Banteay Srei Online

Banteay Srei is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km (15 miles) north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. 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 Banteay Srei buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian Construction. These factors have made the Banteay Srei temple extremely popular with tourists, and have led to its being widely praised as a “precious gem”, or the “jewel of Khmer art."

Banteay Srei, also known as the Citadel of the Women is an Angkorian temple near Siem Reap that is known for its elaborate carvings ornamenting its red sandstone walls. The tiny details are unique among the Angkor region's ancient temples and cause visitors to lean in over protective ropes to better see the intricate details of the stone.

Banteay Srei is Angkor's most beautiful temple, the "jewel of Khmer art". In a beautiful departure from Angkor's other structures, Banteay Srei is faced with finely-carved pink sandstone covered with beautifully detailed carvings; some of these illustrate scenes from the Hindu epics Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The name Banteay Srei, which translates to "Temple of the Women", may be attributed to the temple's relatively small scale and the fineness of the artwork.