47.Angkor Thom

Date: Late 12th – Early 13th century; Religion: Buddhism; Reign: Jayavarman VII, Style Bayon.

Angkor Thom (Big Angkor) is a 3km walled and mooted royal city ans was the last capital of the Angkorian Empire. After Jayavarman VII recaptured the badly damage Angkorian capital from the Cham invaders in 1181, he began a missive building campaign across the empire, constructing. Angkor Thom as his new capital city, he began with existing structures such as Baphuon and Phimeanakas and built a grand enclosed city around them, adding the center of outer wall/moat and some of Angkor's greatest temples including his state-temple, Bayon, set at the center of the city, there are five entraces (gates) to the city, one for each cardinal point, and the victory gate learning to the Royal Palace araea. Each gate, as well as many of Jayavarman VII's mountains is crowned with 4 giant faces. The South Gate is often the first stop on a tour of the temples.