Banteay Chhmar

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Banteay Chhmar Group
Native Nameប្រាសាទបន្ទាយឆ្មារ
BA#C0107098
K InscriptionVarious
SizeLarge
ConditionIntact
TypeAncient City
Location
VillageBanteay Chhmar
CommuneBanteay Chhmar
DistrictThma Puok
ProvinceBanteay Meanchey
CountryCambodia
Coordinates14.07098, 103.10139
History
FoundedLate 12th - Early 13th Century
BuilderDharanindravarman II, Jayavarman VII, Indravarman II
Art StyleBayon
MaterialSandstone, Laterite
ReligionBuddhist
DeityLokeshvara
Year/s RestoredOn-going
UNESCO Proposed2020
UNESCO Tentative2020



C0107098 Banteay Chhmar Group 2.jpg
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Site Size & Condition: Ancient City Banteay Chhmar (ប្រាសាទបន្ទាយឆ្មារ - Pronounced: Pra-saht Ban-tay Ch'marr)

While we have listed Prasat Banteay Chhmar and its associated temples individually, this listing refers to the 'ancient city' as a whole and includes, in addition to the main, central temple, the 8 smaller annex shrines, the Baray Banteay Chhmar and Prasat Mebon (Banteay Chhmar) as well as the Prasat Banteay Chhmar Dharmasala. (The small laterite bridge, Spean Ta Sok, is also included as it would appear to have been an integral part of the complex.)

The principal temple site of Banteay Chhmar is an extensive, sprawling site in its own right but the extended complex is a truly vast one, comparable to Angkor Thom itself. The inner area and main temple is described in the corresponding listing and forms an enclosed, nearly square area of 800m x 850, surrounded by a moat with 4 entrance gopuras at the cardinal points. The whole is orientated approximately 5-6 degrees north of east-west while the aforementioned dharmasala lies to the east, between the inner enclosure and eastern gopura.

A second enclosure is formed by a wall and additional moat stretching some 2 kms x 1.8 with a similar orientation to the first. 4 axial temples lying within this enclosure are; Prasat Ta Naem (west), Prasat Yeay Kom (north), Prasat Ta Em (east) and Prasat Ta Phlang (south). 2 additional sites are situated within this enclosure;, Prasat Ta Prohm (Banteay Chhmar), close to Ta Phlang, plus Prasat Yeay Chou located in the southeast quadrant. This enclosure also encompasses the western section of the baray in a similar style to Prasat Preah Khan (Kampong Svay). The reservoir is slightly offset to the north and extends eastwards to include the central mebon temple. The alignment is identical to the 2 aforementioned enclosures and it stretches a total of some 800m north-south and 1.6kms east-west.

Finally, 2 further, axial temple sites stand beyond the outer enclosure with Prasat Ta Phai to the north and Prasat Samnang Ta Sok to the west past Spean Ta Sok.

These satellite temples show a similar style and layout (although only certain feature the iconic faces) and would appear to be contemporaneous to the later additions to Prasat Banteay Chhmar itself. As mentioned, the original central structure was clearly of a more modest size and was more than likely extended in the period immediately after Jayavarman VII. The outer enclosure wall and moat were then probably also added at this later date and a perhaps preexisting baray was extended?

Various theories have been put forward as to the motivation behind the construction of such a large site in such a remote area with several historians suggesting a military purpose. There is a proliferation of military-themed reliefs at Banteay Chhmar, including scenes of Yasovarman I's unsuccessful Champa expedition, and the central temple is thought to have been dedicated to Jayavarman's son Prince Srindrakumara who also died in a campaign against the Cham. However, the relatively low walls and narrow moats are far from ideal defensive structures and the location is of little or no strategic importance.

To the west of Banteay Chhmar lies an extensive - and probably at the time, impenetrable - region of mountains and forest (froming what is today Thailand's Eastern Forex Complex) while to the north lie the long-consolidated Angor provinces of modern-day Buriram, Surin and Nakorn Ratchasima. Jayavarman VII is also responsible for widespread constructions in what is today central Thailand and any military threat from the Siamese was still some way off in the future. Furthermore, the main transport and communications route to the west lay some distance south, as they do today, in the Poipet/Sa Keow area while principal crossing points of the Dandrek Mountains to Phimai and Phnom Rung etc are all further northeast.

However, the interesting site of Prasat Banteay Toap does lie a few kilometres south. The site is not rich in temple remains - although what there is seems to date from the late 12th-early 13th century - but does show traces of a 4km square enclosed area and would seem to point to a large population in what could have been an important agricultural region at the time. Furthermore, numerous minor sites in the area and south towards Thma Puok District show the area to have been relatively densely populated over a long period.

Banteay Chhmar then possibly represents the religious and administrative centre of an important rice-growing province, far enough removed from the capital at Angkor to warrant its own political and ceremonial structures.

Roads to and within the area have improved considerably in recent times and a day trip from Siem Reap is now easily done although simple accommodation is available locally. An entrance fee of $5 for foreigners is required. Extensive clearance and renovation is underway at the site and Banteay Chhmar is currently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list.


Map Location

Image Gallery

  • Inner moat

    Inner moat

  • Overview of towers

    Overview of towers

  • Overview before clearance

    Overview before clearance

  • Naval combat

    Naval combat

  • Walls of the inner enclosure

    Walls of the inner enclosure

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Historic Archive

A collection of historic photographs, artist sketches, maps etc. (Please ensure that anything you do upload is free of copyright and/or you have permission from the original photographer/artist/author to share)

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