Angkor temples

Phnom Bakheng

Phnom Bakheng is a mountain of 60 metres in height with at the top 5 successive rows of 12 sanctuaries each. The temple was built in the late 9^th or early 10^th century by  king Yasovarman I (889-900+).

It is one of the few temples that stand high on a natural stone mountain, and thus it is a very popular site for watching the sunset. Phnom Bakheng is best climbed at the end of the day or early in the morning, either by its immediate steep slope or by the gently winding path bearing to the left, formerly taken by tourist elephants - which is a classic and very pleasant walk.

From the summit one can enjoy a view stretching across the plain - dominated by the two other peaks that are also each crowned with a temple by Yasovarman I: - Phnom Krom to the south, close to the Tonle Sap lake, and Phnom Bok to the northeast, standing out from the distant dark line of the Phnom Kulen - and then the plain of water of the western baray, the forest of Angkor Thom and the majestic composition of Angkor Wat, lying golden in the setting sun.