Photos of Terrace of the Elephants

The War Elephant Step, also known as the Dou Elephant Terrace, is located in the city of Tongwang. The War Elephant Step has three platforms, about 350 meters long and 2-3 meters high. The long base is carved with many lifelike elephant heads and long trunks. You can go north after visiting the Bayon Temple in the center of Tongwang City, and it is not far from the War Elephant Steps. If you enter Tongwangcheng from Victory Gate, you can reach it by walking straight. The southern stairs are pillared with three elephants, supporting the elephant's head and platform, and the trunk of the elephant is rolled with lotus flowers. On the surrounding walls, there are many statues of Hindu gods, god lions, god birds, rhinos, hippos and other animals, which are lifelike, and you can also see reliefs about hunting scenes. Some of the carvings are still complete to this day, which shows the exquisite artistic attainments of the time. During the Angkor period, a grand elephant-fighting conference was held here every year. Only the elephants who won the big battles could become the king's mounts, and these giant elephant stone statues seemed to tell you the story of the tragic elephant-fighting. Alternatively, you may wish to step onto the platform, facing the open space ahead, and imagine the grand occasion when the king wearing the golden crown reviewed the infantry, cavalry, carriages and war elephants lined up across the central square. If you happen to be here at dusk and walk on it, it will be desolate, and you can't help but be filled with emotion. On the War Elephant Platform, you can also see the opposite Zodiac Pagoda. It is said that it used to be the place where prisoners were imprisoned and tried. You can stop by and take a look.