Banteay Chhmar Temple is not only one of Cambodia’s national treasures but the world wonder as well. Dating from the late 12th to the early 13th century, the Temple is a precious and irreplaceable combination of the cultural heritage of the Khmer people. Never excavated, Banteay Chhmar fits the picture of a lost Khmer city with its ruined face-towers, carvings, forest surroundings and bird life flying through the Temple.
The magnificent temple lies crumbling in forest near the Combodian border is similar in style to Bayon Temple and may over 50 towers within its main enclosure. There are some extremely beautiful bas-reliefs of Khmer domestic and military life from the Angkorian era. By far, the most important and spectacular bas-reliefs are the two remaining images of the Avalokitesvara on the western gallery. Read more: Cambodia tours
It contains the main Temple and a number of other religious structures and a baray to its east. A mote filled with water and a huge wall inside of that encloses the center of the temple, which is still used until now by locals for fishing and daily chores. Equally important, there are breathtaking carvings everywhere, particularly if you explore by yourself, you will no doubt come across Buddhas and sculptures in the nooks and crannies of every building. Read more: Indochina travel
The gigantic faces on all four sides of the tower were probably Jayavarman VII’s imprimatur on the monuments the King built. Appropriate, then, that these face towers are widely as his finest architectural innovation. The temple complex was built to commemorate the King’s son, and its remote location is believed to be because he fell in battle there.
In terms of the transport to Banteay Chhmar, it is most easily reached from Sissophon. You can be accessible by a taxi from Sissophon to Banteay Chhmar. Then, you can hire a taxi for the day to take you around which cost about 35 dollars for the day. Besides, you can also hire a motorbile and ride, however the roads are poor condition and during wet season, it is truly difficult to get by motorbike and bicycle.
The Indochina Voyages team.
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