Angkor Thom

South gate of Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom, literally "big Angkor", is the walled royal city built at the end of the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. Constrution began shortly after Angkor had been regained from the Chams by Jayavarman VII. The city was built as a quadrangle and bordered by a 100m-wide moat and an 8m high wall. The walls of Angkor Thom are oriented to the compass points with four magnificent gates in the centre of each wall and a fifth Victory Gate in the east wall, used as the palace entrance. There are many temples within the city's confines including The Bayon, Baphuon and Phimeanakas.