After spending the early morning wandering through the quiet halls of Angkor Wat, we headed out of the main city to see some of the other cultural artifacts in the area. The pink stone temple of Banreay Srei is 30+ kilometers out of the city, and it's distinctly different from the Angkor temples. It was built by a Brahman, possibly a tutor to the royal lineage, and while scholars debate the date of this, there are historical markings indicating that it was created in 967 AD. It's waaaay ahead of its time, and what's astonishing about this particular temple is the incredibly detailed and intricate stone carvings that adorn the walls and inner areas. This is a small temple, compared to the Angkor monuments, but it's achingly beautiful, and it's referred to around the area as "The lady Temple," because it's believed the intricate stone carvings are the work of women artisans. This Hindu temple was devoted to Shiva. Below are some pictures.
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