Bayon
Angkor

"Bayon" was last updated on July 01, 2011
All information below is subject to change

"City of Faces -- Bayon in Angkor Park"







bayon face april 2010
Taken April 2010

The temple is located inside Angkor Thom (Great City). It's a Mahayana Buddhist temple, but has Hindu elements of cosmology as the temple represents heaven and earth. It is built as a pyramid and has
54 towers with stone faces, carved on all four sides.

Watching over 200 huge smiling stone faces of Bayon was spectacular. The stones are faces of Avalokiteshvara. And the smiles are known as the "Khmer Smile".

It`s odd walking around and every time you turn, there will be a smiling face.

It will feel like someone is staring at you the whole time!

What are bas-reliefs?

The word "bas-relief" is not a typical word I use in daily life, but to make it simple and without sounding like Wikipedia:

It`s a sculpture technique where figures are carved so they stand out of its background material. In my opinion, figures can look like they`re trapped in a stone.

On top of that, you can see the famous bas-reliefs. They depict scenes from fables, and the common theme is: Good against evil (as I perceived it).

I gazed at the Bas-reliefs for at least one and a half hour, especially at the carved war battles with elephants. The Khmer soldiers wear no helmets, bare-foot and are naked except for a belt.

And the majestic elephants were an important part of the Angkor army, used in carrying weapons and supplies, and also as mounts in battle.

bas reliefs bayon april 2010
Bas reliefs -- taken in April 2010

Another interesting thing about the Angkor area is the "Royal Roads." These roads made it possible for transporting goods, and not to mention holding back local rebellions. So the roads were part of a military strategy.




bayon climbing steep stairs april 2010
Climbing Bayon -- April 2010

On the other hand, this strategy didn`t seem to go well because Thai soldiers managed to find their way to get in... by using the Royal Roads!

The best part of Bayon are the bas-reliefs!

You`ll see interesting reliefs of Khmer circus, military processions, Apsaras, demon battles and Khmer soldiers displaying Khmer boxing movements (a native martial art).

Then other reliefs display scenes from everyday life:

Markets, cockfights, food preparation and much more.

Cockfights are still one of the favorite entertainments of village men in Cambodia. So, these reliefs reflect the rural and daily Cambodian life, which exists even today.

I definitely enjoyed this place and will come back some day!

Recommended time: 1 hour

Author's rating: rating star icon rating star icon rating star icon rating star icon rating star icon

For tours around Angkor Park, visit my page about Angkor Wat Tours

Where can I grab some food inside Angkor park?

At the food stalls outside Angkor Watt, Ta Prohm Temple, Banteay Srei, Preah Khan and Kbal Spean you'll get cheap food!

How's the food? Is it safe?

I didn't get sick by eating this food. There was lots of travelers and tourists who ate at the on-site restaurants, so that means high turnover of food.

Food prices at local restaurants inside Angkor park:

Noodle soup: 2.50 $

Steamed rice with vegetables: 2.50 $

angkor watt restaurant food stall rice with vegetables
Steamed rice with vegetables

angkor watt restaurant food stall rice with egg
Rice with egg

Beverages (coke, small water): 1-1,5 $

Small/big bottle of water: 1-2 $

Angkor beer, Tiger beer (can, bottle): 2-3 $

There are also food vendors and kids walking around the park, selling snacks and cold drinks. Cold water is a unbelievable good after you`ve been walking the whole day, in the scorching sun!

For tailored tours around Angkor Park, visit my page about Angkor Wat Tours

So, where do you go next?

Click to read about Ta Prohm temple.

The red sandstone complex of Banteay Srei

The 1000 Lingas of Kbal Spean

The labyrinth of Preah Khan

Angkor Watt

Get an interactive Cambodia Map and detailed bus information for Cambodia

Read about Cambodia History

Read about Cambodia Culture

Return from Bayon to Backpacking Tips Asia Homepage.





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