The history and architecture of Baphuon Temple
If you are among the admirers of secular culture, then take a walk around in the Angkor Thom in Bayon, Cambodia. To the southwest of the royal palace lies the mesmerising Baphuon Temple, a marvel of all things religious. It is the perfect amalgam of spirituality and architecture.
Though you may seem to be captivated by the towering structure, what will truly add to the experience is the slice of ancient history that it packs in its crevices. Read on to find out how this palatial tourist hotspot is a must-have on any travel bug’s itinerary.
A slice of history
The reason why Baphuon Temple is such a tourist magnet is because of the rich history of its existence. The temple with its roots in core Hinduism and dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 11th century. Just like any other Shiva temple, the Baphuon is also built just like a towering mountain.
Through the history of carving and stone work, the structure that leaves tourists spellbound was not nearly as close to what it appears. Back in the day, the beauty of the architectural style had captured the fancy of many a ruler, including Temur Khan a century later.
Built in an arena with perfect angles, the Baphuon Temple is a sight to behold. While the sands of time took a toll on the structure standing tall amidst the Bayon’s greenery, people still marvel at the reclining Buddha statue that is present on the second floor.
The statue, constructed in 1500s with stones from the same premises, tells a story of how ancient ruins were typical of the Baphuon architecture. After the construction of the statue, the temple completely became a Budhhist temple with hints of Hinduism on the walls. Absence of a caretaker in ancient times may tell you the reason behind crumbled stones and faded carvings.
Structure of beauty
Talking about the architecture of the centuries old spectacle, the Baphuon Temple was brought together with basic sand and stone constructions. Ample usage of these construction materials is why the temple mostly stayed unstable. Talking about the outer structure, it is a 120 metres by 100 metres structure at the base.
Marked with engravings of Hinduism and Buddhism, the temple stands 30 metre tall, if you do not consider a once present tower that could take its height to 50 metres. Internally the base is having 10 sections symbolising the core of Baphuon architecture.
The ancient ruins of the Baphuon Temple follow the path that a typical devotee might tread. As you enter the sanctum sanctorum made of gilded wood that has faded with time, you are face to face with a legacy of 7,000 years. The Budhha statue was erected after taking some blocks of the old central tower and then marked by numbers as per a restoration plan before the plunder of the early 19th century.
It was only after the archaeologists took cognisance of this architectural wonder that the blocks were repurposed, though in a way not to damage the ancient carvings.
How to reach the admirable temple
Given that you have got to travel to Cambodia, there are a lot of options of international flights provided by Lufthansa, Vistara, Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Emirates, Silkair, Jet Airways etc. These flights are to land in the international airport of Phnom Penh, the capital and tourist hotspot of Cambodia.
There are flights available to Siem Reap too. If you are traveling from India, it will cost you around 10,000 INR, which comes up to around 139 US dollars. It’s more convenient to reach Baphuon Temple via Siem Reap as you have plenty of public transport or biking options.
Once you reach Siem Reap, you have to get a tuktuk, the local mode of transport to Angkor, the hub of ancient temples, of which Bayon and Baphuon Temple are also a part. Word of advice, there has to be a map handy with you before you plan your itinerary.
Angkor is a huge area that needs at least your entire day, so you have to start early. Before you go asking for boarding a tuktuk, make sure you have got your road signs right. Though you may find English speaking individuals in hotels close to Baphuon Temple, tuktuk drivers will always have to be dealt with sign language.
Another thing that you need to take care of is that there’s a mobile application for hiring tuktuks that is far cheaper than the price that you will negotiate with tuktuk drivers. A ticket to the Bayon temples costs around 37 US dollars. Make sure you also try out the traditional Chinese cuisine before getting to Baphuon Temple as it will take you a lot of time and energy to observe the ancient ruins.
In conclusion
Baphuon Temple has become a magnet for tourist influx in Cambodia due to its deep rooted history and architectural excellence. When one takes a walk around the huge temple arena, the true combination of Buddhist and Hindu culture takes the visitors on a roller coaster ride of how history becomes legacy.
You can also pay a visit to the Killing Fields to see the astonishing collection of 30,000 skulls or just sit back and relax on beautiful beaches. While you relish Thai and Chinese cuisine, the best part is the scenic views that you get to take in. Keep your plan on point and visit Cambodia as per a detailed schedule. When visiting Bayon and Baphuon Temple in the holidays, the choices are endless.
This article was originally published at Agatetravel.com.
