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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 clearance. 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.
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
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'.
Source: Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia |
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