South Gate - Layout of Angkor Thom - Hospital Temples - Bayon - Baphuon - Royal Palace & Royal Plaza - Time line - Photo album

The Gate
The central tower, more than 23 m high, is flanked by two smaller towers. Huge faces are looking in the cardinal directions. In the corners of the towers' bases god Indra appears with two spouses, mounted on the three-headed elephant Airavan , whose trunks are pulling lotus flowers. Photo (Victory Gate).

Giant Balustrades
In front of the gate the Naga have to guard the causeway, escorting human beings from the secular world to the sacred area of the temple. Looking outside you see gods to the right and demons in equal number to the left. "The fifty-four deities are all pulling at the snake with their hands, and look as if they are preventing it from escaping." (Zou Daguan, p. 47. Photo)

Five monumental Gates

The South Gate has the most extensive collection of giants' heads. This area may be pretty crowded sometimes.

The West Gate has the best preserved faces. The remains of the Causeway of Giants have not been restored. The site is quiet and picturesque.

The North Gate is best preserved. Look for the Indra reliefs! The Causeway of Giants is restored. A rather tranquil area.

At the Victory Gate the Causeway of Giants has been restored. Look at the faces from both sides of the wall.

The East Gate (called 'Gate of the Deaths') displays a well preserved west face The causeway has not been restored. The site is an always quiet realm.

Map

Indra at the South Gate