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 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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