| Location: | Angkor Thom, some 200 metres northwest of the Bayon |
| King: | Udayadityavarman II |
| Date: | ± 1060 |
| Religion: | Hindu |
| Access: | At the east side. |
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This temple was in a very bad state and extensive restoration is underway. The Baphuon (bronze tower) was built of sandstone on a laterite foundation, which is being replaced by a French team for a concrete one. This means that every stone of the sagged walls has to be taken out, numbered, stored to be put in place once the concrete reinforcements have been finished. In 1997 this was well under way and a few cranes were towering over the structure. Restoration will take a long time, possibly a few years The restoration crew is not very fond of visitors getting in the way. As I left the terrain through the east side I discovered that it is officially closed to tourists.
The temple is another representation of Mt. Meru as a single artificial hill. The temple is surrounded by a sandstone wall measuring 425 by 125 metres with gates on each side. An unique feature of the Baphuon is the elevated causeway which forms the main entrance. The climb to the top is worth the effort because of the nice view of the neighbouring temples.
