Terrace of the Leper King

The Terrace of the Leper King is a 7-meter tall royal terrace located at the northern end of the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor Thom. Built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, it takes its name from a statue found atop the platform, which was long believed to represent a leprous king. The statue is now thought to depict Yama, the god of death, or possibly Kubera, god of wealth. What makes this terrace exceptional is the hidden inner terrace wall discovered during restoration, covered in five tiers of meticulously carved figures including nagas, garudas, celestial dancers, and sea monsters, preserved in remarkable detail behind the outer wall for over eight centuries before modern excavation.