eyes wide open and a fierce look. Because of his ferocious face, he is called the evil god.
Angkor Thom is the name of the temple complex to the north of Angkor Wat. It includes, most famously Bayon, but also other dozens of other smaller gates and temples. You could spend days exploring around in here.
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Bayon Temple
4.8
/5
1485 reviews
4.4
Based on 20,879 reviews
14.2 km from downtown
Phone +85563765577
Address: Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Appreciate the smiling Four-Faced Buddha
Bayon Temple evening sunset view
Saved by 176 users273 positive reviews
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The Bayon stupas are a key architectural feature of Cambodia's Bayon Temple, boasting a unique artistic style and profound religious and cultural significance. The following provides a detailed introduction:
Overall Layout and Number
Bayon is home to a vast array of 54 stupas, varying in size and height. These 54 stupas represent the 54 provinces ruled by Jayavarman VII during the heyday of the Angkor Empire, symbolizing the Buddha's light illuminating the entire empire. At its center stands a gilded, circular pagoda, built on a two-story hollow platform. Surrounding it are 48 pagodas of varying sizes, forming a pyramidal structure.
Exterior Design
● Four-Faced Buddha Carvings: Each stupa is crowned with a massive four-faced Buddha statue. These statues represent the four great virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. Each of the 216 Buddha faces is unique, but all possess draped eyes, symbolizing freedom from worldly desires. Their slightly upturned lips reveal a mysterious and tranquil smile, known as the "Khmer smile." They offer a 360-degree, unobstructed gaze upon every corner of their surroundings.
● Religious Symbolism: Bayon Temple is a Buddhist temple, its overall structure modeled after Mount Sumeru, the legendary highest point in Buddhism (Hinduism also has Mount Sumeru, with details differing but largely similar). The stupa's layout and form embody the religious concept of the close connection between the Buddha in heaven and the human race on earth.
Construction Craftsmanship
The stupa is constructed of stone. Despite the age-worn remains, its intricate carvings still reveal the exquisite craftsmanship and high artistic standards of its time.
Bayan Temple is the national temple of the Angkor Dynasty in Cambodia. It is located at the center of the Angkor Tong Wangcheng. It was built by King Jehovah VII (Jayavarman VII) from the end of the 12th to early 13th centuries. It has many important historical significance: religious level ● reflects religious integration and transformation: The Bayan Temple witnessed the transformation of the Angkor dynasty's religious beliefs. Before that, the Angkor region was mainly Hindu, and the Bayan Temple was an important symbol of this religious transformation, with the strong promotion of Buddhism by Yamamoto VII. The temple has Buddhist elements, such as many Buddha statues and Buddhist story reliefs, and some Hindu traditions are integrated, which reflects the transition and tolerance of the religion of the society at that time, and also reflects the desire of the rulers to unite the people and consolidate their rule through religious integration. ● Promote Buddhist culture: Bayan Temple, as a Buddhist temple, was an important place for the spread and practice of Buddhism at that time. It promoted the development and prosperity of Buddhism in Angkor, attracting many monks and believers to practice and worship. The Buddha statue sculpture, mural and other art forms in the temple are not only the expression of religious belief, but also become the carrier of spreading Buddhist teachings and culture, which has a certain impact on the development of Buddhism in the surrounding area. Political level ● Signify the reign of king: Bayan Temple is a temple built for himself by King Jehovah VII and a symbol of his ruling power. The temple's large-scale, exquisite architecture and complex design showcase the king's wealth, power and ambition. The four-faced Buddha in the temple is considered a symbol of the king's face, a design that combines the king with the god Buddha, which aims to emphasize the divine status and legitimacy of the king's rule, and convey to the people that the king is the representative of God on earth, thereby strengthening the king's rule. ● Promoting national unity: At the height of the Angkor dynasty, Bayan Temple, as an important religious and political center of the country, played a role in rallying national strength and promoting national unity. People from different regions gathered to Bayan Temple for religious activities, strengthened exchanges and contacts between each other, helped to break the geographical gap, enhance the sense of identity and cohesion of the country, and was of great significance for maintaining the unity and stability of the country. Art level ● Show the peak of Khmer art: Bayan Temple has become an outstanding representative of Khmer art with its unique architectural style and exquisite carving skills. The relief murals in the temple are rich and varied, including war scenes, court life, folk stories, etc., vividly depicting all aspects of society at that time, providing precious visual materials for future generations to understand the history and culture of the Angkor Dynasty. Its architectural structure and decorative details reflect the outstanding wisdom and creativity of Khmer craftsmen, which has had a profound impact on the subsequent development of Cambodian architecture and art. ● Promote cultural exchange and dissemination: Bayan Temple, as an important symbol of Angkor culture, attracts artists, scholars and tourists from different regions. They appreciate and learn Khmer art here, promoting exchanges and dissemination among different cultures. The artistic style and creative techniques of Bayan Temple may also spread to the surrounding area, which has a certain promotion effect on the development of art in Southeast Asia.
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