Bayon Temple

Unique, even among its cherished contemporaries, Bayon is the mesmerising if mind-bending state temple of Cambodia's legendary king, Jayavarman VII. its architectural audacity epitomises the creative genius and inflated ego of this enigmatic figure. it's a place of stooped corridors, precipitous flights of stairs and, best of all, a collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with 216 coldly smiling, enormous face of Avalokiteshvara that bear more than a passing resemblance to the great king himself. These huge heads glare down from
every angle, exuding power and control with a hint of humanity - this was precisely the blend required to hold sway over such a vast empire, ensuring the disparate and far-flung population yielded to his magnanimous will. As you walk around, a dozen or more of the heads are visible at any one time - full face or in profile, almost level with your eyes or staring down from up high..

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Article	LonelyPlanet
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Youtube Video	Bayon Temple

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