Phnom Bakheng
Around 400m south of Angkor Thom, the main attraction of Phnom Bakheng is the sunset view of Angkor Wat. Still, the sunset over the Tonle Sap lake is very impressive from the hill. It is also now possible to arrange an elephant ride up the hill and the location certainly makes for one of the more memorable journeys you will make.
Phnom Bakheng is also home to the first of the temple mountain built in the near vicinity of Angkor. Yasovarman I (rule 889 - 910) chose Phnom Bakheng over the Rolous area, where previous temples have been built. Phnom Bakheng is a five-tiered temple mountain with seven levels. All of these numbers are of symbolic significance. The seven levels, for example, represent the seven Hindu heavens, while the total number of towers, excluding the Central Sanctuary, is 108, a particularly auspicious number and which co-relates to the lunar calendar.
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