Tourism of Cambodia: Attraction

The citadel of the cells . In the ruin and confusion of Banteay Kdei the carvings take one's interest. They are piquant, exquisite, not too frequent... they seem meant.. to make adorable a human habitation.

Banteay Kdei is located south of Ta Prohm. A enter the monument from the west and leave at the west or vice versa, either way, also visit Srah Srang.

It was built in middle of the 12^th century to the beginning of the 13^th century by king Jayavarman II in Mahaya Buddhism with following at least two different art periods Angkor Wat and Bayon -are discernible at Banteay Kdei.

BACKGROUND
Banteay Kdei has not been restored and allows the visitor to experience what it may have looked like originally. Changes and additions account for is unbalanced layout. Banteay Kdei was built of soft sandstone and many of the galleries and porches have collapsed. The wall enclosing the temple was built of reused stones.

LAYOUT
The temple is built on the ground level use as a Buddhist monastery. The elements of the original design of Banteay Kdei seem to have been a Central Sanctuary (5), a surrounding gallery (6) and a passageway connected to another gallery. A moat enclosed the original features of the temple. Another enclosure and two libraries were among the additions in the Bayon period. The outer enclosure (700 by 500 meters 2,297 by 1,640feet) is made of laterite (1) and has four entry towers.
A rectangular courtyard to the east is known as 'the hall of the dancing girls', a name derived from the decoration which includes dancers (2)
The entry tower of the second enclosure (3) is in the shape of a cross with three passages; the two on either end are connected to the literate wall of the enclosure (4) 320 by 200 scrolls of figures and large female divinities in niches. In the interior court there is a frieze of Buddha.

A causeway of a later date, bordered with serpents, leads to the entry tower of the third enclosure. It comprises a laetrile wall (6) includes a gallery with a double row of sandstone pillars that open onto a courtyard. Tip Parts of this area have been walled in and passage is limited.
Vestiges of the wooden ceiling can still be seen in the central Sanctuary. The galleries and halls, which join it in a cross to the four entry towers, are probably additions. Two libraries (7) open to the west in the courtyards on the left and right of the causeway.

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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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