Bayon Temple Date: Late 12th century to early 13th century Reign of construction: Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) Cult: Buddhist Mahayanism Art Style: Bayon Clearance work: G. Commaille (1911-1913) Excavation: G. Trouvé 1933 Anastylosis: M. Glaize 1939-1946 The Bayon vies with Angkor Wat as the favourite monument among visitors. The two temples evoke similar aesthetic responses yet are different in purpose, design, architecture and decoration. The Bayon, is the exact centre of the town of Angkor Thom. Having to power after the burning of the capital by a Cham fleet, he rebuilt the city and surrounded it with a strong wall. This rampart constitutes the outer enclosure of the Bayon, it is a wide, provided the earth for the enormous embankment which support it, and makes a boulevard 25m wide, with four little temples at the corners, called "Prasat Chrung": the north-east one which is the best preserved, can be reached after charming walk along the top of the rampart in the thick forest .
