Banteay Srei, Cambodia – The Lady Temple

Banteay Srei is one of the most elaborate temples in Cambodia. Dedicated to Hindu god Shiva, this 10th-century Cambodian temple is famous for its beautiful pinkish sandstone and intricate three-dimensional wall carvings.

Banteay Srei – Citadel of the Women, The Lady Temple, Cambodia

What is Banteay Srei?

Banteay Srei is an ancient temple built in 967 and dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.
The temple is located about 29 km (18 miles) northeast of Angkor Wat and 26 km (16 miles) northeast of Angkor Thom.
The buildings and structures in Banteay Srei are quite miniature in size and style, especially when compared to the other temples in the Angkor area. Banteay Srei is one of the smallest sites at Angkor.
Banteay Srei is also called The Jewel of Khmer Art, The Pink Temple, and The Lady Temple.
Banteay Srei means “Citadel of the Women“. It is believed that the intricate carvings of Banteay Srei could’ve been done only by a woman.
The temple was built using the red sandstone that gives the temple its characteristic pinkish hue. That’s why Banteay Srei is sometimes called “The Pink Temple”.
The red sandstone is a construction material that can be carved like wood. Banteay Srei is famous for its intricate decorative wall carvings.

Banteay Srei, Cambodia

When was it built?

Banteay Srei was completed in 967. The construction of the temple is credited to Yajnavaraha, a royal physician and a counselor at the court of king Rajendravarman (the king of the Khmer Empire from 944 to 968) in Angkor, Cambodia.

Banteay Srei – Citadel of the Women – The Lady Temple, Cambodia

Who built it?

The construction of Banteay Srei was commissioned by Yajnavaraha, a royal physician and a counselor at the court of king Rajendravarman in Angkor, Cambodia. Usually, the construction of temples at Angkor was commissioned by kings or royalty, but this particular temple is credited to Yajnavaraha, a royal physician at the court of king Rajendravarman.

Banteay Srei – Citadel of the Women – The Lady Temple, Cambodia

When was it restored?

Banteay Srei was restored in the 1930s by EFEO (The École française d’Extrême-Orient) using the anastylosis method (a reconstruction technique that utilizes the original architectural elements and the original materials as much as feasible to restore a ruined structure).

Banteay Srei – Citadel of the Women – The Lady Temple, Cambodia

Where is it located?

The temple is located in the area of Angkor, that was the capital city of the Khmer Empire (the Angkor Empire), a Hindu-Buddhist Empire in Southeast Asia. The Khmer Empire existed from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
Banteay Srei is located 35 km (22 miles) from Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The temple is relatively close to the other famous temples in the area. Banteay Srei is 29 km (18 miles) north of Angkor Wat and 26 km (16 miles) northeast of Angkor Thom.