Bayon

Bayon is the richly carved central temple of the walled city of Angkor Thom in northern Cambodia, constructed under King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th to early 13th century. It is renowned for its multitude of stone towers bearing serene carved faces and for its narrative bas-reliefs.

What visitors also find - The bas-reliefs include long horizontal panels showing scenes of battles, markets, processions and myth, providing one of the most extensive stone-carved narrative records at Angkor. The intimate scale of many corridors and the vertical arrangement of towers make exploration a mix of close-up relief study and panoramic viewing from higher platforms.

Commissioned by Jayavarman VII following his expansion of the Khmer state, Bayon served as a state temple and reflects Mahayana Buddhist iconography fused with Khmer royal imagery. Subsequent centuries saw repairs, partial alterations, and conservation work that revealed the structure observed today.

Situated within the walled precinct of Angkor Thom in Siem Reap province, Bayon occupies the geographic centre of the ancient capital and is a short drive from the Angkor Wat complex.

• Construction and faces: Built for King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th to early 13th century; the towers display multiple large carved faces, often counted as 216 in total across the complex.
• Visiting tip: Located at the geometric centre of Angkor Thom and best visited earlier in the day to avoid peak crowds from nearby Angkor Wat tours.

What to See #

• Central temple and face towers: A central state temple within the walled city of Angkor Thom, famous for numerous stone towers carved with large serene faces and extensive bas-relief galleries.
• Bas-relief galleries: Low terraces and galleries around the temple decorated with narrative bas-reliefs depicting battles, daily life, and religious scenes from the late 12th to early 13th century.