Bayon Temple: The Mysteries of Angkor with Enigmatic Faces

Cambodia is a land of wonderful culture and really rich in that culture: ancient Khmer architecture is one of the best examples of that. Bayon Temple, in the middle of the ancient city of Angkor, is one such famous architectural representation. Unknown faces staring from towers and the unique architectural style make Bayon a masterpiece of Khmer art and engineering.

Each stone of the Bayon tells a segment of the Khmer Empire history, reverberating with the religious influences and traditions that were a part of this land. The article below is intended to provide a complete view of Bayon Temple, emphasizing its significance in Khmer architecture as well as its continued relevance in Cambodian culture.

Written by Jade NGUYEN, (local expert) Updated on 07-02-2025

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Table of contents

Where Is the Bayon Temple?
Is the Bayon Temple Buddhist or Hindu?
Common Misconceptions About the Bayon's Faces
The Architecture of the Bayon Temple: A Masterpiece of the Angkor Period
Useful Information for a Successful Visit

Where Is the Bayon Temple?

Bayon Temple is situated in the heart of the ancient Angkor Thom complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and is an architectural wonder that excels in all aspects of building design, leaving the visitor with a sense of mystery. The temple is an example of the finest Khmer architecture.

*The Bayon Temple is located exactly in the center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom*

To those who discover the site, Angkor Thom is considered a thriving city, not merely a set of ruins. The term "Angkor" in Khmer means "city," while the word "Thom" means "great." Hence, Angkor Thom can be translated to mean "great city," which came into being during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, who ruled in the late 12th to early 13th century.

Bayon Temple is the most important temple within this grand city. With its towering heavy constructions adorned with smiling faces, the Bayon conveys the spirit and artistry of ancient Cambodia while providing a cryptic eye on the history and culture of this civilization.

Is the Bayon Temple Buddhist or Hindu?

In the late 12th and early 13th centuries, King Jayavarman VII constructed the Bayon Temple. The temple was never completed as a building in its own right, but consisted rather of various repairs, alterations, and additions over several dynasties. The Bayon Temple is divided into three main phases of construction by scholars:

*This temple has undergone many modifications and additions by the successive monarchs of the Khmer Empire*

Phase I (c. 1180-1190): This is the time after initial construction efforts with a simple conception; a huge central tower with many small surrounding towers—carved with the face of Lokesvara. The temple also included much relief work describing the various landscapes, life, and wars back in the time of Cambodia’s perception.
Phase II (c. 1190-1230): Enlargement and expansion of the temple continued into a period when, apparently, a great number of new towers were constructed, increasing the face count to around 200. Concurrently, a number of relief walls depicted festivals, rituals, and religious activities of Cambodia during that time.
Phase III (c. 1230-1431): During this period, the temple underwent major modifications and destruction due to the religious shift from Buddhism to Hinduism. Many towers and facades were destroyed, remodeled, or masked by other constructions. Since later kings were Hindus, they changed the temple's architecture to serve Hinduism. The Bayon Temple was probably saved from destruction by its very smiling faces, which were then declared to represent the God Shiva; hence, it was spared from destruction.

*The faces of the god Lokesvara are carved in the temple*

The Bayon Temple, as briefly stated, was originally constructed during the Buddhist reign of Jayavarman VII and has subsequently undergone changes throughout the ages, blending aspects of Hinduism into its architecture.

While the debate regarding the origins and symbolism of the Bayon Temple continues to this day, one of the parameters that stands irrefutable as far as archaeological value is concerned is that some form of intermarriage between cultures, either Buddhist or Hindu, was preserved by the Khmer dynasties.

Common Misconceptions About the Bayon's Faces

While archaeologists and historians have always said the face in Bayon Temple is that of Buddha and King Jayavarman VII, saying this is the reason he built this temple. This assumption, however, is completely wrong.

Actually, these faces do not represent Buddha or the king, but the face of God Brahma, the Hindu God. Brahma is a 4-headed god (Buddha did not have 4 heads). Hence, every tower has 4 ends or 4 sides, affording views in 4 different directions.

