Banteay Srei, Kbal Spean And Beng Mealea Off Beaten Track

After we meet at Hotel we can proceed to the temple it might take an hour to get to Banteay Srei temple. Along the road, we will see many interesting activities, especially you will enjoy an interesting conversation with our tour guide. Banteay Srei Consecrated on 22 April 967 A.D. Bantãy Srĕi was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch; its construction is credited to the courtiers named Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha, Yajñavarāha, who served as a counselor to king Rajendravarman II, The foundational stela says that Yajnavaraha, grandson of king Harsavarman I, was a scholar and philanthropist who helped those who suffered from illness, injustice, or poverty. His pupil was the future king Jayavarman V (r. 968- ca. 1001). Originally, the temple was surrounded by a town called Īśvarapura. Banteay Srei is known for the intricacy of its carvings. This carving is of a Kala, a mythical creature representative of time and of the god Siva.

After we finished Banteay Srei we head straight to our next destination Kbal Spean. The carving of vestiges began with the reign of King Suryavarman I and ended with the reign of King Udayadityavarman II; these two kings ruled between the 11th and 12th centuries. The 1,000 lingas, but not other sculptures, are attributed to a minister of Suryavarman I during the 11th century, and these were carved by hermits who lived in the area. Inscriptions at the site testify to the fact that most of the sculpting was done during the reign of Udayadityavarman II. It is also mentioned that King Udayadityavarman II consecrated a golden ling here in 1059 AD. It is believed that the Siem Reap River flowing into Angkor is blessed by the sacred lingas over which it flows. The archaeological site was discovered in 1969 by Jean Boulbet, an ethnologist, but further exploration was cut off due to the Cambodian Civil War. The site regained prominence for safe visits from 1989.