Phnom Bakheng: Gopura at the Center of the Bakheng Hill

Gopura at the center of the Bakheng hill in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Gopura at the center of the Bakheng hill

Gopura at the center of Bakheng hill
The image shows a facade of the gopura located at the center of the temple built on top of Phnom Bakheng, a hill near Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This gopura is most likely the inner sanctum of the temple. It has four facades, each facing a cardinal direction.

As you can see from the image, a beautifully carved door frame encloses the door and is flanked by devatas. Above the door on each facade is the pediment depicting a scene described in ancient Hindu texts.

The temple was commissioned by King Yashovarman I (889 – 915 CE) when he moved his capital from Hariharalaya to Phnom Bakheng and was completed in 907 CE.

Phnom Bakheng Images
Apsara on the facade of the central gopura
Sunset at Phnom Bakheng (Bakeng Hill)

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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