Angkor Thom

Constructed at the end of the 12th century – beginning of the 13th century (1181-1220) by king Jayavarman VII. Religion: Buddhist. Art style: Bayon.

Angkor Thom is a 3km2 walled and moated royal city and was the last capital of the Angkorian empire. After Jayavarman VII recaptured the Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a massive building campaign across the empire, constructing Angkor Thom as his new capital city.

He began with existing structures such as Baphuon and Phimeanakas and built a grand enclosed city around them, adding the outer wall/moat and some of Angkor’s greatest temples including his state-temple, Bayon, set at the center of the city. There are five entrances (gates) to the city, one of each cardinal point. Each gate is crowned with 4 giant faces.