Cambodia, Siem Reap - Terrace of the Elephants

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Reigning in the overlapping years between the 12th and 13th centuries, King Jayavarman VII of Angkor built a terrace for him and his subjects to review and view his armies. This terrace its today known as the Terrace of the Elephants. It was built towards the end of the 12th century.

What remains today of the original 350-metre long terrace are carvings of elephants; including the often photographed and famous parade of elephants and their mahouts towards the end of the eastern face.

The Terrace of the Elephants was part of the Palace of Phimeanakas. Only small sections of the palace ruins remain today; mostly the foundation of the original palace complex.

Strolling quietly amongst the ruins during my visit, I tried to envisage the grandeur that the original palace and its surrounding structures could have been in their hey days. This definitely forms part of the unique history not just of the Khmer people, but also for South East Asia and the World. Part of the history of mankind.

Part of the eastern face of the so-called Terrace of the Elephants, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia (2015)

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