Angkor Thom, Cambodia – an Ancient Walled City

Angkor Thom is an ancient walled city and the last capital of the Khmer empire. Established in the 12th century, Angkor Thom is famous for its many impressive monuments, including the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the spectacular Angkor Thom South Gate.

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Quick Facts About Angkor Thom

• Angkor Thom was an ancient walled city established in the 12th century as the last capital of the Khmer Empire (the predecessor state to modern Cambodia).  The Khmer Empire (the Angkor Empire) existed from the 9th to the 15th centuries and was a Hindu-Buddhist Empire in Southeast Asia.
• Angkor Thom was established by King Jayavarman VII (a king of the Khmer Empire from 1181 to 1218).
• Angkor Thom means “Great City“.
• The walled city is surrounded by a moat and laid out as a square.  Angkor Thom covers the area of about 9 square kilometers.
• Notable monuments within Angkor Thom include The Bayon, The Baphuon, Terrace of the Elephants, Terrace of the Leper King, Phimeanakas (remains of a 10th century Hindu temple), Preah Pithu, Preah Palilay, and others.
• The state temple of the King Jayavarman VII, The Bayon, is located in the center of Angkor Thom.
• The structures within Angkor Thom were built using sandstone and laterite. Angkor Thom is known for its grand scale of construction.

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Where is it located?

Angkor Thom is located 4 km (2.5 miles) north of Angkor Wat.

How big is Angkor Thom?

Angkor Thom is laid out as a square with each side of the square stretching 3 km long.  In total, Angkor Thom covers the area of about 9 square kilometers.

Who built it?

Angkor Thom was established by King Jayavarman VII (a king of the Khmer Empire from 1181 to 1218).

South gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Five Gates to Angkor Thom

• There are a total of 5 gates to Angkor Thoms: North Gate, East Gate, South Gate, West Gate, and Victory Gate.
• Angkor Thom has gates at each of the 4 cardinal points (North, East, South, West). From those points, the roads connect the gates to the Bayon, the state temple, at the center of the city.
• A causeway extends across a moat in front of each entrance.   The best-preserved and the most impressive gate is the South Gate.   The causeway over the moat to the South Gate is lined with stone figures of mythical beings.   There are 23-meter high entry towers located at the city gates.
• There is another gate to Angkor Thom, the Victory Gate. It is located 500 meters north of the east gate.

South gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

South Gate

The best-preserved gate of Angkor Thom is the South Gate.  The causeway over the moat to the South Gate is lined with stone figures of mythical beings.

There is a grand entry tower at the South Gate through which you enter the Angkor Thom.  The sandstone tower is about 23 meters high and is topped with faces in four directions.

South gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Entry Tower at the South gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

South gate of Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Bayon

The Bayon is an ancient temple in the center of Angkor Thom, Cambodia.  Bayon was built as the state temple of the King Jayavarman VII, a king of the Khmer Empire from 1181 to 1218. He was strongly devoted to Buddhism and built the Bayon as a result of his devotion.

Bayon was the last temple built at Angkor.  The temple is famous for its smiling faces.

Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

Baphuon

The Baphuon is an 11th-century temple at Angkor, Cambodia. It was initially dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and served as the state temple of Udayadityavarman II, the ruler of the Angkor Kingdom from 1050 to 1066 A.D.

In the 15th century, the Baphuon was transformed into a Buddhist temple.

The Baphuon was constructed as a three-tiered temple mountain.

Baphuon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia

The Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants is an ancient royal viewing platform of Angkor Thom.  The Terrace faces the public grounds that were used for public ceremonies, military parades, processions, and other events.

The Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII (who was the king of the Khmer Empire from 1181 to 1218) and his family used the Elephant Terrace to watch military parades, public ceremonies, and other events. The king also used the terrace as the audience hall to interact with the public.

What remains now of the original structure is mainly the foundation and the ruins. The walls of the terrace contain the carvings of elephants, other animals, and mythological creatures.  The terrace is over 300 meters long.

Elephant Terrace, Angkor Thom, Cambodia