The Bayon (Prasat Bayon) is the richly decorated Khmer temple that stands on a mount in the centre of Angkor Thom. It was built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers that jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.
The Bayon was the last state temple to be built at Angkor, and the only Angkorian state temple to be built primarily as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Buddha,
The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces on the temple's towers to other statues of the king has led many scholars to the conclusion that the faces are representations of Jayavarman VII himself.
By now it was late afternoon and spectacular as the temples were I was ‘bas-relief’ pooped out! A shame really since the carvings must have taken an army of masons many years to create in such immense detail and intricacy.
Back at the hotel it was a choice of restaurants. I chose to eat in one of the hotels speciality restaurants since we had a 5.00am start the next morning for the de rigeur “Sunrise at Angkor Wat!
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