Banteay Srei temple - Siem Reap - Things To Do Reviews

The majority of the ancient ruins around Siem Reap (commonly known as Angkor Wat, although that name actually refers to just one specific temple - the largest one) are impressive mostly because of their massive size and the sheer volume of temples within the complex. The temple of Banteay Srei has a different appeal than most of the other temples/ruins, but it was one of the more interesting to visit.

In comparison with Angkor Wat, the Bayon, and many of the other Angkor temples, it's tiny in size: the tallest of the middle towers is maybe 10 meters, and you can walk around the perimeter in 5 minutes. What makes the temple interesting in comparison with the others is the tremendous amount of intricate decorative carvings covering the surfaces of many of the building walls. There are floral designs, miniature buddhas, and demon heads everywhere, and most of them so well preserved that they could have been carved into the pink sandstone yesterday, not a millenium ago. 5 or 6 buildings in the central section are still pretty much intact, but unfortunately this area is now roped off. However, you can still get close enough to admire the architecture and carvings from a few meters away.

At about 30km NE of the main temple area, it's not so convenenient to get to, but the ride through the countryside offers a good glimpse of life in rural Cambodia, passing through rice paddies, tiny villages with dogs, cows and naked toddlers all wandering freely.

A ride on a motorbike from Siem Reap to the temple should cost $8-10, and a tuk-tuk should cost $12-15 (depending on your bargaining skills and how desperate for work your would-be driver is).

Apart from the general entry pass, no additional ticket is required.