Angkor Thom – Map, Visiting Guide, Highlights, History & more

Angkor Thom is one of the most popular areas in the Angkor Archeological Park located minutes to the northeast of Angkor Wat and around 15 mins from Siem Reap city. Angkor Thom, literally: “Great City”, contains several of the must-see temples and ancient sites including Bayon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper … Read more

Angkor Thom (Enclosure & Moat)

The grand outer enclosure wall of Angkor Thom is 3 km square constructed of laterite and further supported by an inner earthen buttressing. The enclosure has five monumental gates preceded by causeways that cross the 110m wide outer surrounding moat. The five gates are covered here: South Gate (Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kev), … Read more

Angkor Thom East Gate – (Gate of the Dead)

Angkor Thom East Gate, or Thvear Khnoch/Kmoch Gate (Gate of the Dead), is one of the five gates that lead through the walls of Angkor Thom. It is a rarely visited site that is approached from Bayon temple via a dirt trail. That said, of all the gates this one certainly has a character and … Read more

Angkor Thom North Gate

Angkor Thom North Gate, or Dei Chhnang Gate, is one of the five gates (gopura) for entering Angkor Thom. It is similar to the other gates featuring the massive gopura with monumental smiling faces at each cardinal point. As per the other gates, South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), West Gate (Thvear Ta Kav), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), … Read more

Angkor Thom South Gate

The south gate of Angkor Thom is a very famous spot within Angkor Archeological Park and one that shouldn’t be missed. Standing on the causeway, and admiring the sheer scale, as you find yourself drifting back in time to imagine how it must have felt to approach this spectacular city in its heydey is quite … Read more

Angkor Thom Victory Gate

Thvear Chey, or Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, is one of the five gates of Angkor Thom, located on the eastern side and north of the Gate of the Dead. Interestingly, the other four gates are located on cardinal points having a particular symmetry from an overall design based on Hindu beliefs. Victory gate, however, … Read more

Angkor Thom West Gate

Angkor Thom West Gate (also recorded as Ta Kav Gate, TaKaov, Thvear Ta Keo) is one of the five ancient gates allowing entry into Angkor Thom. The other gates are the South Gate (Thvear Tonle Om), North Gate (Thvear Ta Nok), Victory Gate (Thvear Chey), and East Gate (Gate of the Dead or Thvear Khnoch). … Read more

Baphuon Temple – History & Highlights

The Baphuon Temple, located in Angkor Thom to the northwest of the Bayon temple, is another of the famed mountain temples built by the ancient Khmer. The temple is known for its grand entrance, its scale, and the impressive reliefs especially those on the second enclosure of the top level. It dates to the mid-11th century, … Read more

Bayon Temple – Hidden Quirks, Facts and History

Bayon Temple is a richly decorated ancient Khmer temple located at the center of Angkor Thom in Angkor Archeological Park of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the must-see temples when visiting the area being famous for its array of towers with smiling faces and “baroque” architecture in a Khmer context. From an architectural … Read more

Boeung Thom

Also known as Beng Thom, an East-West oriented basin measuring 350 x 180 m. Linked to Rong Ta Dev, a hole for runoff flows in the outer wall of Angkor Thom. The basin also features a series of smaller basins to its east where there are also remains of an ancient site known as Terrace … Read more

Chedi

An unnamed site, near Bayon that is believed to be either a Chedi (type of stupa) or terrace from the late Angkor or ‘middle period’. Close to the site on its southern side are a number of carved blocks, and a lot are spread out on the northern side, being unsure if all these are … Read more

Mangalartha (Monument 487)

Also known as Prasat Mangalartha and Eastern Top Temple, it is located inside Angkor Thom down a narrow dirt track that comes off the road leading to Victory Gate. It is one of the last significant Hindu temples, if not the very last built in Angkor (or at least the last dedicated), and while being … Read more

Monument 58 – Angkor Thom

An unnamed and uncleared site (recorded as Monument 58 in early French records) that is primarily constructed of laterite featuring a large prasat (or chedi) at its western end and then a porch that extends forward maybe 10-15 m. It appears to have featured sandstone dressing on the porch (or terrace), or perhaps it had … Read more

Monument 64

Uncleared and overgrown site (05/2021) that features the remains of the base of a prasat. It was first excavated in 1937. The site is heavily overgrown but the remains can be seen including colonettes of differing style, a sprawl of sandstone plinths, a base structure of laterite, with molded but undecorated sandstone and molded bricks. … Read more

Necropolis

An uncleared site and unprepared for visitors. Located along the northeastern edge of the Beng Thom (a large basin) is a mostly continuous mound running east-west of almost 250 m in length and perhaps 30 m wide and several meters tall. On its northeastern end can be seen a laterite structure, a sandstone plinth, various … Read more

