Bayon Temple Angkor Banteay Srei Ta Prohm<<>> The Bayon temple is well-known for its giant serene stone faces and is a favourite among the Angkor Temples. Banteay Srei stands out with its beuatiful red stone. While Ta prohm Siem Reap is often called the tree palace because of the jungle fighting back and trying to take over. It's a photographers dream.
Each Angkor site is a worthwhile visit on its own and all are worth the time you spend exploring.
Bayon Temple. Bayon was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Angkor King Jayavarman VII. This building is known for the many massive stone faces and for two impressive sets of wall carvings, showing an unusual combination of mythological, historical and scenes from the everyday Angkorian life of the time. The huge smiling face sculptures are thought by many to be a likeness of King Jayavarman and has been dubbed by some the ‘Mona Lisa’ of Southeast Asia. In all, there are more than 11,000 carved figures and over 1.2km of wall with 37 standing towers. Most of the towers but not all carry four carved smiling faces. The wall carvings show legendary and historical angkorian events and they surround the Bayon Temple. As you examine the carvings you will see Angkor apsaras, princesses, servants, athletes, jugglers, acrobats and people engaged in conversations and games. Together with merchants, musicians, hunters, wrestlers, open-air cooking, a market, angkorian houses and women tending to children and an invalid. You will also see a victory feast, war machines such as a large crossbow and a catapult, horsemen, officers mounted on elephants, wagons filles with provisions, a naval battle, boats and fisherman, a Chinese junk, a cockfight, and a wild boar fight. Enjoy your visit to Bayon.
Known as the Tomb Raider temple because it was used as a location for the Tomb Raider film. It has been left in much the same condition in which it was found with trees growing out of its ruins. This shows the power of the jungle in reclaiming its territory. Construction on Ta Prohm began in 1186 AD and was originally known as Rajavihara (Monastery of the King). It was Buddhist and dedicated to the mother of the Angkor King Jayavarman VII. The temple's central sculpture represents Prajnaparamita, the personification of wisdom and was modelled on the king's mother. The exterior wall of the compound is 1km by 600m and there are 39 towers connected by numerous galleries.The entrance gates show the classic Jayavarman face. An inscription says that 80,000 workers, including 2700 officials and 615 dancers frequented the building. On your visit to Siem reap and Ta Prohm in particular. You will be spoiled for choice in taking photographs.
Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone and is extremely popular with tourists. Its the only major building at Angkor not built by a monarch it was built by Yajnavaraha who served as a counsellor to king Rajendravarman. The temple, completed in 967, was originally named Tribhuvanamahesvara (great lord of the threefold world) but its modern name, Banteay Srei means citadel of the women or citadel of beauty. It is said that the carvings here are so delicate that the hand of a woman could only have carved them. You will see this on your visit.
The temples are visits not to be missed and people have their own favorite.
Some love the serenity of the Bayon Temple and for others it’s the carvings of Banteat Srei.
Many photographers just love Ta Prohm.
Enjoy your Siem Reap Angkor tours and make your own decision.
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