2024 Travel Review: Bakong Temple in Cambodia

Bakong Temple, located 15 kilometers southwest of Siem Reap, was built by Indra Varman I. It is considered the first multi-tiered temple mountain in the Angkor ruins and the first temple of the Angkor dynasty to use sandstone blocks instead of red bricks, making it highly significant. It was once a large temple in the city center. From a distance, you can see a high square tower with a pointed top standing on a broad base. The five-tiered tower is said to symbolize Mount Meru in Hinduism, and the temple enshrines the deity Shiva. Originally in ruins, Bakong Temple was restored by Maurice Glaize, an expert from the French School of the Far East, starting in 1936. After seven years of effort, it was largely restored to its original appearance by 1943. Bakong Temple is a five-tiered square pyramid with a base length of 65 meters. Each tier originally had gate towers at its corners, and a square pagoda stands at the center of the top tier. As one of the famous attractions in Siem Reap, make sure to check it out!