Baphoun Temple (Baphoun means hiding place)

Date: middle of the 11^th century (1055-1060)

King: udayadityavarman II         

Religion: Hinduism

Art style: Baphoun

Clearance work by Mr. Jean Commaille (1908-1914)

Dismantle work by Mr. Bernard Philippe Groslier (1960-1972)

A French team came to study and survey the temple in 1989

Baphoun is the next name means hiding place, this temple was constructed in the middle of the 11^th century (1060) by the king Udayadityavarman II in order to dedicate to god Shiva. Baphoun is a mountain temple was built on the artificial mount with 3 levels and 50m high; it was a state temple of the Yasodharapura of the king Udayadityavarman II. Well, depend on Zou Daguan, the Chinese diploma was described Baphoun was originally painted by gold, so it was a golden temple in the past; the temple was surrounded by 2 enclosed walls.  

Baphoun Temple

The first wall was made of earth embankment but mostly disappeared except the second wall still remained 125m wide by 425m long and has been with two entrances (east & west). At the east entrance, you could see a sandstone bridge which linked to the main temple 2m wide by 200m long and 1.5m high, this bridge was supported by 3 rows of short sandstone columns. And at the end of this bridge on the left you could see one pool 28m wide by 38m long, it is represented the moat surrounded the temple. In the courtyard of the first level, there are two libraries on the left and right side but today these two libraries were disappeared by taken in to the shape of a relining Buddha was made in 16^th century by king Angchhan I. On the top of this temple was originally installed the golden Shiva Linga with 2m high but later it was took to keep in the Angkor conservation for safekeeping.