Built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, this is a massive temple that translates into 'Temple Mountain', and was dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple complex is surrounded by a moat that is about one mile long on each side. The main building is divided multiple times into 4 different subsections creating axes that point in the cardinal directions. The beehive looking towers were meant to reflect the shape of the lotus flower before it blooms.
Angkor Thom
This was the last temple built during the Khmer empire. It was built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, and covers the most land of any of the temples of Angkor. The main temple (Bayon Temple) is comprised of many buildings that have King Jayavarman's face smiling down on you. It makes for a truly creepy experience when it feels like someone is constantly looking over your shoulder. Built as a Buddist temple, many of the relics were destroyed by the next king who believed in Hinduism. Some of the other buildings in this complex consisted of the Bapuon Temple, which has a large reclining Buddha built into the rear wall of the building, and Ta Prohm, which you may recognize from the Tomb Raider movie.
Wild Monkeys!
The always present faces of King Jayavarman
Baphuon Temple
Can you see the reclining Buddha? (Hint: The face is on the left)
Ta Prohm
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