Bakong (Khmer: ប្រាសាទបាគង) is the first temple mountain constructed by rulers of the Khmer empire at Angkor near modern Siem Reap in Cambodia. In the final decades of the 9th century A.D, it served as the official state temple of King Indravarman I in the ancient city of Hariharalaya located in an area that today is called Roluos.
In 802 A.D., the first king of Angkor, Jayavarman II declared the sovereignty of Cambodia. Shortly thereafter, he established his capital at Hariharalaya. Late in the 9th century, his successors constructed Bakong as the first temple mountain at Angkor. In 881, King Indravarman I dedicated the temple to the god Shiva and consecrated its central religious image, a lingam whose name Sri Indresvara was a combination of the king's own and the suffix "-esvara" which stood for Shiva.[1]
Bakong enjoyed its status as the state temple of Angkor for only a few years. Toward the end of the 9th century, Indravarman's son and successor Yasovarman I moved the capital from Hariharalaya to the area north of Siem Reap now known as Angkor Thom where he founded the new city of Yasodharapura and constructed a new temple mountain called Bakheng.
In 802 A.D., the first king of Angkor, Jayavarman II declared the sovereignty of Cambodia. Shortly thereafter, he established his capital at Hariharalaya. Late in the 9th century, his successors constructed Bakong as the first temple mountain at Angkor. In 881, King Indravarman I dedicated the temple to the god Shiva and consecrated its central religious image, a lingam whose name Sri Indresvara was a combination of the king's own and the suffix "-esvara" which stood for Shiva.[1]
Bakong enjoyed its status as the state temple of Angkor for only a few years. Toward the end of the 9th century, Indravarman's son and successor Yasovarman I moved the capital from Hariharalaya to the area north of Siem Reap now known as Angkor Thom where he founded the new city of Yasodharapura and constructed a new temple mountain called Bakheng.
