Angkor Thom Archaeological Site

Address: Angkor Thom (including Bayon), Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Website: https://www.apsaraauthority.gov.kh

Hours: Daily 5:00am-6:00pm (Angkor Archaeological Park)

Admission: Angkor Archaeological Park ticket - 1‑day US$37, 3‑day US$62, 7‑day US$72 (covers Angkor Thom area)

Angkor Thom is the late 12th-century walled capital city built by King Jayavarman VII and forms the central part of the Angkor archaeological park near Siem Reap. It served as the political and religious center of the Khmer Empire and contains several major temples and ceremonial platforms.

The city is entered through four monumental gates lined with statues leading to a grid of avenues and major monuments. At its heart is the Bayon, famed for its dozens of carved stone faces, while nearby structures include the Baphuon, the Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King.

Constructed in the late 12th to early 13th century under Jayavarman VII, Angkor Thom replaced earlier capitals and was designed as a fortified ceremonial city with Buddhist and state temples. Over subsequent centuries the city declined and many structures fell into ruin before modern restoration efforts began in the 20th century.

Angkor Thom sits immediately north of the main Angkor Wat complex west of Siem Reap town, occupying the central area of the larger Angkor archaeological zone.

• City layout: The walled city plan measures roughly 3 km by 3 km, with four monumental gates, a surrounding wall, and a protective moat; the layout is compact and walkable between major monuments.

What to See#

• Bayon: Bayon temple - the richly carved state temple at the city center known for its many stone faces and complex layout.
• Baphuon: Baphuon - a large temple-mountain originally built as a state temple before being converted to Buddhist use, notable for its stepped pyramid form and recent restorations.
• Terraces (Elephants and Leper King): Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King - extensive raised platforms used for royal ceremonies and public events, decorated with bas-reliefs of animals and mythic scenes.

Angkor Thom is a vast walled city rather than a single temple, and its monuments are spread across a 3-kilometre grid; the causeways, gates and central temples reward a full day.

The causeways and gates. The approaches across the moat are attractions in their own right. Each causeway is lined with columns of larger-than-life statues - a row of gods on one side, demons on the other - every figure grasping the body of a massive naga-serpent. The gates themselves are flanked by gigantic three-headed elephants and capped with the iconic smiling faces that have mystified historians and delighted visitors.

The Bayon. The centrepiece of the city is the Bayon, the iconic temple of Angkor Thom, famous for its towering stone faces and its intricate bas-reliefs depicting historical and mythological scenes. Its gallery walls are among the richest at Angkor.

The Royal Plaza and terraces. North of the Bayon lies the Royal Plaza and the Royal Palace enclosure. Facing the plaza are the bas-relief terraces built by Jayavarman: the Terrace of the Elephants, a grand viewing platform carved with elephants used for public ceremonies and processions, and the Terrace of the Leper King, a mysterious platform of intricate carvings and statues thought to be linked to royal or religious rites.

The Baphuon and quieter corners. The Baphuon is a massive temple-mountain with a steep climb, its stepped form symbolising Mount Meru and rewarding the ascent with panoramic views. Away from the crowds, smaller monuments such as Preah Palilay, Tep Pranam with its large seated Buddha, and the five-temple cluster of Preah Pithu offer tranquil, tree-shaded corners for reflection.

Angkor Thom is inside the Angkor Archaeological Park, a short ride from Siem Reap. Most visitors reach the park by tuk‑tuk, taxi or bicycle from Siem Reap town; travel time is typically 10-20 minutes (around 5-8 km) depending on which gate or temple within Angkor Thom you are heading to. Entry to the park is via the main park roads and gates used by the standard Angkor tourist circuit.

• Plan to be at Angkor Thom either at first light or late afternoon when the light softens on Bayon's stone faces and the main crowds thin; Bayon itself draws the largest groups so hit it early.
• Enter Angkor Thom via the South Gate if you're headed straight to Bayon and the central complex; don't rush past the Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King-these nearby reliefs are easy to miss but are historically important and close together.
• Hire a licensed guide for the complex's bas‑reliefs and iconography-many visitors walk the circuit quickly and miss smaller temples and the quieter outer enclosures where carving details and perspectives are clearer.

Angkor Thom - literally “great city” - was built in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII, raised as a fortified capital after the Chams from neighbouring Champa reputedly invaded and defeated Angkor. Where Angkor Wat had doubled as both city and temple, Angkor Thom was a walled city that gathered numerous temples, the royal palace enclosure, and expansive processional grounds behind a massive moat and towering enclosure walls.

A Buddhist king revered as a god. Jayavarman VII was a devout Buddhist, and the monuments raised in his honour reflect it. At the very centre of the city he built the Bayon, whose tower upon tower of spires are adorned with serene smiling faces - variously read as the king, the Buddha, or a fusion of the two, honouring a ruler venerated as a compassionate god on Earth. Academics and archaeologists still debate the meaning of these masterpieces.

A city of many eras. Not every monument within the walls belongs to Jayavarman’s reign. Temples such as the Baphuon were raised before the great city was established, and building continued after him. Alongside the royal monuments the enclosure held villages and active Buddhist temples, together with dense native forest that remains home to monkeys and dozens of species of bird - more sights, spanning centuries of religious and artistic accomplishment, than can be seen in a single day.