The Terrace of the Elephants, a favourite backdrop for pre-wedding photos
At Angkor Thom, the Terrace of the Elephants has become one of the favourite spots for Cambodian couples to shoot their engagement and pre-wedding photos. Each late afternoon, couples, make-up artists and photography teams gather there, with centuries-old temples as a backdrop.
A late-afternoon gathering
The scene repeats day after day. From late afternoon, engaged couples arrive at the site, accompanied by make-up artists and photographers. According to observations reported by the Agence Kampuchéa Presse (AKP), the Terrace of the Elephants now ranks among the most sought-after spots in the Kingdom for this kind of shoot.
Each team picks its angles and its light to bring out the landscape. Traditional Khmer dress, a Western wedding gown or a more contemporary outfit: the stone setting suits every style. The contrast between the figures and the ancient temples gives the pictures a vivid, striking quality.
A royal platform built by Jayavarman VII
The place is far from ordinary. About 350 metres long, the Terrace of the Elephants (Preah Lean Chol Domrei) lines the royal square of Angkor Thom, facing the former palace. It was built in the late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII, then enlarged in the 13th century under Jayavarman VIII.
The terrace served as a grandstand. From this platform, the sovereign watched military parades, processions and great ceremonies. Its name comes from the near-life-size war elephants carved along its walls, alongside garudas and lions. In 1296, the Chinese envoy Zhou Daguan described the royal processions that filed past such structures.
Jayavarman VII built the terrace as part of the rebuilding of Angkor Thom, after the Cham sacked the capital in 1177. It is the same king celebrated by the ballet “The Coronation of Jayavarman VII”, staged this month in Phnom Penh.
Since 2024, no permit needed
The trend also owes something to a change in the rules. In August 2024, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that pre-wedding photos and personal content for social media no longer require permission from the APSARA National Authority. Commercial shoots, film productions and drone use, on the other hand, still require a permit and a fee.
The Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, is managed by APSARA. It covers about 400 square kilometres and holds more than 90 temples, built between the 9th and 13th centuries.
A site to be respected
The new freedom comes with a code of conduct. Visitors are asked to dress appropriately, to avoid provocative images and to respect the cultural and sacred value of the site. On that point, the rules have not changed.
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