Angkor Thom Cambodia poster print

The name Angkor Thom literally means "great city" and is therefore very apt. It was the last known capital of the Khmer Empire and was originally founded in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. The site, located on the west bank of the Siem Reap River in Cambodia, now attracts more than 2 million tourists each year.

In the center of the city there is a main square, Victory Square, around which other sights are grouped. The city is surrounded by a wall and flanked by five entrance towers, each 75 feet high and topped by four heads. Each of the heads faces a different direction and is said to represent the rulers of the four cardinal directions on the summit of Mount Meru.

The most famous structure in Angkor Thom is the Bayon Temple, which consists of 54 buildings covered in 216 faces. With its labyrinth of tunnels, rocks and blocked entrances, it's a great place to literally lose yourself in history! Another tourist highlight is the Victory Gate on the city's eastern wall, which can be seen on our poster image. It is believed to be so named because it was the gate through which King Jayavarman VII sent his army into battle against Champa, the enemy of the Khmer Empire. From the Victory Gate, visitors take the opportunity to take photos of the iconic Buddhist faces.