Banteay Samre
Banteay Samré, which literally means "the Citadel of the Samrés," is located about 500 meters east of the Eastern Baray, approximately 18 kilometers from Siem Reap. It is one of the Hindu mountain temples of the Angkor archaeological site. Less visited than other Angkorian temples, this site highlights and presents Khmer culture and architecture in a calm and peaceful environment.
History
The construction of Banteay Samré Temple began in the 12th century by Suryavarman II and was completed by Yasovarman II. Since its creation, this temple has been dedicated to Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities.
The temple's name refers to the mountain peoples called the Samrés. According to history, this ancient Indochinese ethnic tribe once inhabited the region between Tonlé Sap and Phnom Kulen.
The temple was reconstructed from 1936 to 1944 by Maurice Glaize, a member of the École Française de l’Extrême-Orient (EFEO). Based on a pile of stones rediscovered in 1930, he used the anastylosis method to reconstruct the various ruined structures.
Visiting Banteay Samré Temple
Banteay Samré Temple is a fortified institution. Its area is surrounded by two large concentric walls, each 6 meters high, containing two inner enclosures. Covering 6,000 m² and 1,800 m² respectively, these two areas house a central temple, four gopuras, a hall, and two libraries.
Very well-preserved, the architectural decoration of Banteay Samré offers visitors the chance to admire richly detailed Hindu sculptures. The pediments and lintels of the temple feature highly intricate and detailed scenes from Hindu mythology.
On each side of the second enclosure, visitors can find four entrance gates or gopuras. The lintels and pediments here contain sculptures depicting well-detailed scenes. These artworks serve as an open book, telling the story of the Ramayana epic and another mythological scene involving Vishnu, Garuda, Krishna, Indra, Rama, and Ravana.
Banteay Samré is one of the finest representations of Khmer architecture. The temple is designed in a style identical to that of Angkor Wat. The towers, balustrades, and gopuras are finely constructed in the image of those found in this famous Angkorian temple.
Rising to over 20 meters in height, the central tower remains the best-constructed feature of the temple. Its architecture was meticulously designed by its architects. It includes separate buildings and antechambers known as antarala and mandapa.
Previously used as a stone tomb, the mandapa is a cross-shaped hall. During your visit, you can still find sarcophagi there. Measuring 2.5 meters wide and 7 meters long, this sandstone building has two lateral doors. Through the descending stairs, the doors open to the inner courtyard. With these two doors, the main entrance of the mandapa is framed on all four sides by columns or pillars. To reach the main tower, you must cross a 200-meter-long paved latrine bridge. On each side, a transparent pool creates a serene atmosphere. From the balustrade, adorned with 0.95-meter-high naga sculptures, you can even glimpse its depth.
On either side of the bridge, four staircases lead to a large cross-shaped terrace, hence its name "cruciform terrace." This large area measures 23 meters wide and 25 meters long. Raised about 1 meter, the terrace is accessed by a central staircase framed by statues of seated lions.
How to get there
From the city of Siem Reap, the Banteay Samré temple is accessible by tuk-tuk or rental bicycle. Generally, it takes about 2 hours to reach the temple using these modes of transport.
Hours
The Banteay Samré temple is open daily from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
