- Area: Siem Reap Province > Krong Siem Reab > Sangkat Nokor Thum
- | Type: Ancient Remains & Temples
Here we will cover each of the bas-relief scenes in the outer gallery of Angkor Wat, where they are located, a brief guide to the interpretation, and several curiosities that shouldn’t be missed.
Undoubtedly, one of the most celebrated features of Angkor Wat is the incredible bas-relief friezes that line the inner walls of the outer gallery. Together in total measuring around 520m long, the scenes are vast, and while some will casually take them in as they stroll the halls, some will spend hours, day after day, studying and finding all kinds of wonders and curiosities nestled within the carvings. Either way is up to you.
See here for the complete guide to Angkor Wat inc. Faqs and History
Here is a layout and location of each of the scenes
- Battle of Kurukshetra – South Wing of West Gallery – coming from the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. The Kauravas are advancing from the left and the Pandavas from the right both heading to their mutual destruction.
- Historic procession of Suryavarman II – West Wing of South Gallery – it is here you can see a depiction of Angkor Wat’s founder, King Suryavarman II with a small inscription in the elephant’s tail revealing his posthumous name, Paramavishnouloka. There are several other hidden inscriptions in this section.
- 32 hells and 37 heavens of Hinduism – East Wing of South Gallery – Consisting of three tiers with Yama (the judge) atop a bull at the center. The lowest tier depicts those in hell receiving their punishments while the upper two tiers to the left of Yama head towards judgment, the upper tier to the right are those dwelling in heaven held up by a row of garudas below which hell continues on.
- Churning of the Sea of Milk – South Wing of East Gallery – the classic of Hindu mythology, showing Vishnu atop a tortoise with 92 asuras on the left and 88 devas on the right using the serpent Vasuki to churn the sea in a great battle to release the elixir of life.
- Victory of Vishnu over Asuras – North Wing of East Gallery – Asuras move from one side with Vishnu atop a garuda (mythical bird) and his army behind him.
- Victory of Krishna over Bana – East Wing of North Gallery – Krishna is depicted with eight arms riding the garuda and after defeating Bana, in another scene, then ponders sparing his life at the request of a pantheon of gods.
- Battle of Devas and Asuras (or Battle of the Gods) – West Wing of North Gallery – here in a busy scene, all 21 gods are recorded, battling Asuras
- Battle of Lanka – North Wing of West Gallery – shows the famous scene from the Ramayana, in which Rama defeats Ravana, one of the busiest scenes that Cœdes (a legend of Angkor research) described as an “inextricable entanglement of monkeys and rakshasas”
Northwest and Southwest Tower
The northwestern and southwestern corner towers also feature small condensed bas-reliefs on the upper and lower sections of their inner walls
A. Northwest Tower (looking north and rotating clockwise)
- Sita was kidnapped by the giant Virada, with Rama and Lakshmana shooting arrows
- Sita put to the test (scene from the Ramayana)
- Rama and Lakshmana form an alliance with Sugriva and Hanuman
- Krishna defeats Naraka Asura
- Arjuna wins Draupadi in an archery competition
- Rama and Lakshmana fight with Kabandha
- Vishnu in the Forest
- Hunaman gives Sita Rama’s ring
- Rama, Lakshmana, and Vibhisana
- Rama returns in Pushaka-Chariot to Adoyhya
- Sita’s trial by fire
B. Southwest Tower (looking north and rotating clockwise)
- Rama chases the golden deer Maricha – A scene from the Ramayana
- Krishna, accompanied by Balarama, lifting Mt Govardhana
- Water festival at Dvaravati
- Shiva as Yogeshvara Bas Relief
- Rama Kills Valin Bas Relief
- Krishna and Arjuna in the Burning Khandava Forest Bas Relief
- Shiva Kills Kama Bas Relief
- Ravana shakes Mt Kailasha
- Young Krishna Uproots Trees Bas Relief
- Shiva and the Hermits
- Churning of the Sea of Milk
Inscriptions hidden in the galleries
If you look closely, hidden in the artwork you can find small inscriptions, mostly along the southwest wall. Historic procession of Suryavarman II there are at least 10 and in the Heaven and Hell gallery, more than 30 short inscriptions.
Animals appearing in the galleries
There is a diverse range of mythical creatures including garudas, the monkey Hanuman, the serpent Vasuki, the sacred geese Hamsa etc., and also a lot of native creatures. Horses and elephants are common, bull, lions, birdlife, tortoise, and aquatic creatures can all be seen. Single-horned rhinoceros ridden by the god Agni can be seen in six on the map, another in five on the map being ridden by an archer in battle, and another in three on the map.
Parasols, flags, and torch etc in the galleries
Palanquin
Musical Instruments
Battle armor and weaponry
See here for the complete guide to Angkor Wat inc. Faqs and History