North Khleang – History & Highlights

Located in Angkor Thom, north of the causeway that leads from Victory Gate to the Royal Palace, the North Khleang is a large sandstone structure configuring of long galleried halls enclosing a courtyard with a small shrine at its center. It is duplicated, almost identically by the South Khleang, all of which are fronted by … Read more

Phimeanakas Temple

Phimeanakas (Khmer: ប្រាសាទភិមានអាកាស) is another of the grand pyramid-based state-temples that was the common archetype of the 8-11th century. Located inside the ancient Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, it is a grand three-tiered pyramid with a rectangular base whose corners are mounted with stone elephants and staircases flanked by lions which lead up to a … Read more

Prasat Chrung (NE)

One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thom’s outer wall. Located on the northeast corner, this one is a small but ornate sandstone temple featuring a small sandstone building (stele shelter) to the east which housed a stele with an inscription (registered as K.547). The inscription on the stele features … Read more

Prasat Chrung (NW)

One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thoms outer wall, this one is located on the northwest corner. You can walk to the site along the top of Angkor Thoms outer wall starting from either Angkor Thom’s north or west gate. The trail is suitable for walking and on foot … Read more

Prasat Chrung (SE)

One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thom’s outer wall. This one is located on the southeast corner. You can reach the site by a 20 min walk along the top of the wall from the south gate of Angkor Thom. It is also a place where you can watch … Read more

Prasat Chrung (SW)

One of the four prasats that sit at each corner of Angkor Thoms outer wall. This one is located on the southwest corner. This is the perhaps most beautiful of all of the “prasat chrungs” and can be a popular spot mostly only known to locals. It offers beautiful views over the moat and a … Read more

Prasat East of Khleang North

Located directly east of the rear courtyard of North Khleang, this small walled area features three structures, the main one being a small shrine with stairs at each side while only the western side has an open entry. On either side are small “library” buildings. An outer wall surrounds them with an entry gopura on … Read more

Preah Ang Kok Thlok – Terrace S

To the west of Bayon, located at the functioning monastery of Preah Ang Kok Thlok is ‘Terrace S’ or the remnants thereof which now has a contemporary construction atop the ancient site. The site we see today carries on the traditional use of the ancient site, a vihara or prah vihar, that were noted as … Read more

Preah En Tep

Located just south of the Bayon Temple inside Angkor Thom, Preah En Tep was an ancient Buddhist Terrace that has been restored in recent times. As it is with other terraces of the type, it faces east and features a grand pedestal, or balang, at its western end. In this case, it supports a monumental … Read more

Preah Kok Thlok

Located immediately west of the Bayon Temple in Angkor Thom, it’s a recently reconstructed ancient Buddhist terrace, demarcated by double sema while also featuring the remains of laterite chedi/reliquary on its western side. It remains a sacred site for locals who come to pray here. The remains of the laterite structure at the western end … Read more

Preah Ngok (Angkor Thom)

Located just north of Bayon and featuring a monumental Buddha statue, it’s one of the many Buddhist terraces attributed to the post-Angkor period created using recycled masonry from prior ancient sites. It is a simple but large terrace, formed by a platform of laterite blocks recorded as 90 meters by 24 meters that rises around … Read more

Preah Palilay Temple

Preah Palilay (Khmer: ប្រាសាទព្រះបាលិលេយ្យ) is a small but fascinating ancient temple located in Angkor Thom, only a short walk to the north-west of Terrace of Leper King and Tep Pranam. The site’s contemporary name, Preah Palilay, has the meaning Sacred Forest of Palilay whilst the original site name is unknown. At its eastern entrance it … Read more

Preah Pithu T (Kor Sak Temple)

Kor Sak Temple, or Preah Pithu T, is located in Angkor Thom and is one of the five temples that make up what is known as Preah Pithu Group which are located to the northeast of the ancient Royal Palace. The ancient temple was originally dedicated to Vishnu, opening to the west with a large … Read more

Preah Pithu U (Chorm Temple)

Preah Pithu U, or Chorm Temple, is a small sandstone temple, surrounded by a wall and sharing an “island” created by an outer moat with Preah Pithu T (Kor Sak Temple).  The outer wall with entrances at each cardinal point leading to the small temple that rises up on a stepped base. It is quite … Read more

Preah Pithu V (Duan Mea Temple)

Preah Pithu V, or Duan Mea Temple, is an early 12th Century Hindu temple located in Angkor Thom. It is part of what is known as the Preah Pithu Group which references five temples that are clustered together, although, not necessarily constructed at the same time. The site does not feature a foundation inscription and … Read more

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