The Royal Palace, Angkor Thom

The Royal Palace is a large palace complex in Angkor Thom with laterite walls enclosing a rectangular area. Five sandstone gateways provide access to the grounds, with the main entrance facing eastward.

The palace was built in the 11th century under King Suryavarman I and served as the administrative center of the Khmer Empire. It remained a central seat of power until the late 16th century.

The walls display carved scenes of horse heads, royal processions, and legends featuring nagas that you can observe while walking through the grounds. These reliefs tell stories from Khmer life and remain visible to visitors today.

Plan your visit in the early morning hours to avoid crowds and benefit from better light for photography. The grounds are relatively open, so bring sun protection and water with you.

A large artificial pond with 13 tiers of laterite steps sits within the palace walls. This pond likely served both ritual and practical purposes and remains visible today.

Location: Siem Reap Municipality

Inception: 11 century

Length: 585 m

Width: 246 m

Part of: Angkor

GPS coordinates: 13.44556,103.85583

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:25