The city of Angkor Thom was built next to the Angkor Wat complex in the late 12th century by Jayavarman VII, shortly after the former was routed by the Chams. The city is as much a tribute to Buddha and his past lifes (Bodhisattva avalokiteshwara) as to the king himself, depicted frequently in divine Buddhist form through a cascade of Mona-Lisa-esque serene smiles.
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What better way to travel in the city of Gods than on Indra's vehicle? | The great temple of Bayon in Angkor Thom, viewed from atop our elephant at the Northern end opposite the main entrance |
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From a distance, the Bayon looks "as but a muddle of stones, a sort of moving chaos assaulting the sky" - Maurice Glaize. |
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Other structures in the Thom complex - the terrace of elephants | Guarding lion, Angkor Thom | The nearby exquisite but unfinished sandstone temple mountain of Ta Keo |