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An update from Evaneos
Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei (Cambodia)

Practical information about Banteay Srei

  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Unesco World Heritage
4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
35 km from Siam Reap by tuk-tuk
When to go
From November to April
Minimum stay
Half a day

Reviews of Banteay Srei

Emmanuelle Bluman Travel writer
163 travel articles

A little apart from the other temples, Banteay Srei is an architectural wonder and its decorations are some of the best preserved on the site, so don't miss seeing it during your visit to the temples of Angkor.

My suggestion:
Take your time visiting this temple and the others in the area with a 3 or 7 day pass.
Summary:

I used my 3 day pass to visit Banteay Srei. I had already spent two days in Angkor doing the big and little tours with my guide. It was easy to choose this temple for my last day as it was supposed to be one of the most beautiful and elegant of them all. And it was true. 

Banteay Srei is really well preserved and its beauty distinguishes it from the rest. The pink stone is very photogenic. At the entrance there are boards describing its history where I discovered that a famous French novelist, André Malraux, tried to steal from this treasure! Once I got over this story, I entered the temple and discovered the thousands of sculptures that you can still see. 

After this wonderful visit I had another one to the site of Kbal Spean, a beautiful archaeological site in the heart of the forest, where part of the river bed has been carved. 

The temple of Banteay Srei.
Virginie Bigeni Travel writer
49 travel articles

Banteay Srei is a Cambodian temple located in the vast territory occupied by the temples of Angkor. It is also known as the "Citadel of Women", and the fineness and delicacy of its decoration is quite extraordinary.

My suggestion:
Because it is not located on the usual kind of route tourists take when visiting the temples of Angkor, it will take a bit of time to get to, but the temple is definitely worth the trip. Be sure not to miss it. Once again, rise at dawn if you want to get the most out of the visit.
Summary:

This is definitely worth the trip to see. As this is a little off the usual tourist circuit, you'll encounter less tourists here ('less' doesn't mean 'none at all' however; but hey, what can you do?) and will therefore be able to fully enjoy the site and its considerable cultural and historical aspects. Banteay Srei is breathtaking in its delicate intricacy. Built in honour of women, every section of wall has been engraved; you'll especially be able to see and examine engravings in honour of Vishnu here. Additionally, the whole structure is very well preserved. And there's a reason for this: the temple was not discovered until 1924!

Though Banteay Srei's height is not likely to impress you especially, it is ideally located; remote, and surrounded by dense forest, it suddenly appears out of nowhere and its charm quickly begins to work its magic. This is definitely somewhere to see when visiting Cambodia!

Banteay Srei, also known as the Citadel of Women
Lorette Vinet Travel writer
61 travel articles

A temple which is outside the main Angkor Wat complex but which is included in the price. It makes for a pretty trip near Siem Reap.

My suggestion:
Be careful, if you visit it during the heat of the day there are fewer people but it is really hot. It's better to go at the beginning or end of the day.
Summary:

If you are going to go on holiday to Cambodia, you have to visit the temples at Angkor. Once you are at Siem Reap you can't not go to Banteay Srei.

Banteay Srei temple (which means "woman" in Cambodian) is dedicated to Shiva. It's built from red sandstone and the carvings are exceptionally fine. The temple is small but very well preserved. It's also called "citadel of women". It's said that because the carvings are so fine they must have been done by women.

You can get there in an hour by tuk-tuk. The visit is easily combined with the River of a Thousand Lingas at Kbal Spean. You can do it in a day if you take your time. Always bargain over the price of the tuk-tuk before you leave Siem Reap. If you are brave you can do it by bike too, although you won't get to the river as well. Along the road there are lots of wicker workers. They look at you like an you are an extra terrestrial but personally, I like this sort of slow culture.

The entrance to Banteay Srei temple