Marko Prešlenkov photography, Bayon Temple, Siem Reap (2026)

13/11/2014

Ruins of Bayon

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Bayon-temple-Cambodia

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

11/11/2014

Door frame in Bayon

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Bayon-temple-Cambodia

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

06/11/2014

Face tower of Bayon

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Bayon-temple-Cambodia

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

04/11/2014

Pillars of Bayon

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Bayon-temple-Cambodia

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

29/10/2014

Stone face of Avalokiteshvara

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

27/10/2014

Bayon in all its magic

Bayon, a crown jewel at the hearth of Angkor Thom or the "Great city", was built as a state temple by Angkor greatest Khmer king, Jayavarman VII, who took over after the disaster of losing the old Khmer capital to the Chams. Bayon, which is standing at the exact centre of the Angkor Thom city, is maybe best known for its collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with no less than 216 smiling, enormous faces of Avalokiteshvara - a Buddhist bodhisattva depicting the king Jayavarman VII himself. The temple is also known for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological scenes depicted on the inner gallery and historical and everyday life on the outer one. The outer gallery is also enclosing a courtyard that used to contain 16 chapels that were demolished - along with a statue of Buddha seated in meditation in the central tower - by the Hindu restorationist monarch Jayavarman VIII. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

16/06/2014

Empty Angkor Wat building

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

05/06/2014

Inside of the Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

03/06/2014

Visitors leaving Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

30/05/2014

Sidestep of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

28/05/2014

Time for a debate in Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

26/05/2014

Sun setting down on Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat or "City of Temples" – largest religious complex in the world – is situated right in the middle of Cambodian jungle. Built in the early 12th century by Khmer King Suryavaman II the construction of this city of 1 million people took mere 35 years, 300.000 workers and some 6000 elephants to complete. It was meant to be state temple and eventual mausoleum. Since then it has come a long way. From being a Hindu temple to becoming a Buddhist one, it has become the epicenter of Khmer civilization, a source of fierce national pride and national symbol. It was never abandoned to the fierce natural elements surrounding it, not even at its darkest hour – during the 4 year reign of Khmer Rouge regime and during Indian efforts to clean the temples with chemicals during the 1980s. Nowadays it’s being restored to its former glory and is even adorning the Cambodian national flag. With its unique grandeur and fascinating details it is well worth the visit. For its beauty, for its spirituality or even for it 3000+ beguiling apsaras – or heavenly nymphs – with 37 different hairstyles carved onto temple walls. Photo by Marko Preslenkov.

http://www.markopreslenkov.com/places/Angkor-Wat-temples-Cambodia

Marko Prešlenkov photography

13/11/2014

11/11/2014

06/11/2014

04/11/2014

29/10/2014

27/10/2014

16/06/2014

05/06/2014

03/06/2014

30/05/2014

28/05/2014

26/05/2014

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