Temples of Angkor - Cambodia - page 285

TOP OF CHAPTER
Banteay Kdei &
Sra Srang
Banteay Kdei OFFLINE MAP , a massive Buddhist monastery from the latter part of the 12th
century, is surrounded by four concentric walls. The outer wall measures 500m by 700m.
Each of its four entrances is decorated with garudas, which hold aloft one of Jayavarman
VII's favourite themes: the four faces of Avalokiteshvara. The inside of the central tower
was never finished and much of the temple is in a ruinous state due to hasty construction.
It is considerably less busy than nearby Ta Prohm and this alone can justify a visit.
East of Banteay Kdei is an earlier basin, Sra Srang OFFLINE MAP (Pool of Ablutions) , meas-
uring 800m by 400m, reserved for the king and his consorts. A tiny island in the middle