"Banteay Chhmar is the 4th largest temple dating from the Angkor period after Preah Khan in Kampong Svay district (Now in Preah Vihear province), Angkor Thom, and Angkor Wat is being the largest temples. It's fewer international visitors due to far away from the Angkor archaeological park, located in the northwest of Siem Reap Angkor, however, the visitor will be a worth trip as at the same time you'll enjoy the trip sighting the Cambodia rural area and visit other temples in the Dangrek Mountain."
Temple Info:
Banteay Chhmar is located in the northwest of Siem Reap in Banteay Chhmar commune, Thma Puok District, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia. It is located 60 km north of Sisophon and about 65 km southwest of Krong (city) Samraong in Odor Meanchey province. Also, it's about 163 km from Siem Reap city along with the national road 6 past through Banteay Meanchey province turn through road 56 and about 174 km if along with national road 68 past through Odor Meanchey province.
Banteay Chhmar temple is the mysterious temples that older than Angkor Wat. The massive temple of Banteay Chhmar, along with its satellite shrines and reservoir (moat) surrounding it, comprises one of the most important and least understood archaeological complexes from Cambodia's Angkor period. The ruins are considered an essential link to Cambodia’s cultural history.
Banteay Chhmar is considered as the 4th biggest temple dating from the Angkor period after Preah Khan in Kampong Svay district (Now in Preah Vihear province), Angkor Thom, and Angkor Wat.
The temple of Banteay Chhmar was accomplished during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. One of the temple's shrines once held an image of Srindrakumararajaputra (the crown prince), a son of Jayavarman VII who died before him. The temple doors record the defeat of Yasovarman I from the invasion of Champa.
The long Old Khmer inscription found at the site (K.227), and now on display in the National Museum at Phnom Penh, relates how Prince Srindrakumara was protected on two occasions by four companions in arms, once against Rahu, and once on a military campaign against Champa. Their four statues, with one of the prince, was placed in the central chapel.
Another bas-relief states Yasovarman II was attacked by Rahu, but "saved by a young prince.
The complex of Banteay Chhmar is oriented to the east, where there's a dried Baray (about 1.6 by 0.8 km), which had a temple on an artificial island in its center. The physical appearance of the temple is threatened by the modern-day.
As its remote location and its proximity to the Thai border, the complex has been subjected to severe looting, especially in the 1990s. In 1998, 2000, and 2002 the temple was listed by the World Monuments Fund as one of the top one hundred most endangered sites in the world. For example, in 1998 a group of soldiers stole a 30-meter section of the southern wall.
The bas-reliefs of Banteay Chhmar once displayed eight exceptional Avalokiteśvaras in the west gallery, but now only two remain. In January 1999 looters dismantled sections of the western gallery wall containing these bas-reliefs. They were intercepted by Thai police and 117 sandstone pieces of the wall were recovered. They are now on display in the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.
Temple Facts
Name: Banteay Chhmar Temple
Completed date: in the late 12th or early 13th century
Built by: Jayavarman VII
Dedicated to: (Unknown)
Affiliation: Hinduism
Style: Bayon style (Khmer)
Getting There:
Banteay Chhmar is located about 163km northwest of Siem Reap in Banteay Chhmar commune, Thma Puok District, Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia. It is located 60 km north of Sisophon and about 65 km southwest of Krong (city) Samraong in Odor Meanchey province.
Two ways will take you to arrive there!
You may prefer to go along the national road 6 from Siem Reap, then turn right by going through road 68 direct to Odor Meanchey province which will take 174km or either go past through Banteay Meanchey province and then turn right along road 65 and it will take just only 163km.
However, both ways are possible in one tour as normally we let you go around. It may start a tour along road 6, then turn right along road 68 to Odor Meanchey. Along this way, you'll see the longest ancient bridge in Cambodia modern named "Ou Chik or Spean Toeurb" and a chapel of Angkor Hospital nearby it. Moreover, you'll able to see the other two temples in the Dangrek Mountain named Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Ta Krobey.
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