Baphuon Temple
Following the completion of decades-renovation project named as the world’s largest puzzle, the 11th century Baphuon temple was re-opened to the public on Jul 3, 2011 under a ceremony highly attended by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon. We are as Cambodians would like to express our profound gratitude to France for completing the renovation project of Baphuon temple which had spent 10-million-euro funded by France.
Located at 400 meters northwest of Bayon temple, inside Angkor Thom, Baphuon temple was built in 1060 AD as the state temple of King Udayadityavarman II. Baphuon temple faces east in a direct line with the Elephant terraces at the north side, laying within a long enclosure of 425 m x 125 m, and borders the Royal Palace to the north. From the East entrance, Baphuon temple shapes like a big round mountain, while it’s a 37 meters mountain-temple (Prasat Phnom) with five levels. The fifth level height is 24 meters above the ground level. Each level had Gopuras at the cardinal points and has a corner tower at each sub-direction. Since it’s mountain shape, Baphuon was first built to symbolize mount Meru and house a Shivalinga for Hindu religious rituals of the King.
Baphuon Temple, taken from the east entrance before arrive the pavilion on the causeway. July 2011
Zhou Da Guan, the Chinese diplomat who visited Angkor at the end of 13th century, has also described about Baphuon temple in his words that: ” North of the Golden Tower (Bayon Temple) at a distance of about two hundred yards, rises a Tower of Bronze, and even higher than the Golden Tower, a truly astonishing spectacle, with more than ten chambers at its base.”
According to the stone inscription found around the temple said that, King Udayadityavarman II had constructed a golden mountain in the middle of his capital, and built a gold temple on it to house Shiva linga.
Baphuon Temple front view
As long as we step in the temple from the east entrance, we would feel this temple is extremely unique from others. Visitors would walk on a raised causeway toward the temple. The raised causeway is supported by round pillars arranged in three rows, each row has 125 pillars and each pillars was made from a piece of big stone, without any joint. The whole causeway measures 172 meter, and about one meter raised from the ground. Walking on the raised causeway, though it’s just one meter high, I have got the feeling of great pleasure, in which I’m in a high position or a special person who have been admired or respected. The feeling of congratulating from people around who were walking on the ground.
Baphuon Temple, raised causeway from east entrance to the temple
Angkor Thom – The Largest City of Angkor Period
Seven headed Vasuki at south gate of Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom locates in Angkor complex, to the south west corner of the first capital of Yasodharapura (late 9th century) which was the third city and the largest city of Angkor period, as its name means ‘Great City’. Angkor Thom was built in the late 12th century and early 13th century by the great Khmer King Jayavarman VII. Angkor Thom is surrounded by moat of 100 meters wide and 2 meters deep and walls made by laterite of about 3km square and 7 meters high with 5 entrances.
In the central of Angkor Thom built the state temple of King Jayavarman VII – Bayon Temple. The four entrances of Angkor Thom were built in the central of the four walls in a straight line with the four entrances of Bayon Temple. The South entrance is called ‘Tonle Om Gate’, the gate in which opening for tourists nowadays. The North entrance is called ‘Dei Chhnang Gate and the West entrance named ‘Ta Kav Gate’. Continue reading