Banteay Srei (also spelled Banteay Srey)

Finely preserved carvings on Banteay Srei (Banteay Srey)

Banteay Srei (Banteay Srey)which means the “Citadel of the Women” is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu, and was constructed during the reign of Rajendravarman II in 967 AD by Yajnavaraha, a Brahmin priest of the court and a grandson of King Harshavarman II; however this temple was finished by Jayarvarman V, his son.

The temple looks pink and yellow as if painted but in fact it’s the natural color of the hard pink and yellow sandstones used for construction. The temple was only discovered relatively lately due to its separation from the major Siem Reap complex. Most of the temples were rediscovered in middle of 19th century, but this one only in 1914. Ten years after the discovery this temple was restored by a French man who learned his restoration skills in Borubudor in Indonesia.

Bantey Srey is laid out in a square, enclosed by three laterite walls. Along the main 70 meters causeway, running east to west, are pillared galleries and hallways leading through enclosures via gateways to the central sanctuary which is surrounded by a moat of water. The sanctuary is composed of three towers on a lower platform. The central shrine is just 8 meters high, perfectly proportioned and still richly decorated. On either side, to the North and South are two free-standing structures that have traditionally been called “libraries”. Quite aside from the associated mythologies the overall architecture and quality of carvings of this temple are really amazing, showing the real masterpiece and workmanship of the classical Khmer craftsmen over a thousand years ago.