South Gate, Angkor Thom, Siem Reap

Angkor Thom was a square city surrounded by 8 meter high laterite wall.   A 100 meter wide moat which is crossed by a causeway.

According the Hindu epic, cited in Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana and also Bhagwat Purana, the ocean was churned by the devas and asuras to obtain the amrit or the elixir of life. Vasuki, the King of serpents volunteered to be used as a rope for churning. Mount Mandara or Meru became the center around which the serpent wound himself. The devas were on one side and the asuras on the other.

Avalokiteshwar face tower, viewed from inside Angkor Thom

Most of the tourists coming from Siem Reap pass through this gate to enter Angkor Thom. It is one of the most popular place visited.

The central tower of the gate is more than 23 meters and has two smaller towers on its side. Faces on the tower look at the four cardinal directions which are supposed to represent Avalokiteshwara but also show similarity of Jayavarman VII who followed the Devraja cult (देवराजा) where King is supreme and represents God.

At the base of gate are seen three-headed elephants on each side.

The moat served as a barrier to any approaching army of enemy.

The wooden door of entrance was closed at night

On top of the elephant (Airavata or Airavan), Indra is seen sitting.

Above Indra are seen images with folded hands

city wall surrounded by moat

Entering the gate through a causeway, over a moat, are figures on balustrade on both sides. On left are 54 images of devas (guardian gods) and on the right are the same number of asuras (demon gods). They seem to be in the process of churning the ocean.

The devas are holding the body of snake,Vasuki.

Here, probably either Bayon or the gate itself represents the Mount Meru.
In the center of Angkor stands the beautiful Bayon temple or Prasat Bayon.

Above the four faces are three prasats or temples. The central one is the tallest. All the towers end with a lotus flower.

devas side, well made feet still intact

asurs on the other side, all holding Vasuki

Asuras in the opposite side of causeway hold the tail side of Sheshnaga. They have a frown on their face and have huge round eyes. They are stout and wear a different headdress.

North gate:

North Gate or Thvear Ta Nok of Angkor Thom is very similar to the South Gate.

Similar to South Gate, here also the gate is flanked by tri-headed elephant (Airawat)

so beautifully depicted headgear, in between the faces is a single devta figure

Seated above Airawat are three figures, center one being Indra. Above Indra are figures with folded palms.

The devas have calm and serene expressions and wear a conical headdress.

Entering inside the Angkor Thom, one is awestricken by the temples in it. The wooden houses of the city have long gone but the temples remind us of the past.