*There are plenty of hypotheses related to the faces of the Bayon temple*

Another convincing piece of evidence is that the decoration of the statues, such as necklaces, earrings, crowns, and many head ornaments, is extremely elaborate. This is in total contrast to the Buddha, for he never wore any jewelry or crown and is represented as having very simple hair. He believed in simplicity.

Another interesting detail to observe is the third eye. The third eye is said in early Hindu texts to be possessed by God Brahma, which indicates that the ancient Cambodian sculptors had deep knowledge of ancient Hindu texts. It is quite astonishing that these details were sometimes overlooked even by the early Indians.

Bayon Temple and Angkor complexes were for centuries left in the forests and forgotten, following the overthrow of the Khmer Empire in 1431. By 1995, after much neglect, the Bayon Temple was put in its present form after restoration work using Anastylosis techniques.

But really, if it is a temple to Brahma, why is it known as the Bayon Temple? What does Bayon mean? In fact, when the French took hold of Cambodia, they called it the Banyan Temple as it looked like a cluster of towers. The locals mispronounced Banyan as Bayon, and that popularized the name.

The Bayon Temple remains a World Heritage Site to this day, thereby attracting hordes of local and foreign tourists to visit and discover its mystery.

*Bayon Temple attracts a large amount of tourists every year*

The Architecture of the Bayon Temple: A Masterpiece of the Angkor Period

Architecture in general

A prime distinction between this temple and the classical architecture of Angkor, typified by Angkor Wat, is the Baroque style. From a distance, the temple may seem a cluster of stones, but once one goes inside, it reveals an impressive maze of passageways, relief galleries, and stone towers.

The temple is structured along three main levels, each representing a different part of the world: the lower, middle, and upper worlds. The lower level is much larger and has the bas-reliefs illustrating scenes of life and war; the middle level, smaller, depicts veneration festivals and rituals. The upper level, again, the smallest in size, features towers with giant faces; its intent is to convey the image of the heavens overseeing and protecting.

*The architecture of the Bayon Temple, a masterpiece of the Angkor period*

Decode the Mysterious Smiles of the Bayon

Historians and tourists alike contemplate that great mystery known as the smile of Bayon. Some archaeo-scientific researchers have produced three hypotheses regarding this smile:

Firstly, it may represent the sweet face of Avalokitesvara – and King Jayavarman VII.
Secondly, it may represent the smile of a Buddha, the smile of one who fully understands the impermanence of temporary life, and the one who gives a spirit of optimism to this land.
Thirdly, it may be a combination thereof portraying Brahma and King Jayavarman VII.

That said, it cannot be ruled out that they all go together: Brahma (the four-faced statue), the smile of Buddha, and the face of King Jayavarman VII.

Useful Information for a Successful Visit

Opening Hours and Prices

Hours: Operate from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., allowing visitors to see both the sunrise and sunset.

Price: Entrance to Bayon Temple is included in the regular ticket for Angkor Park. The ticket categories are:

1-Day Ticket: Approximately $38 USD
3-Day Ticket: Approximately $63 USD (valid for 10 days)
7-Day Ticket: Approximately $74 USD (valid for 30 days)

Transport

Angkor Bayon Temple is located about 10 km from Siem Reap, which can be reached in 15 minutes by car, 25 minutes by tuk-tuk or 60 minutes by bike.

*You can easily find a tuk-tuk around tourist destinations*

Visiting Tips

Crowds: The temple is visited along with Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom Bayon, and Ta Prohm. Though busy in the morning, the temple presents a unique view during the late afternoon. One should choose to visit as part of a private rather than a group tour for an authentic experience, preferably either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, avoiding the crowds.
Ideal Period: The best time to visit Bayon Temple is between the months of October and April. This period is considerably cooler.
Dress Code: Dress appropriately. Tank tops are not appropriate for local customs. Avoid wearing anything above the knees.

*Choose appropriate attire when visiting temples in general*

Our last words

Bayon Temple is a World Heritage Site, which attracts many domestic and foreign tourists to visit and explore its mystery. A testimony to the majesty and creativity of the ancestors of the Cambodian people, the temple is one of the attractions that promotes tourism in Cambodia today. If you are lucky enough to visit Cambodia, consider a visit to this mysterious place!