Bakheng is a Hindu temple constructed in the style of Temple Mountain in Angkor, Cambodia. It was built during the reign of Yasovarman in between the period of 889 and 910 AD. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, a scared mountain in Hindu mythology. It is one of the three temples located atop a hill in Angkor region. Today it has become famous, as the sunset views of the famous temple Angkor Wat can be enjoyed well from here. It is worthy to reach the hill before sunset to enjoy the panoramic views of Angkor and its surroundings.

 

Attractions:

 

Bakheng was constructed carefully to maintain symmetry and every structure in this temple presents a piece of the cosmic order. The seven levels of this temple represent the seven important Hindu mountains. There are 44 towers around its base and four sandstone towers on the summit. These four towers are positioned in prominent cardinal points to guard the central sanctuary. The total number of towers is 108, which is regarded as an auspicious number in Hindu mythology. The number also has cosmological importance. The towers are distributed over four levels and are placed symmetrically. You can see only 33 towers from the center of any side. 33 is the number of gods residing in Mount Meru.

 

A moat surrounds the mount and the temple and parts of this moat can be seen from the air. There is another small moat inside. A causeway from the old capital area to the east section of the outer moat connects to the east entrance of the temple.

 

As the path to the summit is too steep, an alternate pathway has been opened. You can go for an elephant ride to get to the top of the hill. It is in fact a funny way to reach the summit. Bakheng is crowded in the evenings, but it is really worth to plan a visit in the late afternoon. If you want to avoid crowd, you can visit in the early morning to enjoy the awe-inspiring sunrise views.

 

Bakheng is one of the most wonderful examples of the Temple Mountain style of architecture. The stepped terrace cut into the side of this complex creates a pyramidal incline. This temple is noted for its delicate sculptures. You can see many deeply carved figures in this temple.

 

How to go:

 

Bakheng is situated around 1km away from the north of Angkor Wat. If you want to enjoy a different experience, you can plan to reach the temple by climbing the steep path having some steps on the east side. Once you have reached the top of the hill, you can see five towers of Angkot wat in the west, Phnom (hill) Bok in the north east, Kulen hill in the east and the West Baray.

 

Bakheng use to be one of the most serene place in Angkor because you could feel its potent charm during sunrise and sunset. Unfortunatelly is getting more and more crowded these days. If time permits, you can spend a few more hours in the hill to enjoy the stars peering through the strands of floating cloud.

 

© 2009 Abiyoyo SL