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Bapuon Temple (c. 1060)

Bapuon was erected in the reign of Udayadityavarman II, who ruled from 1050-1066. An inscription on the temple reads:

'Seeing that at the centre of Jambudvipa there rose the golden mountain, the dwelling-place of the gods, he had a golden mountain built at the centre of his city, as though in emulation. On top of this golden mountain, in a golden temple, shining with celestial light, he erected a Shiva linga in gold.'

The temple used to cover the large hill visible in image one, but nowadays it has mostly vanished. Zhou Daguan, a Chinese 'ambassador' in the 13th century, speaks glowingly of the temple, describing it as a 'copper tower'. This suggests that the entire temple may have once been sheathed in bronze plates.