Visit Elephant Terrace & Terrace of the Leper King, Angkor Thom

Tour notes

The Elephant Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King form a 500m long platform across the east side of the Royal Palace in Angkor Thom. You can reach the Elephant terrace in front of the remains of the Royal Palace. You can start you visit at the sourthern stairs of the Elephant Terrace where you can find the beautifully carved three headed elephants from which the structure takes its name. Walk torwards the norther part of the terrace stopping by at the central stairways to view the carved lions and garudas that support the stairways. At this point, you can walk back to the main road to take photographs of the front facade portraying the elephants and their riders.

At the northern part of the terrace, carved in the inner part of the wall, a five headed horse awaits your arrival. This sculpture is a very well worked carving in which the horse seems to come to live. Keep walking in the north direction to reach the Terrace of the Leper King. This platform is 25 meters wide on each side and 6 meters high. the bass reliefs with which the base has been ornated represent mythical creatures in the outer wall. The inner wall's carvings have similar themes but are in better condition. Walk along the corridor to have the best view of the bas-reliefs.