2 April 2010

Banteay Srei: A Tiny and Terrific Temple

It has been more than a few years since we visited Banteay Srei but this tenth century Cambodian temple still sticks in the mind. Built in honour of the Hindu god Shiva, Banteay Srei is, or at least was, a bumpy and dusty 25 kilometre drive from the more famous cluster of temples of Angkor.

What makes this temple special is that it is was built using a very tiny scale; everything is so much smaller than the other Angkor sites. Banteay Srei is built predominantly of red sandstone and this allowed for the stunning carvings that are a feature of the temple.

When we visited ten years ago it was quiet and mostly bereft of tourists. Not so now, as hordes of visitors to Cambodia have caught on to this little treasure.

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