Angkor Thom

King Jayavarman VII, considered as the greatest King of the Khmer Empire built the Angkor Thom between the late 12th to early 13th Century after regaining power from the Chams. Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) is a 3-kilometer-square walled and surrounded by moat royal city, was the last capital of the Khmer Empire. The city has 5 monumental gates, one each in the north, west and south walls and 2 in the east wall.

In front of each gate are giant statues of 54 gods to the left of the causeway and 54 demons to the right of the causeway, a motif taken from the story of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk as illustrated in the bas-relief at Angkor Wat. In the center of Angkor Thom are the city’s most important monuments, including the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Royal enclosure, Phimeanakas and the Terrace of Elephants.