Cambodia: Young Khmer girl in front of an Apsara (Celestial Nymph), Wat Nokor Bayon, Banteay Prey Nokor, Kompong Cham

The 11th century CE temple of Wat Nokor Bayon at Kompong Cham was originally a Mahayana Buddhist shrine. It was rededicated to Theravada Buddhism, Cambodia’s major religious tradition, at some time in the 15th century. The venerable sandstone and laterite structures of the ancient temple blend well with an active modern temple, ochre-robed monks and the sound of chanting, creating a fascinating mix of the contemporary and the archaic. There are several ancient Buddha images, and one large, more modern reclining Buddha.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia