Angkor Thom, Siem Reap (must see)

Angkor Thom, also known as Nokor Thom, is a historic city located in what is now Cambodia. It was the final and longest-lasting capital of the ancient Khmer Empire and was founded in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII.

The city spans about 9 square kilometers and includes numerous significant structures from both its own time and earlier periods. Central to Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, built by King Jayavarman, with other important sites nearby. It's a key destination for travelers visiting Southeast Asia.

The city's architecture is marked by the Bayon style, characterized by its grand scale, use of laterite (a type of stone), and distinctive towers with faces at the city's entrances, as well as statues of giants holding nagas (serpent deities).

Interestingly, Angkor Thom wasn't the first Khmer capital at this location. Yasodharapura, dating back three centuries earlier, was situated nearby, and parts of Angkor Thom were built over it. Key temples from earlier times within Angkor Thom include the Baphuon and Phimeanakas, integrated into the Royal Palace. The boundaries between Angkor Thom and Yasodharapura weren't clearly defined, and the name Angkor Thom (meaning "Great City") started being used around the 16th century.

The last known temple built in Angkor Thom was Mangalartha, completed in 1295. Following this, existing structures were occasionally modified, but no new stone buildings were added. The city was captured and abandoned after an attack by the Ayutthaya Kingdom under King Borommarachathirat II, leading the Khmers to move their capital to Phnom Penh.

By 1609, Angkor Thom was deserted, described by an early Western visitor as a mysterious, uninhabited city. It's estimated to have supported a population of 80,000 to 150,000 at its peak. A Khmer poem written in 1622 celebrates Angkor Thom's beauty.