Terrace of the Elephants

The Terrace of the Elephants runs for about 350 metres in the heart of Angkor Thom, the walled capital founded by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It faces the open ground known as Victory Square, north of the Bayon, and it was attached to the royal palace and the Phimeanakas, an earlier temple that the palace absorbed. Jayavarman VII used the terrace as a giant reviewing stand for public ceremonies and as the base for his grand audience hall, and from here the court watched victorious armies return.

The terrace takes its name from the elephants carved along its eastern face, which make it one of the easiest sites at Angkor for first-time visitors to enjoy. The middle section of the retaining wall carries life-size garudas, the bird-like mounts of Vishnu, and lions, which appear to hold up the platform above. Walk along the top for a sense of how the king and court would have looked out over the square, then drop down to ground level to study the carvings at close range.

Angkor Thom itself helps explain the setting. The city covers about 9 square kilometres and is enclosed by laterite walls around 8 metres high and 3 kilometres long on each side, flanked by a moat. Its gates carry towers with large carved faces similar to those of the Bayon. The Victory Gate, on the east side, lies on the Victory Way, a road that runs to Victory Square and the royal palace, so the terrace stood at the end of the city's grand processional route.

The terrace is outdoors and is covered by the Angkor Pass. There is little shade along its length, so the morning and late afternoon are the most comfortable times, and a hat and water are essential in the hot season. Half an hour is enough for most people, although anyone interested in carving may want longer. Arrange with your driver to meet you near the terrace, which makes it a convenient place to finish a walk through Angkor Thom.

The Terrace of the Elephants is a short stroll north of the Bayon and the Baphuon, so it fits into almost every itinerary in Angkor Thom. It suits families particularly well, as the walk is short and level and children can easily pick out the elephants and other animals in the stone.