The Royal Palace, Angkor Thom

The Royal Palace, Angkor Thom

The Royal Palace was first built by king Suryavarman I (reigned 1006 -1050) and used continuously from the 11th to the late 16th century.

The Royal Palace is located directly north of the Baphoun temple. It is surrounded by a 5 meters high laterite wall, 600 metres long by 250 metres wide, covering an area of more than 14 hectares. Five sandstone gopuras with steps served as the entrance to the palace. Two gupuras are located on the south, other two are on the north, the largest one faces to the east and aligned with the Elephant Terrace and Victory Gate.

The Large Pond located to the north of Phimean Akas temple, its walls are completely carved with bas-reliefs the lower sections show marine lives, heads of cow or horse, Naga and Garuda, princes and princesses, animals with human head, fish, crab, eagles. This pond may have been used by women.

The East Pond situated near the east gopura and northeast of Phimean Akas. This pond may have been used by men.

The four small sanctuaries were constructed in the early phase, which evidenced by their floor level. They are opening to the west and parallel to the southeast of the second part of the Royal Palace.

The Royal palace construction built from wood was most decorative and divided in several sections for king, princesses, concubines, priests, soldiers, palace guards, servants, and official meeting halls, but all of those structures perished by natural decay. However, some of their laterite foundation remain and can be seen in the east-south and west-north corners inside of compound of the Royal palace.