I got back down from to the first level of Angkor Wat Central Temple to explore the bas reliefs covering most of the wall’s exterior. 600 meters of the surrounding wall is covered with 2 meters high bas reliefs. In addition, the interiors of south-west and north-west corner pavilions are also covered in bas reliefs. South-east and north-east corner pavilions were left uncarved as the construction of Angkor Wat was halted after death of god-king Suryavarman II.
Since there is no artificial lighting anywhere in Angkor Wat, as a photographer you are left with available light. When it comes to bas reliefs, the light comes in from the opposite side of the walkway which contains pillars supporting the upper floor. Because of that you are gonna end up with inconsistently illuminated photographs. It gets even worse with vertical light. Two meters high bas reliefs are much darker on top, near the ceiling than they are towards the bottom. Yet they are visually spectacular and a sight to behold. It is my understanding that these bas reliefs are considered the pinnacle of Angkorian-era artform.
The most famous and most important bas relief and their locations are listed below:
- Battle of Kurukshetra – along the south wing of the west gallery and the interior of the south-west corner pavillion
- Procession of Suryavarman II – along the west wing of the south gallery
- Judgement of Yama and Heaven and Hell – along the east wing of the south gallery
- Churning of the Sea of Milk – along the south wing of the east gallery
- Battle of Lanka – along the north wing of the west gallery and the interior of the north-west pavillion
Other bas-reliefs on the walls and their locations are:
- Battle of Devas and Asuras – along the west wing of the north gallery
- Victory of Krishna over Bana – along the east wing of the north gallery
- Victory of Vishnu over the Asuras – along the north wing of the east gallery
Interior of the south-west corner pavilion contains following bas reliefs:
- Churning of the Sea of Milk
- Shiva and the Hermits
- Life of Krishna
- Ravana shakes M. Kailasa
- Shiva kills Kama
- Rama kills Valin
- Shiva in Meditation
- Vishnu receives offerings
- Water festival at Dvaravati
- Lifting Mt Govardhana
- Rama chases the golden deer Maricha
Interior of the north-west corner pavilion contains following bas reliefs:
- Sita’s trial by fire
- Rama’s return to Ayodhya
- Rama, Lakshmana and Vibhisana
- Hanuman gives Sita Rama’s ring
- Rama and Lakshmana battle Kabandha
- Rama wins Sita in an archery competition
- Krishna brings back Mt. Mahaparvata
- Rama and Lakshmana form alliance with Sugriva
- Vishnu reclining is petitions by gods
- Rama and Lakshmana slay Viradha