The sight is located within Angkor. To prepare for your visit, read the AsiaExplorers Angkor Travel Guide for useful information. Visitors to Angkor stay at the town of Siem Reap. If you are looking for budget accommodation in Siem Reap, use the Cambodia Budget Accommodation Guide to find a place to stay.
Built in the middle of the 12th Century to beginning 13th Century
by King Jayavarman VII (reigned 1181-1220)
Banteay Kdei means
"Citadel of the Cells"
Banteay Kdei is an ancient Angkor ruin located on the western shore of the man-made reservoir, Srah Srang. It was built as a Buddhist monastic complex by Jayavarman VII, the prolific ruler who constructed much of Angkor's temples. By the time Banteay Kdei was built, much of the good quality stones have been exhausted. Hence it was built mostly using low quality sandstone. Due to the poor quality of the material used, much of Banteay Kdei is today crumbling. And to make matters worse, the craftsmanship was also poor. I have to say that Jayavarman VII was big on quantity but not on quality.
Khmer children inside the ruins of Banteay Kdei.
Banteay Kdei is similar in style to Ta Prohm just a stone's throw away down the road. It is slightly smaller, less ornate (at least, judging from what remains to be seen) and less overtaken by nature. (Here, I have to mention that Ta Prohm appears overtaken by nature because the restorers deliberately kept it that way.) Typically visitors begin their tour of Banteay Kdei at the East Gopura near Srah Srang, and walk from east to west, across the compound, through the ruins, and out again, through to the gopura on the other side. That was how I did as well, on my visits to Banteay Kdei.
The stone faces on the East Gopura of Banteay Kdei - a signature of Jayavarman VII architectural style.
Ever thought how it looks like to look upwards inside the gopura? This is it, with a bit of flare from the morning sun.
Apsaras carved on the wall of the gopura.
Souvenir stalls at Banteay Kdei.
The naga causeway leads to the Hall of Dancers, Banteay Kdei.
Buddha image in the Hall of Dancers, Banteay Kdei.
The section of Banteay Kdei between the 3rd and 2nd Enclosures.
Gopuras of the central sanctuary, Banteay Kdei.
A broken Buddha image, with the ever-present donation box.
Ruins towards the end of the 2nd Enclosure, Banteay Kdei.
Western causeway of Banteay Kdei.
The West Gopura of Banteay Kdei.
How to go to Banteay Kdei
Most tuk tuk driver will be familiar with Banteay Kdei, but if you're travelling independently from Siem Reap, the most straightforward way to reach Banteay Kdei is to take the road from Siem Reap to Angkor Wat. When you see the moat of Angkor Wat, turn right (not left, turning left takes you to Angkor Thom). After a short distance, you will pass Prasat Kravan on your right. After another distance you will see the man-made reservoir of Srah Srang on your right and Banteay Kdei on your left. Contact my tuk tuk driver Mr Han (see contact below) to see if he is available to take you there.
Angkor, Unesco World Heritage Site
AsiaExplorers provides you one of the most detailed documentation on Angkor, Unesco World Heritage Site, for you to explore from the comfort of your desktop.
Siem Reap Travel Guide
If you are visiting Angkor, it's almost definite that you will be staying in a hotel or guesthouse in Siem Reap. You will probably also need to hire a tuk tuk to take you around. Click the thumbnail on the left to view vital details to make your stay in Siem Reap more pleasant.
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