|
 North
o f the Golden Tower
[Bayon]…. rises the
Tower of Branze [Baphuon]
higher even than the
Golden Tower : a
truly astonishing
spectacle , with
more than ten
chambers at its
base.
Prasat Baphuon is
located 200 metres
(656 feet) northwest
of the Bayon and
south of Phimeanakas.
A enter and leave at
the east.
Tip: Access to the
summit is difficult
as much of the
temple has collapsed
and it is overgrown
but for those
stalwarts who want
to go to the top,
use the way with
columns at the east
and the temple of
Phimeanakas on the
left. Visitors
should walk down the
causeway, climb the
steps to the first
tier, turn left and
walk around the
temple, always
keeping it on their
right. It was built
in middle of the
11th century (1060)
by king
Udayadityavarman
II, dedicated to
Siva (Hindu) with
following Prasat
Baphuon.
Background
The grandeur of
Baphuon as described
above by Zhou Daguan
is unrecognizable
today because of the
poor condition of
the temple. The
French were in the
process of restoring
this temple when
they were forced
leave Angkor in 1972
because of war.
Baphuon is situated
inside the royal
city of Angkor Thom
but dates from the
eleventh century and
was built before the
city was
established. An
interesting feature
of Baphuon are the
bas-reliefs which
are scenes carved in
small squares.
Unfortunately few of
these are visible
because of the poor
state of the temple.
The narrative themes
are realistic
depictions of daily
life and forest
scenes.
Layout
Baphuon is a single
sanctuary
temple-mountain
situated on a high
base. It is a
symbolical
representation of
Mount Meru. A
rectangular
sandstone wall
measuring 425 by 125
metres (1394 by 410
feet) encloses the
temple (1). A long
sandstone elevated
approach (200 metres,
656 feet) at the
east entrance (3)
forms a bridge to
the main temple. It
is supported by
three rows of short
columns.
Tip: Before walking
down the approach
turn left at the
east entry tower (2)
and walk to the end
of the gallery for a
superb view of a
four-faced tower of
the Bayuon framed by
a doorway of Baphuon.
The approach is
intercepted by a
pavilion in the
shape of a cross (4)
with terraces on the
left and right
sides. Turn left and
walk to the opening
the approach.
Continue to the view
of the arrangement
of the imposing
pillars under the
approach. Continue
to the end of the
gallery to see a
rectangular paved
pool (5).
The temple stands on
a rectangular
sandstone base with
five levels that are
approximately the
same size, rather
than the more common
form of successively
smaller levels. The
first, second and
third levels are
surrounded by
sandstone galleries.
Baphuon is the first
structure in which
stone galleries with
a central tower
appear. Two
libraries (6) in the
shape of a cross
with four porches
stand in the
courtyard. They were
originally connected
by an elevated
walkway supported by
columns.
The gallery of the
enclosure collapsed
and, at a later date
, the stones from it
were modeled into
the shape of a
reclining Buddha (7)
that spans the
length of the west
wall ( the head is
on the left, facing
the temple) . It is
an abstract form and
the outline of this
Buddha is difficult
to distinguish. A
stairway (8) leading
to the summit begins
in the middle of the
Buddha.
The top level is in
poor condition due
to several
collapses.
Originally there was
a Central Sanctuary
with two wings. Each
side of the entrance
to the Central
Sanctuary is carved
with fine animated
figures. If you look
carefully you can
see these from the
ground on the west
side.
Tip: The view from
the top with Phnom
Bakheng in the south
and Phimeanakas in
the north is
magnificent. |
