By Jeep to Banteay Srey & Ta Nei
By Jeep to Banteay
Srey & Ta Nei
Driving through the Siem Reap countryside on board a restored military jeep is one thing, but
going to ruins inside Angkor and discovering lesser-visited temples is just the icing
on the cake. An excellent half-day out that does not follow the crowd.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Of all the temple complexes in the world, the Angkor Complex certainly hits the top spot for variety and size; from the awe-inspiring centrepiece of it all – Angkor Wat – to the numerous relics of the building, urging of one of the Jayavarman rulers of a bygone era. But once you follow lesser trodden paths with us, one sees more than just those within a stone’s throw away from your Siem Reap accommodation.
We’re talking about two temples that deserve as much attention due to their construction and slightly off the beaten path location. To up the ante in terms of experience, we spice your journey up to Banteay Srey and the Ta Nei temple by driving around in a military jeep.
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 12:00
Pick up from your hotel in Siem Reap by a military jeep (maximum three persons per jeep, no air-conditioning) and head off in the direction of Banteay Srei, 25 kilometres outside of Siem Reap. Together with a dedicated driver, you will pass local villages and the rural landscape; the drive may include some stops for images of the local, authentic side of Cambodia without any western influences. It appears that the temple was designed to leave no space undecorated, and the intricate carvings in pink sandstone are unique and what some consider being the best carving of all and in a great state of preservation. The temple was built in the second half of the 10th century and dedicated to Shiva. While some of the temples are impressive because of their sheer size, Banteay Srei stands alone in the quality of its construction and decoration. Built in 967 and dedicated to Brahma, the temple is located twenty-five kilometres North of Angkor Wat and bears the translated ancient Khmer name of “The Citadel of the Women”
On our way back to Siem Reap we will make a pit stop at the Ta Nei Buddhist temple. The compounds of the temple have been closed off for visitors until 2010, and it remains one of the least visited complexes within the greater Angkor region. Archaeological research points in the direction that this temple was initially set up as a medical centre for the rulers of Angkor. Today with large trees surrounding the in decay ruins of the Ta Nei temple, it may well be that you are one of the very few visitors walking around its stone compound without a trace of renovation work. Its isolation away from the main roads will turn this half-day tour to more unique, out-of-the-ordinary experiences around Angkor. You will head back to your Siem Reap hotel at around noon.
