HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsBayon Temple
Cambodia
Bayon, the state temple at Angkor Thom built by Jayavarman VII (late 12th–early 13th c.), is famous for its ~37 stone towers, each adorned with immense serene faces. Its galleries brim with bas-reliefs depicting myth, history, and Khmer daily life
Contents
10 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire. As we stand amidst the dense, humid jungle of northwestern Cambodia, we prepare to explore one of the most enigmatic and mesmerizing architectural masterpieces on earth. …
Listen in the app2The South Gate Causeway and the Cosmic Churning
Our journey into the mystical heart of Angkor Thom begins not at the Bayon itself, but at the monumental South Gate, the most spectacular and well preserved entrance to the ancient royal city. Before you even set foot inside the…
Listen in the app3Approaching the East Entrance of Victory Mountain
Having traveled down the long, forested road from the South Gate, the dense jungle canopy suddenly breaks, and you are presented with your very first full view of the Bayon Temple from the East Entrance. Stand here for a moment…
Listen in the app4The Outer Gallery and the Canvas of Everyday Life
Step gently into the shade of the Outer Gallery, the lowest and outermost perimeter of the Bayon Temple. You are now walking through a long, partially ruined stone corridor where the exterior walls serve as an immense, continuous…
Listen in the app5The Dark Corridors and the Divine Apsara Dancers
As we move inward from the brightly lit outer walls, we plunge into the deliberately dark and intensely atmospheric inner corridors of the temple complex. The transition is jarring. …
Listen in the app6The Inner Gallery and the Violent Shift to Hinduism
Emerging slightly from the darkest corridors, you now enter the Inner Gallery, a raised section of the temple that holds the key to the Bayon's most violent and controversial historical secret. Physically, this gallery is…
Listen in the app7Ascending to the Overcrowded Upper Terrace
We now face the most physically demanding portion of our journey through the Bayon, the steep ascent to the Upper Terrace. Prepare yourself for a challenging climb. …
Listen in the app8The Enigma of the 216 Smiling Faces
You are now standing at the very heart of the Bayon's most defining and globally recognized feature. Look up, and turn slowly in a circle. …
Listen in the app9The Central Sanctuary and the Shattered God
We now approach the absolute physical and spiritual climax of the Bayon Temple, the massive Central Tower. Rising to a staggering height of forty three meters above the jungle floor, this enormous structure marks the exact dead…
Listen in the app10Closing
As we carefully make our way back down the steep, treacherous stairways from the upper terrace and emerge once again into the bright, tropical sunlight at the eastern entrance, take a moment to look back at the sprawling, chaotic…
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What is Bayon Temple?
Bayon Temple is a place in Cambodia with 10 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Cambodia |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 10 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 13.4400, 103.8617 |
| Last updated |
