Bayon temple - Mysterious Temple with Smiling Faces

Bayon is a mind-blowing ancient temple located at the heart of Angkor Thom city which was once the capital of the Khmer (Cambodian) empire. Bayon Temple is renowned for its "face towers" - gigantic stone towers with enormous smiling faces carved into them.

Bayon Temple

There are more than 200 giant stone faces throughout the temple complex and it is unknown how many there originally were. These massive faces with closed eyes and enigmatic smiles captivate people's imagination and curiosity all over the world.

Stone Faces

Bayon Temple was built between the 12th-13th centuries by King Jayavarman VII. It was built as a Buddhist Temple. After the death of King Jayavarman VII, it was converted to a Hindu Temple and many alterations and additions were made. It is still a mystery whose faces were carved into the temple's towers. Some archeologists believe that the faces belong to King Jayavarman VII himself, while others think that these faces represent the Hindu God Brahma or Buddha.

At the temple, there are two sets of highly detailed bas-reliefs with around 11,000 carved figures. These bas-reliefs are very informative because they depict historical events, scenes of the daily life of Khmer people as well as mythical scenes.

Bas-reliefs

How to get there?

Angkor Archeological Park ( UNESCO World Heritage Site) includes many stunning temples and remains of ancient cities built by the Khmer empire. Bayon is one of the most famous temple complexes of the park, so it is included in the temple pass of the Angkor Archaeological Park. Many tourists choose to stay in Siem Reap because it is the closest city to the park. The cheapest way to get to the park is to hire a tuk-tuk. Most of the hotels or guesthouses offer tuk-tuk transfers.

Location: Central Angkor Thom, Angkor Archeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Opening hours of the park: 5:00 am–6:00 pm

Bayon Temple Map