Banteay Kdei Temple

Banteay Kdei Temple

Banteay Kdey temple is located southeast of Ta Prohm. The temple was built in the latter half of the 12th and early 13th centuries by King Jayavarnan VII. The temple is similar in art and architecture of Ta Prohm, but it is smaller and less complex. It is unknown to who this temple was dedicates as the inscription stone has never been found. According to archaeologist, the original basic plan of the temple including a central sanctuary, a surrounding gallery and a passageway connected to another gallery.

A moat enclosed the temple another rampart which is 700 by 500 meters is made of laterite ad has four gopuras in the Bayon style, each with four faces looking in the cardinal directions, and garudas placed at the corner of each gopura, a favorite design of King Jayavarman VII. These gopuras are of the same style as those at Ta Prohm.

Research conducted by the University of Sofia has indicated that this temple was built on another older temple, a evidenced by a foundation base found under Banteay Kdey temple. Archeology believe the foundation may be related to Kod village during the reign of King Jayavarman II.