On the road to the Bayon Temple Complex

August 9, 2009.

Here we are driving down the road to the Bayon temple. The Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Khmer Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.

The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. They are spectacular to view and if you are lucky to have a beautiful day with rich natural sounds emanating from the surrounding jungle, it can be rather overwhelming in it's beauty and spirit. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.

We are 8 family members, in a rented van with driver for the day, from Canada and the United States, in Siem Reap Province visiting various temple sites in the Angkor area.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• bayon
• angkor thom
• siem reap
• cambodia
• temples
• countryside
• kampuchea
• srok khmer
• jayavarman