A historical guide to the temples of Angkor

Spanning 15 miles from east to west and five miles north to south, Angkor’s archaeological park is located in Northern Cambodia, just north of Siem Reap. The most distinctive temple on site is Angkor Wat, a building that features on the present-day Cambodian flag.

Built by King Suryavarman II, who ruled between 1113 to 1150, it served as the administrative hub for his powerful empire. As per the Khmer’s construction style, Angkor Wat was built from blocks of sandstone. The sandstone was quarried from the Kulen Hills, approximately 18 miles north of the temple, and ferried over using a series of canals.

By the conclusion of the 13th century, the temple had transitioned into a Buddhist site, despite originally being constructed as the king’s dedication to his Hindu god of protection, Vishnu. Buddhist monks then took over the site, however, it was eventually abandoned by the 16th century.

In 1860, the temple ruins - then shrouded in jungle overgrowth - were ‘rediscovered’ by French archaeologist Henri Mouho. Technically, Cambodian locals were already aware of the site, but Mouhot was the first westerner to publicise its existence, leading to an extensive restoration project. In 1992, Angkor was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (visit our guide to the best UNESCO sites).

The gold tower Zhou mentioned in his book is the Bayon. Gone are the shining buddhas, however it still presents an imposing sight in stone. The final state temple built in the Angkor complex, the architectural style of Bayon is noticeably different from Angkor Wat and other major temples within the archaeological park

Ordered to be constructed by Jayavarman VII in the mid 12th to early 13th centuries, it is sometimes referred to as Jayavarman's Temple, in honour of the Khmer king. However, it's best known for the smiling faces carved into the temple’s many towers. There are 50 towers around Bayon, with more than 200 faces in various states of wear. The commonality is the same tranquil expression, a soft smile with eyes peacefully closed, as if in a state of meditation.

Bayon is home to a wealth of intricate, well-preserved carvings. The southern wall depicts scenes of a marine battle between the Khmer and the Cham and other walls feature carvings of everyday scenes, including food markets, childbirth, and religious rites of passage. Any carvings left uncompleted are said to be a result of Jayavarman VII’s death.

Banteay Kdei, which translates to ‘A Citadel of Chambers’, is a Buddhist temple within the Angkor archaeological complex. Also built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, the temple is made up of a striking maze of chambers, featuring three enclosure walls and two concentric galleries from which towers spring up. Smaller than the other temples within the park, Banteay Kdei is a great option for visitors who prefer fewer crowds.

Unfortunately, the original construction work of Banteay Kdei was rapidly and imprecisely completed, plus the quality of the sandstone was softer than the sandstone used for constructing Angkor Wat. As a result, the temple has recently had to undergo further renovations.