Banteay Kdei

Constructed : Late 12th/Early 13th century
Religion : Mahayana Buddhism
Style : Bayon
King : Jayavarman VII ★ 1181 - 1218 ★
Location : At the place where meet the small
and the large circuit, opposite Srah Srang.

Comments : Banteay Kdei is a perfect example of all that one regrets in Angkor: a temple which was to be splendid but which suffers from the large basic manufacturing defects. The Khmers, by building certain temples are advantages troubled about decoration and details that structure it, sometimes making large errors of design. Use of bad materials, bases badly consolidated, weak points in constructions in particular by aligning certain stone etc.

Moreover, Banteay Kdei, as some other temples of Angkor was built in several times and the style of Angkor Wat keep close to that of Bayon in a very debatable manner. Lastly, work of restoration leaves a splendid entry to the East but was abandoned on most of the temple which threatens to collapse with many places when it is not already done.

It systems of galleries and vestibules that were added after the construction of the main towers makes it look like a cloister. It was built in sandstone, which has deteriorated quite badly. However, there remain some very beautiful lintels and pediments.

Temple Detail : The tower gate of the Bayon style where the human surface is attached to four side is small unexpectedly. Left and right of the tower gate are connected to the peripheral wall of the laterite. Passing by the tower gate, when it keeps walking through the quiet forest for a while, the next tower gate is visible. It has become the wide terrace where this with the east tower gate of the third lap wall, foreward the that is a rail of temple. The statue of Buddha is enshrined in the front of the tower Moai section.

When it passes the east tower gate, the passage which has the rail of temple on both sides is followed to the building which is called "hole of gopura". As for "hole of gopura" the roof falls, just the pillar has lined up, but the name probably is attached from the place where the relief is cut in the pillar.
The tip of "hole of gopura" is the east tower gate of the second lap wall. The second lap wall (has become in the corridor) inside to be a corridor which hits against the lap wall, on the center there is a central hall.

Passing by the central hall, when it keeps advancing to west, passing the west tower gate of the second lap wall, it reaches to the west tower gate of the third lap wall which has the cruciform terrace. When from here furthermore it keeps walking on west, the peripheral wall east tower gate is visible.

Bantey Kdei has become the constitution where the various buildings line up into the straight line in east western direction. It should have kept walking from the east tower gate of the peripheral wall to the west tower gate, facing intently toward west, (or the reverse course is traced). Inside of the peripheral wall atmosphere is good with the quiet forest. Inside the ruins the places where collapse was exposed dangerously are not few.

At this ruins Sophia university Angkor ruins international investigation committee has done investigation continuously. In 2001 there is on a north east of the third lap wall east tower gate, from the small Domae earth, the stone pillar where the statue of Buddha and thousand body France where the part of the neck of the total 274 bodies is separated are cut was discovered.