Literally meaning "Great City" this was walled and moated city was the last and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. It was established in the late twelfth century by King Jayavarman VII and covers 9 km², within which are located several monuments from earlier eras as well as those built by Jayavarman and his successors. There are 4 city gates, in the primary directions, North, Soith East and West. At each entrance the road leading up city gate is lined by statues that appear to play tug-of-war with a snake, they are depicting the churning of the ocean of milk.

 

At the centre of the city is his massive, Gothic-style state temple, Bayon. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences. Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and smiling stone faces on the many towers on the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. There are 216 faces of either Jayavarman VII, or the face of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara, depending on which view you take. The temple has two sets of bas-reliefs, which present a combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. For example battles on land and sea between Khmer and Cham troops, the legend of the Leper King and groups of dancing apsaras.

 

After Bayon you can walk to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King. The 350m long Terrace of the Elephants was used by Angkor's king Jayavarman VII as a platform to watch events in the parade grounds or hold audiences with the citizens of Angkor. It was attached to the now ruined palace of Phimeanakas. Next door is the Leper King Terrace, named after a later statue, which is thought to have been a cremation site.