THE RUINS OF BANTEAY KDEI

Banteay Kdei meaning "A Citadel of Chambers", also known as "Citadel of Monks'.
Built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries AD during the reign of Jayavarman VII. The Khmer Empire lasted from 802 to 1431, initially under Hindu religious beliefs up to the end of the 12th century and later under Buddhist religious practices. It was a time when temples of grandeur came to be built and reached a crescendo during the reign of Suryavarman II until 1191, and later in the 12th–13th centuries, under Jayavarman VII. Many Buddhist temples were built, including the Banteay Kdei, from middle of the 12th century to early 13th century. Bayon's Lokesvara face, multiple Gopuras, amazing carvings and Blend of Nature - gigantic silk cotton trees. As we go into one madapam or block, it goes into another and so on - coming from east to west seem to be a long walk. One has to appreciate the kings who loved the arts and God, creating these wonderful temples. This Buddhist monastic complex is currently dilapidated due to faulty construction and poor quality of sandstone used in its buildings, and is now undergoing renovation. Banteay Kdei had been occupied by monks at various intervals over the centuries until the 1960s