The sight is located within Angkor. To prepare for your visit, read the AsiaExplorers Angkor Travel Guide for useful information. Visitors to Angkor stay at the town of Siem Reap. If you are looking for budget accommodation in Siem Reap, use the Cambodia Budget Accommodation Guide to find a place to stay.
Built at the end of the 12th Century
by King Jayavarman II (reigned 1181-1220)
Terrace of the Elephants is an ancient royal platform that extends over 300 metres from the Baphuon to the Terrace of the Leper King. From the main road that run along the north-south axis through Angkor Thom, you can see the Terrace of the Elephants on the left after you pass the Bayon and Baphuon. It is two and a half meters high, and adorned with its namesake reliefs of elephants on one side and garudas (bird-men) on the other. At one end of it is the Terrace of the Leper King, to my opinion much less impressive than the Terrace of the Elephants.
Close-up of the Terrace of the Elephants
The Terrace of the Elephants consists of three main platforms and two smaller ones. At the south stairway, there are three-headed elephant sculptures with lotus flowers in their trunks. The central stairway is decorated with reliefs of lions and garudas supporting the stairway.
The best way to explore the Terrace of the Elephants in on foot. If you came by tuk tuk, ask your tuk tuk driver to wait for you at the food stalls - there's a place where lots of tuk tuks are congregated, in front of the Baphuon. Then explore this section of Angkor Thom north of the Bayon on foot.
The Terrace of the Elephants is believed to be a pavillion for the king to view military parades. This is because it overlooks the large square in front which is where parades could be held. I visited one hot February afternoon, and the heat here was simply of sheer intensity. I stayed just long enough to get all the photographs I needed before I hurried off to the next building.
How to go to the Terrace of the Elephants
The Terrace of the Elephants is one of the sights within Angkor Thom, just north of the Bayon temple. All tuk tuk drivers to Angkor should know how to get there - if you find one who doesn't, well, change tuk tuk! If you're on your own, by bicycle or motorcycle, park somewhere under the shade near the food stalls, and do your on foot.
Garuda sculptures on the Terrace of the Elephants.
View of Terrace of the Elephants.
Elephants sculptures on the terrace.
Wide expanse of the Terrace of the Elephants.
Many layer Terrace of the Elephants.
Angkor, Unesco World Heritage Site
AsiaExplorers provides you one of the most detailed documentation on Angkor, Unesco World Heritage Site, for you to explore from the comfort of your desktop.
Siem Reap Travel Guide
If you are visiting Angkor, it's almost definite that you will be staying in a hotel or guesthouse in Siem Reap. You will probably also need to hire a tuk tuk to take you around. Click the thumbnail on the left to view vital details to make your stay in Siem Reap more pleasant.
Find the lowest price of hotel rooms from different Hotel Booking websites. Our free Hotel Search Engine lets you compare room rates from different booking sites. Just key in your visiting City. You'd be glad to do your homework!
As an independent traveler, you have the freedom to create your itinerary according to your own schedule. Here are local tours of Cambodia that you can fit into your vacation.
Follow me on Twitter
Sign up to Tim's Travel Tips, and let me take you to explore the places in Asia.
Please link to me!
If you enjoy exploring Asia and getting to know its places of interest, place a link from your website or blog to AsiaExplorers. Let AsiaExplorers be your window to all the fascinating sights in Asia! It is as easy as copying the source code below and pasting it on your site:
AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. Reasonable care is taken to check and verify the accuracy of the content. AsiaExplorers disclaims responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the tips and advice provided directly or indirectly by this website. All pages may be printed out for your own personal, non-commercial use. Photographs not credited to a third party belong to Timothy Tye and may not be reused in any form unless you are first given permission. Write in to inquire if interested. Third party photographs are governed by their respective licenses. The author is a Christian. Click here if you are interested to know more about his Christian beliefs. To contact AsiaExplorers, use the following email address:
