Banteay Srei Temple
Thirty-two kilometres north of Siem Reap, Banteay Srei is the temple that makes seasoned Angkor visitors stop and stare. Carved from rose-pink sandstone in the 10th century, its intricate decorative work is so fine and so perfectly preserved that early French scholars refused to believe it was ancient — it looks freshly sculpted.
The Jewel of Khmer Art
Banteay Srei — 'Citadel of the Women' — is a 10th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, built during the reign of King Rajendravarman II and completed under Jayavarman V. It is far smaller than Angkor Wat but widely regarded as the finest example of classical Khmer decorative carving anywhere in the world.
The pink sandstone is harder than the grey sandstone used at most Angkor temples, which is precisely why the carvings have survived in such extraordinary condition. Every pediment, lintel, and pilaster is covered in layered mythological scenes — dancing apsaras, multi-armed deities, and foliage so delicate it seems impossible in stone.
Timing & the Light
The temple faces east, so early morning light turns the sandstone a luminous rose-gold — one of the most photogenic moments in all of Angkor. Late afternoon is also excellent: warm side-light reveals textures you might miss at midday, and tour buses have usually headed back to town, leaving the site noticeably quieter.
Pair the visit with nearby Kbal Spean (the 'River of a Thousand Lingas', a riverbed carved with Hindu imagery deep in the forest) for a full day in the northern Angkor countryside that most visitors completely miss.
Getting There
The temple sits about 32 km north of Siem Reap; by tuk-tuk the journey takes around an hour along scenic rural roads, and a car is slightly faster. Banteay Srei is covered by the standard Angkor Pass — no separate ticket required — but note that Phnom Kulen and Beng Mealea are exceptions and require their own tickets.
Banteay Srei Temple on video
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