Terrace of the Elephants, Angkor Thom: 6 Oct 2003
  
  An imperial hunt in the sombre forests of the realm. There are formidable elephants... the forest in which they travel is impenetrable to all but tiny creatures, able to squeeze their smallness between the fissures of the undergrowth, and to the biggest animals, which crush chasms for their passage in the virgin vegetation. The elephants are ridden by servants and princes, and tread as quietly as if they were on an excursive promenade. Their steps of even length have no respect for any obstacle...  
  

 

Gateway

Walking northeast from the Baphuon is the impressive Terrace of the Elephants.

   
  

Commanding View

The terrace was once used as a giant viewing platform for public ceremonies, and served as a base for the king's grand audience hall. Standing two and a half-meter tall and spanning the heart of Angkor Thom, it i s located directly in front of the east gopura of the Royal Palace enclosure wall. Extending over 300 meters in length from the Baphuon to the Terrace of the Leper King, it has three main platforms and two subsidiary ones.

 
  

Might of Garudas

The terrace has five outworks extending towards the Central Square beyond, three in the center and one at each end. The middle section of the retaining wall is decorated with life-size garudas and lions.

 
  

Parade of Elephants

Towards either ends of the terrace are the two parts of the famous parade of elephants. The end stairways are framed with three-headed elephants gathering lotus flowers with their trunks.

 
  

Chilling Out

A great place to laze around and chill out, watching the world go by beyond.

 
  

One of the Twelve

Not far beyond the Terrace of the Elephants stands the nearly identical twelve towers of Prasat Suor Prat.

 

  

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