Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The royal palace incorporated the previous state temples of Baphuon and Phimeanakas, and the city itself overlapped the old capital of Yasodharapura dating 3 centuries before the Angkor Thom itself. The city was called Yasodharapura until the 16th century, and the same can be found in the scriptures. After the Khmers were defeated by King Borommarachathirat II, the capital of the empire was shifted, and Angkor Thom was abandoned. All the entrances to the city are marked by face towers accompanied by a naga carrying giant figures.

Built on the bank of the Siem Reap River, Angkor Thom has an area of 9 square km surrounded by a moat. Since the state temple, Bayon in the city center does not have a moat of its own, it can be deduced that the surrounding city and its moats are the mountains and oceans surrounding the Mount Meru at Bayon. The city had its own system of canals, and the city had numerous bas-reliefs depicting mythical and actual animals and wall carvings, motifs representing the Hindu mythology.