via Siem Reap.net, 14 November 2019: The top level of the famous Bayon temple will be closed from next work to facilitate restoration work by a Japanese team.
Bayon Temple, the striking centrepiece of ancient city Angkor Thom, will be undergoing extensive restoration beginning on January 1, 2020.
Thanks to funding from the Japanese Government team for Safeguarding Angkor (JSA), conservation of the the late 12th century temple’s structure, including its 54 Gothic towers carved with 216 smiling stone faces, will be painstakingly completed. The Apsara Authority has not announced an exact end date for the restoration work but it can take up to several years.
Those hoping to witness the spectacle of the temple’s iconic smiling faces up close will not be able to access the third and uppermost level during the planned work. However, visitors can continue to admire the impressive bas-reliefs of the temple’s two lower levels, which depict mythological and historical scenes. These intricate carvings, amounting to an epic 1.2km of storytelling, still make a visit to this magnificent temple a worthwhile addition to your itinerary of Angkor’s temples.
Source: Bayon Temple to Close for Renovations – Siemreap.net
