Bakong

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Bakong

Bakong is the most impressive temple in the Roluos Group, located in the center of the first Khmer capital of the Angkor period called Hari-hara-laya which is the synthesis of two Hindu gods; Hari is Vishnu, and Hara is Shiva.

King Indravarman I completed the temple, begun by Jayavarman III, in 881 AD as his state-temple in a form of temple-mountain, dedicated to Shiva. The first innovation is the sheer size of the construction. The central mountain of 5 tiers is surrounded by a double moated enclosure 800m square.

The central tower unfortunately did not survive. The one seen there today was added later in the 16th century according to the Sanskrit inscription of this temple found. Presently there is a Buddhist Monastery, in the temple premise, and a small school building with two classes for the children from its surrounding areas.

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