Bakong Temples

Bakong is a Hindu temple located in the Roluos group of temples, about 13 kilometers southeast of Siem Reap, Cambodia. Built in the late 9th century by King Indravarman I, it is considered one of the earliest and most significant temples of the Khmer Empire. The temple is a multi-tiered pyramid structure, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Its design is a precursor to the later, more elaborate temples like Angkor Wat. Bakong’s central tower, which once housed a Shiva linga, rises above the surrounding complex, and the temple is surrounded by a large moat. As one of the first temples to feature the classic Khmer style, Bakong is an important architectural and historical site.