At each of the cardinal points along the wall enclosing the city, a monumental entrance gate surmounted by a head with four faces provided access to the inner city. Seen here is the superstructure of a fifth gate, known as the Victory Gate, located to the north of the east gate. It provided direct access to the royal palace.

Another view of the Victory Gate

The eastern approach to the Bayon

Bas-relief carving on one of the columns on the entrance terrace at the Bayon, depicting apsaras, heavenly dancers who entertained the gods

More apsaras on the terrace of the Bayon

The temple is noted for its great number of monumental so-called face-towers, most with a face pointing in each of the cardinal directions. Those shown here are at the uppermost level, on the temple's central tower.

A devata, heavenly guardian spirit, and apsaras on the temple's upper level

One of the face-towers seen through openings in a small chapel on the upper terrace

More devata on the upper level

Bas reliefs, likely dating from two periods during the early and late 13th century, line many of the gallery walls at the temple.

Many of the scenes depict military maneuvers and battles.

At the bottom, a dog fight is about to begin.

Cham warships on the Tonle Sap, attacking the Khmers. The Champa kingdom, contemporaneous with that of the Khmers, was located in what is now central Vietnam.

Soldiers advancing in battle

The Khmers overwhelming the Chams in battle

View of the Bayon temple grounds from the southeast

The north gate of Angkor Thom, seen from outside the wall

The north gate from inside

Leading to each of the principal gates was a bridge that spanned the moat that enclosed the city. It was lined with sculptures of protective gods along one side, demons along the other. This detail is of a guardian figure from inside the north gate of the city.

Sunset view from the bridge leading to the south gate of Angkor Thom