Bakong

Bakong

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Address:
Bakong Temple, Krong Siem Reap, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, Siem Reap & Angkor
Description:

The temple of Bakong is the largest of the Roluos Group temples, located 13km east of Siem Reap town on the road towards Phnom Penh.

History of Bakong

Roluos was the first capital of the Angkorian era in Cambodian history. It was established as Hariharalaya by Jayavarman II in the early 9th century and later the temple of Bakong was built in 881 by Indravarman I but was added to by successive kings until around the 12th century.

Design of the Temple

Bakong was the first temple to use the five-peaked temple mountain design. Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the temple served as the state temple of Indravarman I and later kings.

Impressively tall, the temple is constructed in laterite and sandstone. There are three enclosures and originally there were two moats surrounding the temple. The inner one is now dry and has steps up to the temple. Inside the inner enclosure there are eight brick towers with striking red colouring.

Where is Bakong?

It is in the Roluos complex, 13 kilometres from Siem Reap.

Nearby Attractions

The temple is part of the Roluos group of temples that also includes: Lolei and Preah Ko.

Let the adventure begin.