Banteay Srei & Beng Mealea
Siem Reap excursion that ventures beyond town
Angkor Wat is an undeniably superb temple, but it’s far from the only option in Siem Reap. Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea alike are majestic, culturally informative and enticing to travellers from all over the globe. They showcase historical components of Cambodia that cannot be found elsewhere, and even if nothing else, they look absolutely beautiful and this tour is a popular Siem Reap excursion.
People tend to explore these two temples as a pair, heading from one to the other and enjoying the Cambodian countryside and lush rice paddies along the way. With The Aviary Hotel’s in charge of your journey, you’ve really got nothing to lose by embarking on a day tour of Banteay Srei and Beng Mealea.
Banteay Srei
A bit closer to the city than Beng Mealea and rather perfectly on the route back to your accommodation at The Aviary Hotel, Banteay Srei is yet another temple that calls to the adventurer in you. Pink-hued sandstone that’s endured for more than 10 centuries looms for all to admire, whatever god or gods they worship.
Banteay Srei has been named “The Citadel of Women”. While not large, it packs a ton of detail in a concise package thanks to a number of ornate carvings. Having been dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction or transformation, carvings depicting both male and female bodies abound. They are true works of art, even by the standards of modern day.
These carvings are not mere etchings in the side of sandstone. Many of them are three dimensional, having been curated by the hands of an undoubtedly talented artist.
Like many temples around the world, Banteay Srei maintains a dress code that’s worth looking into if you want to be let in (and remain respectful of the environment). The attire is easy enough to attain, so just keep this in mind as you prepare for this Siem Reap excursion.
Beng Mealea
Unapologetically nestled within the jungle, Beng Mealea is a true getaway from the movement of the city. Much of it is covered in layers of mystical moss, making it even dreamier from the visitor’s vantage point. It’s a solid 80 kilometers away from Siem Reap, and worth every chug along the open road.
Beng Mealea translates to “Lotus Pond.” This Hindu temple was thoughtfully constructed in the early half of the 11th century by King Suryavarman II. It’s not shy in the least, boasting numerous hallways, galleries, walking bridges and thoroughfares. In fact, many say the eventual creation of Angkor Wat itself took a lot of inspiration from this tucked-away temple.
If you’re one to get off the beaten path, this Siem Reap excursion will get you there. It’s known as one of the least visited temples in all of Angkor, despite its dreamy display of reverence. However, this will be good for you, as you aren’t likely to be run over by other tourists and you’ll have a much better chance of getting an uninterrupted shot on your camera of any nook or cranny you please.
Make your way through one square kilometer and explore whatever catches your eye. If our guess is any good, you may call this temple as one of your favorites in Cambodia.
Book your Siem Reap excursion
With several options to choose from there’s a Siem Reap tour for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a half-day trip to Angkor Wat, the full day Angkor Grand Tour Circuit or to venture beyond the city borders of Siem Reap, we’ve got you covered.
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