Banteay Samre: A Well-Preserved, Tranquil Khmer Temple

Society

Banteay Samre: A Well-Preserved, Tranquil Khmer Temple

By Isa Rohany
October 15, 2023 8:30 PM

Siem Reap — Set slightly away from the main road in Angkor Archeological Park, Banteay Samre is one of those breathtaking sites that keep attracting visitors on a daily basis.

Aside from the ornamental features adorning its entrances, the temple is set in a serene decor surrounded by greenery next to the Eastern Mebon water reservoir that is now dried out.

Constructed during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the first part of the 12th century, it was built in a style similar to the temple of Angkor Wat and dedicated to Lord Vishnu although some features may date from a later period.

According to Long Nary, a stone conservation expert, mythical stories are remarkably detailed on the stones along the lintels and the pediments.

Surrounded by a square laterite enclosure with four gopuras, or entrances, the temple consists of sandstone walls, a 200-metre causeway with balustrades, a single ogival tower. The tower has porches and frontons opening to the cardinal points. And, reflecting changes through the history of Angkor, reliefs on the upper levels of this Hindu sanctuary depict Buddhist scenes in the central tower.

Banteay Samre is located around two kilometres from the village of Preah Dak, one of the villages in Angkor Park best known for its Cambodian dishes such as nom banh chok (rice noodles with thick fish soup) and nom akor (steamed palm toddy cake).

Tourist-agent group leader Sean Bandith, who is responsible for the area of the Banteay Samre temple and the nearby Bok mountain, said that the site gets between 100 to 200 visitors daily. “Some of them may visit this temple first before continuing to Banteay Srei or vice-versa,” he said. “There are two different kinds of visitors.

“Those led by a tour guide from the eastern entrance on a circuitous route, which provides chronologically a thorough summary of the temple's story,” Bandith said. “The other ones who come on their own, and often enter the temple through the north entrance.”

Even though the temple is overgrown with trees and a fair distance, the tranquil ambiance and the surroundings of the temple make this a peaceful setting for a person who is fond of reading outdoors or is looking for a quiet place to relax and let go of stress.