Elephants Terrace Temple and the Terrace of the Leper King form a 500m long platform across the east side of the Royal Palace in Angkor Thom.

Distance from Siem Reap to Elephant Terrace Temple and Terrace of the Leper King is around 10km (15 minutes by car, 30 minutes by Tuk Tuk and around an hour by bike).

Elephants Terrace Temple, a 350 m long terrace of elephants. It was used as a giant viewing stand during public ceremonies, royal ceremonies and so on.

The elephants are ridden by servants and princes, and tread as quietly as if they were on an excursive promenade.

Elephants Terrace Temple is an impressive, two and a half-meter tall, 300 meter long terrace wall adorned.

Holes for parasol poles for the King Jayavarman VII in Elephant Terrace Temple

View of Elephant Terrace Temple

Terrace of the Elephants overview

The Terrace of the Elephants is a temple in the Angkor Thom Complex, Siem Reap, Cambodia. During the Angkor dynasty, this was where kings and mandarins could observe elephants being ridden and engaged in battle.

This elephant’s terrace was constructed between the years 905 and 984, which is also when the Royal Palace and the tower with the twelve animal carvings that stand in the middle of Angkor Thom Temple were constructed.

The Royal Palace, which stands to the left of the Terrace of the Elephants, is where the king lives and relaxes. Originally constructed entirely of bamboo and wood, it has since been destroyed by conflict and the passage of time.

In the present, theft, the passage of time, and historical wars are all seriously destroying this elephant’s terrace. Because there are so many large stones on the terrace, processing this area after restoration is now extremely tough and bordering on desperation.

How to travel to the Terrace of the Elephants?

This location is only about 17 kilometers from Siem Reap’s town center, you can go there by bus, vehicle, taxi, or tuk-tuk (one of the popular vehicles of locals in Cambodia). 

When visiting Bayon Temple from the main gate of Angkor Thom Temple, you should turn left toward Baphoun and proceed to the Terrace of the Elephants Cambodia via Naga Bridge. Terrace of the Elephants was constructed inside Angkor Thom Temple.

If you enter Angkor Thom by the gate leading to this elephant’s terrace, you will first travel through Ta Prohm Temple and Ta Keo before proceeding to the elephant’s terrace via the tower’s 12 animal carvings.

The Terrace of the Elephants’ architecture is highly unique, it is intricately carved into stone and is separated into numerous sections. This lengthy, gorgeous image was generated by the elephant terrace and the Angkor Thom Temple.

You should not skip this location when visiting Siem Reap, Cambodia, as it is one of the most well-liked and worthwhile locations in the Angkor Temple Complex.

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