Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Being the highest point in the Angkor area, Bakheng Hill offers a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. As you can see from the image, sunset at Bakheng Hill is spectacular. People gather on top of Phnom Bakheng just to watch and take pictures of the sunset.
Because of its location and height, King Yashovarman I (889 – 915 CE), who moved his capital from Hariharalaya to Angkor, chose Phnom Bakheng to build his state temple. Being an ardent follower of Shiva, he dedicated it to Shiva. It was completed in 907 CE and became the first major temple built in the Angkor area.
A few centuries later, it was converted into a Buddhist temple when Buddhism became the state religion of the Khmer Empire.
Related Pages
– Angkor Wat, Angkor Wat Bas-Reliefs, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei
– Phnom Kulen National Park, Tonlé Sap, Cambodia
– Bali, Prambanan, Borobudur, Indonesia
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