Temple stonework in Cambodia
Pink sandstone

Banteay Srei

Anyone who cares about carving rather than scale

Temples and ruinsType
In short

Banteay Srei is a small 10th-century Hindu temple about 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group, dedicated to Shiva and built from pink sandstone that holds detail far better than the grey stone used elsewhere. The carving here is the finest in Cambodia - deep, crisp and almost miniature - and it is the reason the detour exists.

Checked

September 2026

Part of Heritage
At a glance

Visiting

Where
About 25 km north-east of the main Angkor group
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Time needed
45 minutes, plus 40 minutes each way from Siem Reap
Best light
Early morning or late afternoon, when low sun rakes the carving
Combine with
Banteay Samre, or the Kbal Spean river carvings

Questions travellers ask

Is it worth the drive?
If you like detail, it is the best hour at Angkor. If you are short on time and want scale, spend it on Angkor Thom instead.
What does the name mean?
Commonly rendered as citadel of the women, a modern name rather than its original dedication.
Nearby

Also in Siem Reap

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Siem Reap

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world by land area, built in the early 12th century under Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, about 6 km north of Siem Reap
Ticket
Angkor Pass - 1 day US$37, 3 days US$62, 7 days US$72 (Angkor Enterprise, checked September 2026)
Read more
Angkor Thom

Bayon Temple

The Bayon sits at the exact centre of Angkor Thom and is the temple everyone recognises from the enormous serene faces carved into its towers. Built…

Where
Centre of Angkor Thom, Angkor Archaeological Park
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more
The jungle temple

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is the Angkor temple deliberately left partly unrestored, so the silk-cotton and strangler fig roots that grew through its galleries are still holding the…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, east of Angkor Thom
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more
The walled city

Angkor Thom and the South Gate

Angkor Thom is the last and largest capital of the Khmer Empire, a walled and moated city of nine square kilometres founded by Jayavarman VII in…

Where
Angkor Archaeological Park, north of Angkor Wat
Ticket
Covered by the Angkor Pass
Read more