Tourism of Cambodia: Attraction

BANTEAY SREI
"The Citadel of the women"
The tenth century temple of Banteay Srei is renowned for its intricate decoration carved in pinkish sandstone that covers the walls like tapestry. This site warrants as much time as your schedule allows. The roads have been recently repaired and it takes about 30 minutes from Siem Reap to get to the temple. To reach Banteay Srei, follow the main road north out of Siem Reap, turn right at Angkor Wat and follow the road to Srah Srang where you turn right past Preah Rup. At the East Mebon there is a check post where you need to obtain clearnce. Turn right again at the road before the East Mebon; pass through the village of Phoum Pradak, where there is a junctions (if you continue straight, after about 5 minutes, you will reach Banteay Samre). At this point, you come to a fork; take the road on the left and follow it to Batneay Srei which you will reach shortly after crossing two rivers - on your left hand side.

Banteay Srei is an exquisite miniature; a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest; the very thing that Grimm delighted to imagine, and that every child's heart has yearned after, but which mature years has sadly proved too lovely to be true. And here it is, in the Cambodian forest at Banteay Srei, carved not out of the stuff that dreams are made of, but of solid sandstone.

Carving at Banteay Srei

Location: 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) north-east of East Mebon
Access: enter and leave the temple by the east entrance
Date: second half of the 10th century (967)
King: Rajendravarman II (reigned 944-968) and Jayavarman V (reigned 968-1001)
Religion: Hindu (dedicated to Shiva)
Art style: Banteay Srei

Women carving

BACKGROUND
The enchanting temple of Banteay Srei is nearly everyone's favorite site. The special charm of this temple lies in its remarkable state of preservation, small size and excellence of decoration.

The unanimous opinion amongst French archaeologists who worked at Angkor is that Banteay Srei is a 'precious gem' and a 'jewel in Khmer art'. Banteay Srei, as it is known by locals, was originally called Isvarapura, according to inscriptions. It was by a Brahmin of royal descent who was spiritual teacher to Jayavarman V. Some describe it a s being closer in architecture and decoration to Indian models than any other temple at Angkor. A special feature of the exquisite decoration was the use of a hard pink sandstone (quartz arenite) where enabled the 'technique of sandalwood carving with even an Indian scent to it'.

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THE ANGKOR ARCHEOLOGICAL COMPLEX LIST

Ak Yum	Krol Ko	Preah Palilay
Angkor Thom	Krol Romeas	Preah Pithu Group
Angkor Wat	Kutisvara	Roluos Group
Bakong	Lolei	Spean Thma
Baksei Chamkrong	Neak Pean	Srah Srang
Banteay Kdei	Phimeanakas	Ta Keo
Banteay Prei	Phnom Bakheng	Ta Nei
Banteay Samre	Phnom Krom	Ta Prohm
Banteay Srey	Phnom Kulen	Ta Prohm Kel
Baphuon	Prasat Bei	Ta Som
Bat Chum	Prasat Kravan	Tep Pranam
Bayon	Prasat Prei	Terrace of the Elephants
Beng Melea	Prasat Suor Prat	Terrace of the Leper King
Chapel of the Hospital	Prasat Top (East)	Thma Bay Kaek
Chau Say Tevoda	Prasat Top (West)	Thommanon
East Mebon	Pre Rup	Wat Athvea
Kbal Spean	Preah Khan	West Baray
Kleangs (North and South)	Preah Ko	West Mebon

National Museum

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