Cambodia: Short Getaway to Siam Reap Part 7 (Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Banteay Srei, The River of a Thousand Lingas)

Day 3 in Siam Reap

Day 3 of the trip. We have more temples to explore today! And, all of us had our elephant temple pants on! Feel so tourist. Haha.. I was quite excited because we went to Banteay Srei -- the pink temple! =D Will be separating Day 3 into 2 parts because there are too many photos to share. 

First stop: Preah Khan

Preah Khan is a temple at Angkor, Cambodia, built in the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII to honor his father. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray. The temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive rectangular galleries around a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions. Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing about the ruins. (information from Wikipedia -- click here to read more on Preah Khan)

At the entrance.

The 4th enclosure wall -- bears 5 m garudas holding nagas. Buddha images in the niches above were destroyed in the anti-Buddhist reaction of Jayavarman VIII.

With carved lintel as background

Stupa with direct sunlight

Looks like a natural candlelight. =)

Next Stop: Neak Pean Temple

After visiting the first temple, I've been sweating a lot. And then, we were being brought to the second temple -- Neak Pean Temple. 

The walkway towards the temple doesn't have nice scenery beside.

 I never thought the temple would be so nice.

Neak Pean ("The entwined serpents") at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Preah Khan Baray built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the "Mebon" of the Preah Khan baray. Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease; it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source, the main tank, by a stone conduit "presided over by one of Four Great Animals namely Elephant, Bull, Horse, and Lion, corresponding to the north, east, south, and west quarters. (information from Wikipedia -- click here to read more about Neak Pean Temple)

Temple in the middle of the pool. Something different =)

Worth visiting.

Next Stop: Banteay Srei (or Banteay Srey)

It is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in the area of Angkor in Cambodia. It lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25km north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstones. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. (For more information, please click here for my reference from Wikipedia)

Under the sun, Banteay Srei Temple is pink.

Group photo at Banteay Srei. Blur out the faces for P&C purpose.

It was really hot while visiting the temples. But as tourists, we have to visit them all. If not, why come to Cambodia? Right?

Next stop: The River of a Thousand Lingas

We planned to go back Angkor Wat to watch sunset and hence we have to make a choice - to explore another temple in a free & easy style or visit The River of a Thousand Lingas in a rush manner. Because we were a bit bored with temples, we decided to go to The River of a Thousand Lingas for something different.

We need to hike 1.5km to and fro in order to visit the carvings.

The River of a Thousand Lingas, also known as Kbal Spean, is an Angkorian era archaeological site on the southwest slopes of the Kulen Hills to the northeast of Angkor in Siam Reap District. It is situated along a 150m stretch of the Stung Kbal Spean River, 25 kilometres from the main Angkor group of monuments. The site consists of a series of stone carvings in sandstone formations carved in the river bed and banks. The motifs for stone carvings are mainly myriads of lingams (phallic symbol of Hindu god Shiva), depicted as neatly arranged bumps that cover the surface of a sandstone bed rock, and lingam-yoni designs. (For more information, please click here)

The carvings.

It is dry season and hence the river ran out of water. According to our tour guide, it used to be full of water during wet season and it will be more beautiful that time.

Sunset at Angkor Wat coming up next.................