🗿 Bayon Temple
Cambodia
About This Sacred Site
Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple at the exact center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII, it is most famous for its multitude of serene, massive stone faces on its many towers, which scholars believe represent the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or possibly Jayavarman VII himself. The temple features 216 giant stone faces and 1.2 kilometers of extraordinary bas-relief murals depicting both mythological scenes and everyday life in the Khmer Empire.
Key Facts
- •Features 216 massive stone faces on 54 towers gazing serenely in all directions
- •Built by King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist temple
- •Contains 1.2 kilometers of bas-relief murals depicting Khmer daily life and mythology
- •Located at the exact center of the ancient walled city of Angkor Thom
- •Originally a Buddhist temple, it was later modified to include Hindu elements
Location
Coordinates: 13.4411, 103.8590
Related Holy Sites
☸️Bodh Gaya (Mahabodhi Temple)
Where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment and became the Buddha.
🛕Angkor Wat
The largest religious monument in the world, originally Hindu then Buddhist.
🪷Shwedagon Pagoda
Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist pagoda, gilded with 60 tons of gold.
☸️Lumbini
The birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha.
🪷Borobudur
The world's largest Buddhist temple, with 2,672 relief panels.
🏯Potala Palace
Former winter residence of the Dalai Lama, towering over Lhasa.