Banteay Srei
Siem Reap, Cambodia, has
the world’s most attractive group of monuments widely known as Angkor Wat.
Though Angkor Wat is one big temple complex among many other big and small temples
yet the name has become synonymous with the whole of the group.
Some 32 km north-east of
the Angkor Wat is a forested hill called Phnom Dei. At the foot of the hill lies
a 10th century CE temple named Banteay Srei meaning Citadel of
Women. This is a small red sandstone temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The
beauty of this temple is that it is richly carved all over. Be it the ornate
doorways, beautifully designed and carved pillars, filigree work on the wall
panels, or richly carved out figures of gods, deities, and animals, all give a
feeling of 3-D sculpted work. There are depictions of the Epics and
incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Nowhere else in Cambodia
such intricacy is visible on the temples. It looks very much like the three-dimensional carvings of Belur and Halebidu temples. However, these marvels in
India came up two centuries later than the Cambodian gem.
They say that Banteay Srei
was commissioned by a Brahmin priest rather than by a king. It is also believed
that only women artisans were employed to do the stone carving. Perhaps a
reason enough to call it Citadel of Women.
It took me nearly two
hours to go through this mesmerizing piece of Khmer temple architecture.
There’s no separate entry ticket
to visit this temple. The fee is included in the pass for the Angkor Wat. I had
purchased a three-day pass and could barely run through. I have a strong desire
to be there once again.
Angkor beckons.
Great photos. Wonderful little temple. It impresses in many ways. We made a trip in 2017.
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