Bayon Temple
- Hours:Open daily, sunrise to sunset
- Admission:80,000 riel
Cultural Experience, Holy Place, Walking/Hiking, Ruin - Ancient
6:34 PM Tuesday, May 22
Broken clouds. Warm.
7 day forecast »
The Bayon temple forms a square at the center of the much larger square of the vast Angkor Thom, and is the architectural highlight of the complex. This was considered by the Khmers to be the conjunction of heaven and earth, though the auspicious site was covered in jungle for centuries.
Like much in the area it dates to the 12th-century reign of King Jayavarman VII, and is particularly noted for its magnificent carved stone faces with their beatific smiles. They depict either the king himself or a bodhisattva; the confusion was probably deliberate.
The bas relief carvings on the temple’s outer walls are a riot of scenes depicting everything from celestial beings and mighty battles to humble village life.
Latest Reviews All Bayon Temple Reviews »
This was an amazing tour, and I highly recommend doing the small group tours versus doing a larger tour group. There were only three of us and a guide on this tour, and I feel like I got a more personal experience than the tours I saw with 20+ people. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the temples and the history of the region.
Continue Reading »
I was wowed with the level of knowledge our private tour guide had. He was friendly and considerate, made sure we enjoyed ourselves and was informative without being boring. The day was extremely hot (40+ degrees) but he made sure we were hydrated all day and where possible he made things easier for us seeing as there is alot of walking involved with this. Really special experience being here amongst history.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
Bayon is within Angkor Thom, which lies 4.5 miles (7 kilometers) north of Siem Reap, past Angkor Wat.
