Baphuon, A majestic temple with a steep climb to history

Baphuon Temple, Elephant Path, Siem Reap, Cambodia

The original temple must have been very magnificent

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Introduction

Baphuon, also known as Bafang Temple, is located in the center of the Angkor Thom. It is one of the most magnificent temples of the Angkor dynasty. It sits on a high pedestal and is a three-tiered platform-style stupa representing a sacred mountain. The temple has various animal statues carved on the lower level, and the top has collapsed. The rectangular sandstone walls are 425 meters long and 125 meters wide. The temple was a focus of restoration work by the EFEO, but the restoration was interrupted for a long time during the civil war. It was not until 1995 that the EFEO resumed the restoration work and it took 10 years to complete. The front gate was not restored, and there is a 200-meter-long bridge leading to the main temple, supported by three rows of circular stone pillars underneath and a sandstone walkway on top. The original central structure of the temple was 43 meters high. The second protective wall on the west side of the temple was shaped into a 40-meter-long reclining Buddha. It is difficult to piece together the entire unfinished statue, but it is believed to have its head on the north side of the wall, its hips at the position of the temple gate, and an arm on the left side of the gate. The legs and feet are completely missing. Climbing the stairs on the west side of the temple, one can see the shallow reliefs of Baphuon, depicting scenes from Indian epics and daily life of the Khmer people. The entire temple is still under restoration, with scenes of cranes, scaffolding, and construction sites. The newly restored temple uses a lot of newly cut stones in gray and red with fine pores, creating a stark contrast to the old stones.