Banteay Kdei (meaning Citadel of the Cells) is thought to have been constructed originally by Rajendravaran in the mid 10th century. In many respects you can draw parallels between this temple and Ta Prohm, although as the complex had remained in continual use right up until the 1960s, so it hasn’t got that that same feeling of the jungle swallowing up the site.
The complex has however seen it’s fair share of disturbances. It’s believed that low quality stone and some poor building techniques have contributed it the largely ruinous state that you now see today. As such it’s a fun place to explore for a while picking your route around the fallen masonry.
Many of the walls are intricately carved, the “Hall of the Dancing Girls” is definitely worth seeking out in particular.
I visited Banteay Kdei immediately after Ta Prohm, which was probably a mistake. After visiting the former temple anything following that was going to struggle to get my attention.
That being said it is worth a visit in it’s own right, just perhaps not in the order I did it. When your days are packed with temple visits it’s all too easy to become “templed out”, so careful planning beforehand can hopefully avoid too much of that.
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Categories: Banteay Kdei, Cambodia, Temples of Angkor
Kevin Standage 