Banteay Srei

In the town of Siem Reap, which is located in Cambodia, there is an ensemble of temples called Banteaysrey or Bantiei Srei, which literally means "Citadel of a Woman." This ensemble was built in honor of the Hindu god Shiva, during the reign of Rajendravarman II back in 967. But Banteaysrey gained fame around the 1930s, after Andre Malraux tried to steal the local statues.

This building complies with all the laws of Hindu architecture, as indicated by the collection of Prasats that are built on the site. Red sandstone was used for the construction of the Banteaysrey. This type of stone gives the temple an unusual beauty, it is perfectly amenable to processing, which was used by ancient architects. The carvings on this stone have been preserved to our times, thanks to which this ensemble bears the proud title of "the pearl of Khmer art." The second name of this temple sounds like a "Women's fortress", and this is not for nothing, because its miniature size, as well as magnificent bas-reliefs that successfully embellish the walls, resemble feminine care.This temple was restored from 1931 to 1936, using the Henri Marchale method. When examined by scientists, an inscription was deciphered on the stele, which had the following meaning: Yajnavaraha (the court adviser of the monk who built this temple), was a scientist who actively helped the poor, the sick, and the suffering.

But, despite all the beauty of the temple, Banteaysrey is not the most popular in Cambodia, and there is a logical explanation for this. The thing is that the distance from Angkor to Banteaysrey is not small, and the road that leads to the temple goes through the jungle. But anyone who decides on such a journey does not regret it a bit. This oriental temple, with its darkened walls and magnificent carvings on the columns, is simply mesmerizing. The statues located on this territory, despite their thousand-year age, seem to be simply alive.

Banteaysay seems especially beautiful at sunset. It is when the sun's rays illuminate the temple that the red sandstone is so transformed that it simply radiates fiery heat. After visiting Banteaysrey, Angkor will open up to you from a completely different side. You can taste the temple any day after traveling 35 km. north of the city of Siem Reap.