Bayon, Buddhist temple in Angkor Thom, Cambodia
Bayon is a temple at the center of Angkor Thom, built from gray sandstone with multiple levels and densely clustered towers. Each tower carries faces looking toward the four cardinal directions, their features softened by moss and weathering over centuries.
Jayavarman VII built this temple between 1190 and 1210 as the state shrine for Mahayana Buddhism. The structure was later altered by Hindu kings who removed or modified many of its Buddhist elements.
The outer gallery walls preserve scenes from late 12th-century life, showing fishermen on the Tonle Sap lake and traders in open-air markets. These carvings offer a window into how ordinary people lived during the reign of the Buddhist king.
Access is through the main entrance of the archaeological park near Siem Reap, which opens daily. Early morning or late afternoon offers the best conditions for a visit, with fewer visitors and light that brings out the carved faces.
The towers stand so close together that the faces overlap from certain angles, creating new visual combinations. Some visitors only realize how many faces are actually present when they leave the temple and look back.
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