Baphuon
The colossal Baphuon temple was most likely also begun
under Suryavarman's reign, to then be completed by his successor,
Udayadityavarman. The Baphuon is notable as Angkor Thom's
largest "mountain-temple."
There is then a sandstone causeway - about 200 metres long
- formed as a sort of bridge with long paving stones laid
on three lines of short columns, followed - perhaps as a
result of some miscalculation - by a 5.5 metre wide dike,
formed as an embankment between two lateral walls.
Another of this temple's remarkable characteristics is
its sculptural decor: framed scenes of daily life or myth,
touching in their small detail and naivety.
Abandoned as a capital city, Angkor saw its population
numbers plunge, its infrastructures fall into ruin.
The forest was to overcome a good part of the city. Yet
in those places still inhabited, architectural modifications
for the Buddhist cult could take on spectacular dimensions.
Abandoned as a capital city, Angkor saw its population
numbers plunge, its infrastructures fall into ruin. The
forest was to overcome a good part of the city. Yet in those
places still inhabited, architectural modifications for
the Buddhist cult could take on spectacular dimensions. |

Walkway and temple mountain

Temple mountain

Relief |