A visit to Angkor Wat is only complete once you see the smiling faces of Bayon Temple. There are around 200 faces scattered among 37 towers, making you feel like someone is watching over you.
For the photo enthusiast, there are opportunities everywhere! Angkor Wat is a very popular worldwide tourist location. Nearly 2.6 million people visit this iconic historical site every year. (I’ll give you some hints to avoid the crowds later in this article).
First, let’s look at some fun facts about Bayon Temple.
Fun Facts to Know Before Visiting Bayon Temple
1) Bayon Temple is only one of seventy-two major temples in Angkor Wat, which makes Angkor Wat the largest religious structure in the world.
2) 54 Gothic towers are decorated with huge faces, and some say the great Angkor King, King Jayavarman VII (who built the temple), wanted to create these faces to dedicate to Buddha.
3) Why dedicate the faces to Buddha? Bayon Temple was built primarily to worship Mahayana Buddhism. It was the first Buddhist temple the Angkor (Khmer) Empire constructed.
4) Future Hindu and Theravada Buddhist monarchs eventually changed the temple, removing or altering several images of the Buddha.
5) With over 200 faces, each measuring around 4 meters high, they all seem to have the same serene smile, with eyes closed, representing the idea of “inner peace.”
6) Exploring Bayon Temple can be a challenge on your knees. There are long corridors, steep flights of stairs, and towers.
7) Even though the peaceful faces are the face of Bayon, make sure to visit the exterior walls on the lower and upper levels. Scenes known as “bas-reliefs” tell stories of battles and life in ancient times. It is best to photograph the detail of these walls when the sun is rather low in the sky, as this reveals the details in the walls.
8) The Bayon Temple is over 800 years old and was built around 1200.
9) Like many temples, Bayon was looted during the civil war and the Khmer regime. To read more about the Khmer regime, see my article on The Killing Fields.
10) There is a place inside Bayon where, if you look closely, it will appear that the two noses are touching. A fun photograph for your collection!
How To Avoid The Crowds At Bayon Temple
June through October tends to be quieter, although much hotter and wetter. Be prepared for afternoon storms, so get out early for the best weather.
The low season is technically May to November.
Get out as early as possible to visit before the crowds arrive, but if that isn’t possible, try the lunch hour between twelve and two in the afternoon.
One final tidbit - locate a map of Angkor Wat before you visit and venture off the beaten path. There are treasures around every corner.
Angkor Wat Makes Beautiful Wall Art
Visit my Art Shop for the complete collection of Angkor Wat photography for your home or office.
Should you ever journey to Angkor Wat, I hope you find the beauty in this ancient place.
XOXO
Marla
View my complete collection of Angkor Wat photography in my Art Shop!