The Baphuon Temple and the Terrace of the Elephants at Angkor Thom

Monk walking to Baphuon Temple Angkor Thom Cambodia

Feature Image: Monk walking the causeway to the Baphuon Temple

The Baphuon Temple

Despite the heavy rain the night before, the humidity was creeping up on us again and my shirt was plastered to my back and my fringe plastered to my forehead. The combination of the heat, the steep steps at the Bayon, and the early start to view Angkor Wat at dawn meant that I didn’t really have the enthusiasm or energy to do the Baphuon justice.

Red had already admitted defeat and I left him in the tuktuk for a nap in the shade. While I valiantly advanced towards my next temple.

The approach to the Baphuon Temple is from the east along a 172 meter elevated causeway.

In the middle of the causeway is a pavilion, which creates a natural stopping point for photo opportunities. I wasn’t the only visitor using this building to take a break from the stifling heat of the day, and there were plenty of budding photographers using the natural framing of the windows.

In the distance I could see the steep steps leading up to the main structure, and decided to admit defeat and just admire the Baphuon from a distance and save some energy for a viewing of the Elephant’s along the adjacent Terrace.

Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants is part of the 300+ meter long sandstone wall that forms the Royal Terraces and creates the boundary of the Royal Palace area in Angkor Thom, and is adjacent to the Baphuon Temple.

Elephants are indicative of many of the nearby Asian countries, and while you’re traveling around Cambodia you’ll see more than your fair share of Elephant tattoos and the iconic Elephant pants. I side-stepped both of these tourist pitfalls and instead settled for a solitary viewing of the life-size Elephants at the Terrace.

The elephants were beautiful and in hindsight I wish I’d ventured a little further along the wall to see more of the sandstone carvings. Towards either end of the wall are parades of elephants with their Khmer mahouts, and just north of this terrance is the Terrance of the Leper King, which is an elaborately carved relief wall. But … getting up at 3:30am took it’s toll and instead I headed back to the tuktuk for a sit down and the ride back through the countryside to Siem Reap.

I didn’t do Angkor Thom justice, but the jewel in the crown of this ancient city is The Bayon, and I definitely spent enough time wandering around that Temple to feel like I got my money’s worth out of the 2nd day of my temple pass..

We had one more day left on our three day temple pass, but was looking forward to a couple of day’s break before doing another full day of temples.

I wonder in “templed out” is a verb?

Of course there is more to this town than just the temples. Check out this post by a fellow flashpacker about things to do in Siem Reap besides the temples.

Wrapping up our #AngkorThom tour with a visit to The Baphuon and the Terrance of the Elephants. #siemreap #cambodia Share on X

Flashpacking through Cambodia

Flashpacking through Cambodia: For Baby Boomers on a Budget is my latest Roving Jay travel guide full of travel tips, advice, and sample itineraries for flash packers who want the back packing experience without foregoing some of life’s creature comforts – like a comfortable bed, a hot shower, free wi-fi, and somewhere to plug your electric toothbrush in.

I spent almost three months backpacking around Cambodia in 2017/2018 to research this travel guide, and I share insights and first hand knowledge of tourist traps and off-the-beaten-path discoveries. We ate street food, drank 50c beers, and travelled by train, bus, minivan and tuktuk to identify the best ways to get from A to B.

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