Citadel of the Forest

The understated sign showing the way to Banteay Prei and Prasat Prei

An entrance pavilion sits on top of the covered gallery that encircles the main sanctuary area that is littered in large sandstone blocks

Banteay Prei - Citadel of the Forest - is the larger of the two temples that sit side-by-side just a few metres from the main road. Built by Jayavarman VII, it contains all the usual hallmarks of this amazing temple builder though is a smaller miniature version of larger sites like Banteay Kdei, Ta Som and Ta Nei. A moat surrounds the main enclosure which boasts a narrow covered gallery and four entrance pavilions at the cardinal points. The main sanctuary is tall and cruciform shaped and hosts a series of pediments that were altered or defaced during the iconoclastic destruction that followed after the temple's construction, alongwith devatas in niches all over the site. I've toured the site a couple of times in the past and I've always been the only visitor, so you are practically guaranteed to soak up the atmosphere alone.

A laterite-paved moat surrounds the enclosure of Banteay Prei

This pediment with worshippers and lintel have seen better days

The main Buddhist figure in this pediment has been removed leaving acolytes in prayer and apsaras behindMore worshippers sit below the main section of the pediment that has been defaced

The Buddhist figure, Vishvakarma, sitting above this kala has escaped destruction on this broken lintel