Angkor Thom, the majestic royal city, was built by the Buddhist king Jayavarman VII (1181–1220) at the end of the 12th century, after the destruction of Angkor by the Chams. Its name, which means “the great city” (or Mahānagara in Sanskrit), embodies the power and resilience of the Khmer Empire.

Square in shape, with sides measuring nearly three kilometers, Angkor Thom is surrounded by an eight-meter-high rampart lined with moats. Inside this imposing enclosure, the remains of palaces, temples, and other buildings, now overgrown by jungle, bear witness to its glorious past.

Among the most remarkable remains are :

The Royal Palace, built under Suryavarman I, whose main buildings still remain.
Phimeanaka, a pyramid temple located within the Royal Palace enclosure, where, according to legend, the king joined the Sun Queen every night.
The Terrace of the Elephants, which overlooks the royal square and marked the entrance to the Palace, and the Terrace of the Leper King, located to the north.
Two Buddhist temples : Preah Palilay, decorated with scenes from the life of Buddha, and Tep Pranam, where an imposing statue of the seated Buddha stands.
The Baphuon, a mountain temple housing a gigantic reclining Buddha.
The Bayon, Jayavarman VII’s state temple, famous for its towers with smiling faces, located in the geographical center of Angkor Thom.
The North and South Khléang, two buildings whose purpose remains a mystery.
The twelve Suor Prat towers, lined up along the road leading from the North Gate to the Bayon, used for festivals and ceremonies.

The Terrace of the Elephants is an imposing structure 350 meters long. It was once used as a venue for public ceremonies and as a base for the king’s audience chamber.
Five staircases lead to the central square : three in the center and one at each end. The central wall is decorated with lions and garudas, mythological creatures, all carved in life size. The sides of the terrace are particularly known for the parades of elephants, accompanied by their Khmer mahouts.

To the north of the terrace are the most remarkable sculptures : five-headed horses and elephants, almost life-size, which bear witness to the artistic skill of the time.

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