Temple · Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bayon Temple
The Bayon is a richly decorated Theravada Buddhist temple of the Khmer Empire located at Angkor in Cambodia.
Photo: Diego Delso via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Siem Reap, Cambodia |
|---|---|
| Type | Temple |
| Coordinates | 13.4411° N, 103.8586° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Bayon Temple is known for
The Bayon is a richly decorated Theravada Buddhist temple of the Khmer Empire located at Angkor in Cambodia.
About Bayon Temple
The Bayon is a richly decorated Theravada Buddhist temple of the Khmer Empire located at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century as the state temple of King Jayavarman VII (Khmer: ព្រះបាទជ័យវរ្ម័នទី ៧), it stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital city, Angkor Thom (Khmer: អង្គរធំ). The Bayon reflects the strong Buddhist orientation of Jayavarman VII's reign.
History
The Bayon was the last state temple to be built at Angkor, and the only Angkorian state temple to be built primarily to worship Buddhist deities, though a great number of minor and local deities were also encompassed as representatives of the various districts and cities of the realm. Originally a Hindu temple, the Bayon (Jayagiri) was the centrepiece of Jayavarman VII's massive program of monumental construction and public works, which was also responsible for the walls and nāga-bridges of Angkor Thom and the temples of Vishnu, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei. The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces on the temple's towers to other statues of the has led many scholars to the conclusion that the faces are representations of Jayavarman VII, himself.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Siem Reap |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Angkor International Airport (REP) |
| Distance from the airport | 3.7 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) · Siem Reap, Cambodia · 25.0 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Cambodia
More temples
Frequently asked questions
What is Bayon Temple?
The Bayon is a richly decorated Theravada Buddhist temple of the Khmer Empire located at Angkor in Cambodia.
Where is Bayon Temple located?
Bayon Temple is in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Its coordinates are 13.4411° N, 103.8586° E.
How do I get to Bayon Temple?
The nearest town is Siem Reap, and the nearest airport is Angkor International Airport (REP), about 3.7 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Bayon Temple?
The Bayon was the last state temple to be built at Angkor, and the only Angkorian state temple to be built primarily to worship Buddhist deities, though a great number of minor and local deities were also encompassed as representatives of the various districts and cities of the realm. Originally a Hindu temple, the Bayon (Jayagiri) was the centrepiece of Jayavarman VII's massive program of monumental construction and public works, which was also responsible for the walls and nāga-bridges of Angkor Thom and the temples of Vishnu, Ta Prohm and Banteay Kdei.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayon — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q654024 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.