Angkor Wat Challenge: Bakong Temple

Bakong Temple was the official state temple in Hariharalaya, an ancient city and capital of the Khmer Empire during the 9th Century.

Built entirely out of sandstone, the temple takes the form of a large, stepped pyramid, incorporating building techniques inspired by Hindu temples in Java and featuring freizes depicting the Ramayana, a Sanskrit epic poem.

Statues of lions border the temple's stairways guarding its many entrances.