|
"Bantãy Srĕi" (Citadel of Women) is the modern name of a 10th-century Khmer temple originally called "Tribhuvanamaheśvara" (Great Lord of the Threefold World).
Located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia. It lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km (16 mi) north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom,and 45 km north east of Siem Reap. I used a guide and car to go there, as well as to Kueln mountain and other nearby temples.
Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. These factors have made the temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a "precious gem", or the "jewel of Khmer art.
Unfortunately when clearing the jungle by fire in restoring the temple, parts were burnt and therefore are blackened, visible in my photos.
|