A short drive from Angkor Wat through the ancient city of Angkor Thom brought us to the incredibly beautiful ruins of Prasat Bayon...
The Bayon temple is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer Buddhist temple, built in the early 13th century as the official state temple of King Jayavarman VII. Construction f the temple happened around the time the Khmer Empire had almost entirely converted to Buddhism. Following King Jayavarman's death, the temple was modified and augmented by the Hindu and Buddhist kings who followed. And despite Cambodia being a predominately Buddhist country, they do follow and adhere to the basic tenets of Hinduism, and claim to be proud followers of these tenets rather living in denial.
Intricate carvings at the base of the temple...
Prasat Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and seem to look on to anyone visiting the place...
The faces around the temple number 216 and it is believed that these faces depict King Jayavarman VII...
The bas reliefs not depicts scenes from Hindu mythology but also historical events such the wars between the Khmers and the Chams...
And the faces again...
A shivling - telltale signs of the Hindu past...
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