Which Angkor temple is famous for its 216 giant stone faces?

Which Angkor temple is famous for its 216 giant stone faces? Bayon Temple is the answer. Built at the center of Angkor Thom in Cambodia, Bayon was the state temple of Khmer king Jayavarman VII and is renowned for towers carved with serene, monumental faces looking outward in several directions.

The temple was constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century as part of Jayavarman VII’s Buddhist capital. Its original religious focus was connected with Mahayana Buddhism and the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, associated with compassion. Many scholars also see the faces as idealized images of Jayavarman VII, blending royal authority with religious symbolism.

The often-quoted total of 216 faces refers to the temple’s famous face towers, though the exact number visible today is complicated by damage, additions, and incomplete carvings. Bayon is easy to confuse with Angkor Wat or the gates of Angkor Thom, which also feature monumental imagery. Unlike Angkor Wat’s more orderly classical design, Bayon is especially known for its dense galleries, unusual layout, and extensive bas-reliefs showing battles, ceremonies, and everyday Khmer life.