Bayon Temple - The Smiling Faces of Angkor Wat

Bayon Temple at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. ©Marla Brown

Your visit to Angkor Wat isn't truly complete until you witness the smiling faces of the Bayon Temple. With approximately 200 faces spread across 37 towers, it gives the impression that you're being watched over.

For photography enthusiasts, opportunities abound! Angkor Wat is a highly popular tourist destination worldwide, attracting nearly 2.6 million visitors annually. (Later in this article, I'll provide some tips on how to avoid the crowds.)

First, let’s look at some fun facts about Bayon Temple.

Fun Facts to Know Before Visiting Bayon Temple - The Smiling Faces of Angkor Wat

1) Bayon Temple is only one of seventy-two major temples in Angkor Wat, which makes Angkor Wat the largest religious structure in the world.

2) 54 Gothic towers are decorated with huge faces, and some say the great Angkor King, King Jayavarman VII (who built the temple), wanted to create these faces to dedicate to Buddha.

One of the many Bayon Temple towers. © Marla Brown

3) Why dedicate the faces to Buddha? Bayon Temple was built primarily to worship Mahayana Buddhism. It was the first Buddhist temple constructed by the Angkor (Khmer) Empire.

Towers of Bayon. © Marla Brown

4) Future Hindu and Theravada Buddhist monarchs eventually altered the temple, removing or altering several images of the Buddha.

5) With over 200 faces, each measuring around 4 meters high, they all seem to have the same serene smile, with eyes closed, representing the idea of “inner peace.”

One of the ancient faces of Bayon. ©Marla Brown

6) Exploring the Bayon Temple can be a challenge on your knees. There are long corridors, steep flights of stairs, and towers.

7) Even though the peaceful faces are the face of Bayon, make sure to visit the exterior walls on the lower and upper levels. Scenes known as “bas-reliefs” tell stories of battles and life in ancient times. It is best to photograph the detail of these walls when the sun is rather low in the sky, as this reveals the details in the walls.

Scenes known as the "bas-reliefs" tell stories of ancient times. ©Marla Brown

8) The Bayon Temple is over 800 years old and was built around 1200.

9) Like many temples, Bayon was looted during the civil war and the Khmer Rouge regime. To learn more about the Khmer Rouge regime, read my article on The Killing Fields.

10) There is a place inside Bayon where, if you look closely, it will appear that the two noses are touching. A fun photograph for your collection!

"Touching Noses" ©Marla Brown

How To Avoid The Crowds At Bayon Temple

June through October tends to be quieter, although much hotter and wetter. Be prepared for afternoon storms, so get out early for the best weather.

The low season is technically May to November.

Get out as early as possible to visit before the crowds arrive. If that isn’t possible, try visiting during the lunch hour, between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.

One final tidbit - locate a map of Angkor Wat before you visit and venture off the beaten path. There are treasures around every corner.

Angkor Wat Makes Beautiful Wall Art

The serene faces can create a beautiful space in your home. ©Marla Brown

Visit my Art Shop for the complete collection of Angkor Wat photography for your home or office.

Should you ever journey to Angkor Wat, I hope you find the beauty in this ancient place.

XOXO

Marla

View my complete collection of Angkor Wat photography in my Art Shop!