Phnom Bakeng is the first temple built on the site of Angkor itself towards 900.

Yaśovarman {{Ier}} gave up Rolûos to install its new capital ( Yaśodharapura ) close to the hill ( phnom ) on which was high Phom Bakeng to honor Śiva simultaneously and the king-god. This one is the prototype of the temple-mountains Khmer, pyramid on 5 punctuated floors of 109 turns including 5 of size imposing which represents the Mont Meru, stay of Indra, the king of the gods, and four tops surrounding. The temple was then the center of a city delimited by a ground slope of carée form and 4 side km.

The construction of the temple probably started at the end of the 9th century (after the advent of Yaśovarman 1st in 889). The hill was arrasée and a ditch external with the foot of the hill was dug. Four will gopuras allowed to penetrate on the site and four monumental staircases left there to climb the hill. The staircases are laid out with the usual way of the Hindu temples, according to the orientation of the cardinal points. The divinities of the temple were devoted into 907 and the name of Yaśodhareśvara (“the Lord of That which carries glory”) was given to him; the temple lost its statute of temple of State into 928 and was again re-used for a short period into 968.

Near this temple was established the Eastern Bārāy ( Yaśodharatatāka ) to control the irrigation necessary to the provisioning of the city.

Only the steps remain today with some remainders of the sanctuary which crowned it. Phnom Bakeng accommodates many tourists to the setting sun because one can then see there the western frontage of Angkor Vat flooded of sun.