BANTEAY SREI - THE TEMPLE OF WOMEN

Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a 10th-century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Amazing with the three towers of Vishnu, Shiva n Brahma, Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today, known as Women temple in Khmer. It is quite different from other temples in Angkor Area. This temple is out in the countryside about an hour by tuk-tuk from Siem Reap, but I highly recommend making the extra effort to go out and see it. Bantãy Srĕi was the only major temple at Angkor not built by a monarch; its construction is credited to the courtiers named Vishnukumara and Yajnavaraha who served as a counselor to king Rajendravarman II The foundational stela says that Yajnavaraha, grandson of king Harsavarman I, was a scholar and philanthropist who helped those who suffered from illness, injustice, or poverty. His pupil was the future king Jayavarman V. Originally, the temple was surrounded by a town called Īśvarapura.

THE ELEPHANTS AND LIONS OF THE EAST MEBON TEMPLE

East Mebon is a temple dedicated to Shiva, here you can find a number of elephant statues that adorned the lower levels of the terrace. A bit of climbing needed to get to the highest level.
This temple precedes the Pre Rup temple which has a very similar architecture and was built during the reign of same king ( Rajendra Varman II in 952AD). The art style of East Mebon is also known as Pre Rup style. This temple is built using Khmer materials namely sandstones, bricks, laterite and stucco. The Stairways are guarded by Lions and there are monolothic elephants in each corner of first and second tiers.
Climb to the top plaza and pay attention to the window openings and lintels. Where they have separated or fallen you will see how the stone windows are fashioned with tongues that fit into mating grooves and lintels have holes that match their posts.

THE RUINS OF BANTEAY KDEI

Banteay Kdei meaning "A Citadel of Chambers", also known as "Citadel of Monks'.
Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries AD during the reign of Jayavarman VII. The Khmer Empire lasted from 802 to 1431, initially under Hindu religious beliefs up to the end of the 12th century and later under Buddhist religious practices. It was a time when temples of grandeur came to be built and reached a crescendo during the reign of Suryavarman II until 1191, and later in the 12th–13th centuries, under Jayavarman VII. Many Buddhist temples were built, including the Banteay Kdei, from middle of the 12th century to early 13th century. Bayon's Lokesvara face, multiple Gopuras, amazing carvings and Blend of Nature - gigantic silk cotton trees. As we go into one madapam or block, it goes into another and so on - coming from east to west seem to be a long walk. One has to appreciate the kings who loved the arts and God, creating these wonderful temples. This Buddhist monastic complex is currently dilapidated due to faulty construction and poor quality of sandstone used in its buildings, and is now undergoing renovation. Banteay Kdei had been occupied by monks at various intervals over the centuries until the 1960s

NEAK PEAN:THE TEMPLE IN THE WATER

Neak Pean is a small artificial circular island dominated in the middle by a Buddhist temple. It is designed under Khmer architecture. (probably a replica of Lake Anavatapta, a legendary Himalayan lake). It is accessed by a wooden bridge of 800m through Jayatataka Baray (the mangrove of Preah Khan Temple). Through its architecture and five pools, this site exudes a serene atmosphere. In this atmosphere, it is very pleasant to admire how Buddhism and Hinduism combine harmoniously. Built by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, Neak Pean Temple was dedicated to the Buddhist religion. He was thus dedicated to Lokeshvara, a bodhisattva of compassion. However, according to Hindu believers, the layout of each basin was laid out according to an ancient Hindu belief. The four basins thus represented water, earth, fire and wind. By simply bathing, they believed that the waters had a medicinal virtue could thus fix their problems. As a result, the temple was, from its construction, considered a public hospital. Longtime, invaded by the jungle, the temple of Neak Pean was found in 1920 To see: the gargoyles .
One shaped like an elephant's head to the north, a horse to the west, a lion to the south and a man to the east. According to the Hindu belief on which its layout is based, the elephant head symbolizes water, the horse head represents the wind, the lion head evokes fire and the human head reflects the earth.  Elephant, House, Lion, and human head is each made like fountain spitting water through an opening, curing various kinds of sickness. Back in time, people came to this hospital, first got "washed" on by water to "detect" the kind of sickness one may have, then one would follow instructions on using different fountains to get treatments. The function of the hospital was to provide spiritual cure to sick ones, different from the functions of modern hospital.
Located about 2.5 km east of Preah Khan, an interesting site for a walk through the mangrove.

BUDDHA, SHIVA AND VISHNU AT THE PREAH KHAN TEMPLE

Preah Khan temple or sacred sword is one of the most beautiful temples at complex which you can see all natural views with fine carvings, big walls within arts. Even larger than Ta Prohm, this large temple maintained the same raw unrestored feel as its more famous counterpart (both built by Jayavarman VII). King Jayavarman VII built this temple in memory of his father in 12th Century, Prea Khan is supposed to have been built in the site where the King defeated the Chams ( Vietnamese Kingdom). There are four Concentric ramparts. The central Complex is budhist, the northern part of the temple is dedicated to Shiva and Western part is dedicated to Vishnu, Beautiful carvings lurked, and there were a lot of interesting features. The entrance on one of the sides with statues is great as well is the room with sunlight coming in from the top. Have your driver drop you off on the east side and pick you up on the west side because it’s quite a walk or vice versa.

NATURE ON TA PROHM TEMPLE

The trees at Ta Prohm intertwine the roots and branches with the stones of temples built 1000 years ago. This majestic temple swallowed up by wild nature, the strangler ficus are taking possession of the ruins day after day, incorporating the sacred walls with their trunk. Ta Prohm was built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara ("monastery of the king"), it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Jayavarman VII constructed Rajavihara in honour of his family. The temple's main image, representing Prajnaparamita, the personification of wisdom, was modelled on the king's mother. The northern and southern satellite temples in the third enclosure were dedicated to the king's guru, Jayamangalartha, and his elder brother respectively. Ta Prohm is also famous because was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.

THE FACES OF BAYON TEMPLE

Bayon temple is considered one of the "big three" sites that every visitor to Angkor should see - the other two being Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm. Bayon was constructed by one of great Khmer Empire King named Jayavaraman 7 at the end of 12th century, and it was dedicated to Buddha. Originally was called “Jayagiri” (which means “Victory Mountain”) but was renamed “Banyan Temple” sometime after the period of French occupancy it was later named Banyan Temple due to its religious significance and Buddhist imagery (the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment under the Banyan tree). When the local Khmer came to work at renovating Banyan Temple, there was a mispronunciation in Banyan, which was pronounced Bayon. The name then stuck.
 In addition to the multitude of giant stone faces smiling down at you from every direction, the site also includes an impressive array of well-preserved bas-relief carvings depicting an unusual combination of scenes from history, mythology, and everyday life. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences. The temple has two sets of bas-reliefs, which present a combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes.