Angkor Wat - Bayon Temple - Cambodia

Angkor Wat - Cambodia. The Bayon Temple near Angkor Wat in Cambodia in South East Asia. This is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor and was built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII. The Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences. The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological and historical scenes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.