Phnom Bakheng Temple and Giants of Angkor Thom - Siem Reap Cambodia 2022

Neatly lined in a row engaged in an epic tug of war, the monumental statues represent 'The Churning of the Ocean Milk', a popular Hindu legend which explains the origin of the drink of immortality. It's a scene depicted in a number of other Angkor temples including Angkor Wat as a bas-relief.

The giants line the causeway thst leads into the South Gate of Angkor Thom. There are 54 larger than life figures that make a great photo opportunity with a very well preserved tower featuring 4 faces over the South Gate.

A short distance from the South Gate to Angkor Thom lies a popular temple for visitors in the evening.

Built more than two centuries before Angkor Wat, Phnom Bakheng lays claim as the first of the mountain temples constructed in the Angkor region. It was once the architectural centerpiece of Yasodharapura, the second capital city of the Khmer Empire, and is testimony to the power of symmetry.

The temples feature five tiers with seven levels in all when you include the base and the summit. Four towers stand at the cardinal points on the summit of the temple with a central sanctuary to create a layout that represents Mt. Meru, a portrayal given further weight by the temples location atop a 65m-high hill that rises steeply from the surrounding plain.

Many visitors time their visit to Phnom Bakheng with sunset for the remarkable views out over Angkor Wat. Despite a distance of 1.3 km, it's possible to see the five towers of Angkor Wat as they fall into the gloom of the jungle as the light fades. It's one of the most popular vantage points for sunset, for good reason, and attracts large groups of visitors.

This temple is undergoing extensive renovation to restore it and keep it from completely collapsing.

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