Bayon was my favourite of all the Khmer temples at Angkor. This temple was built in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries and was intended to embrace all the religions of the kingdom, including the Islamic beliefs of the newly conquered Cham (some more information on the Cham people can be found here), but was consecrated as a Buddhist temple.

As you approach the temple all that can be seen is an ill defined mass of stone rising into the air. Then as you approach the walkway and get closer to the temple the massive imposing stone faces of Lokesvara stare down at you from some of Bayon’s 54 columns .

This temple never had any living quarters and was built purely to show off the craftsmanship of the Khmer temple builders. I loved this temple because of the power and might conveyed in the massive imposing faces that are so different from any architecture I’ve seen before.

There was lots more we saw and did around the temples of Angkor and I could spend hours writing about it but I don’t have the time. I’ve been in Vietnam for over a week and haven’t had chance to blog anyhting about it yet. Hopefully I’ll get chance to catch up soon. For now – over and out.

* Posted by j150vsc on 11/08/2007.