Baphuon

The colossal Baphuon temple was most likely also begun under Suryavarman's reign, to then be completed by his successor, Udayadityavarman. The Baphuon is notable as Angkor Thom's largest "mountain-temple."

There is then a sandstone causeway - about 200 meter long - formed as a sort of bridge with long paving stones laid on three lines of short columns, followed by a 5.5 meter wide dike, formed as an embankment between two lateral walls.

Another of this temple's remarkable characteristics is its sculptural decor: framed scenes of daily life or myth, touching in their small detail and naivety.

Abandoned as a capital city, Angkor saw its population numbers plunge, its infrastructures fall into ruin. The forest was to overcome a good part of the city. Yet in those places still inhabited, architectural modifications for the Buddhist cult could take on spectacular dimensions. During the Middle Period, a whole gallery at the back was modified and transformed into a reclined Buddha, and it is now being restored by the École Française d’Extrême Orient.