Angkor Thom was built around 1200 AD and was the religious and administrative capital of the Khmer empire at its height

Palma's Place

Angkor Thom

More photos to come

Angkor Thom was built around 1200 AD and was the religious and administrative capital of the Khmer empire at its height. Some of the buildings within the city though are older, dating to the mid 10^th century. The city supported a population conservatively estimated as up to a million. The royal family, priests, government and military officers lived within the walls while the rest of the population lived in the surrounding area. It is about 3 KM square (360 acres), enclosed by an 8m high wall and 100m moat. I have organized the pictures of Angkor Thom into 10 groupings, moving generally clockwise from the southern gate.

	South gate- Photos of the entrance Gopura and of the 54 stone gods on the west side and 54 stone demons on the east side, each group holding a 9-headed Naga.
	Bayon – At the center of Angkor Thom, built around 1200, is a Buddhist temple. The galleries of Angkor Thom include Bas-reliefs of both mythical scenes and scenes of everyday life and Khmer history, a first in Angkor . Viewed starting from the east. A sub directory has photos taken from the north west .
	Baphoun- A huge Temple Mountain , largely collapsed or dismantled as part of a continuing reconstruction effort, interrupted by the war. Located to the north west of the Bayon and south of the royal palace area. It represents Mount Meru .
	Phimeankas- located just north of the Baphoun and within the royal palace area, was the temple the king worshipped. It was probably crowned with a gold pinnacle. Legend holds this was the home of a 9 headed Naga, a serpent god and was important in mythology.

Royal Baths- to the north of the temple are two ponds which were the royal baths, pictured is the larger men’s bath.

Preah Palilay- a Buddhist temple to the north of the royal palace.

Tap Prenam – A Buddhist monastery, parts of the building are from the 9^th century and the rest was added in the 12^th. Included are a shot of the sandstone tower and several shots of the Naga balustrades.

Terrence of the Leper King- along with the Elephants terrace was probably at the front of the Royal palace complex and served as foundation for the wooden buildings of the palace.

Prasat Suor Prat – Twelve sandstone and laterite towers that run in a north-south line to the east of the royal terraces. They may have served as some role in royal entertainment, as part of dispute resolution process, or as royal treasure houses, according to various theories. They were being reconstructed at the time.

North Kleang - The Kleangs (North and south) were labeled as storehouses but were probably diplomatic reception halls. The Kleangs are located immediately to the east of Prasat Suor Prat. The photos show details of the intricate carvings, with an image of a part of the North Kleang ’s façade behind one of the towers of Prasat Suor Prat.

Road to the Victory Gate- two pictures, one showing an old French road marker, the other the road leading to the east (Between the North and South Kleangs ) and the surrounding jungle.

Elephants Terrace- (see Terrace of the Leper King) is located south of the Terrace of the Leper King, west of the South Kleang and the southern towers of Prasat Sour Prat.