BANTEAY KDEI
Buddhist monastery built by Jayavarman VII, with square pillars, Srah Srang terrace, king's bath and naga balustrades.
Located just southeast of Ta Prohm, the name of this Buddhist monastery means the "citadel of monastic cells". Probably a contemporary of Bayon (late 12th century), Banteay Kdei was built by Jayavarman VII, a great king who listened to the needs of his people, to house the large monastic community of his new capital. The sanctuary takes the form of the mountain temples with its four laterite levels. A small paved terrace leads to the double enclosure of the sanctuary courtyard. In the center of each of the two courtyards, to the northwest and southwest, is a mysterious square pillar with a tenon called a "bird's perch," which still intrigues archaeologists and is also found at Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. The "dance hall", which precedes the sanctuary, was originally a building with innumerable columns decorated with asparas and devatas, the nymphs found in many places in Khmer temples. Ravaged by the shivaïte reaction, and in spite of the works of clearing of Henri Marchal at the beginning of the years 1920, the temple is in rather bad state, and a good part is still invaded by the jungle (what gives him a certain charm). It is a pleasure to go to its former outbuilding, the famous terrace of Srah Srang, the "King's Bath", which overlooks the water room. At nightfall especially, this place is a real enchantment; with its balustrades in naga, it evokes a little some places of Versailles.
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