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Banteay Srei (citadel of the women) is a small and very isolated temple located at the edge of the River Siem Reap at about 20 kilometers from Pre-Rup, on the road leading to Phnom Kûlen... It constitutes indeed one essential stopover for any visitor paying 60 dollars, the price which gives the right to visit Angkor during one week. the building of the monument was decided under the reign of Jayavarman V by its " Great Vizir " Yajnavarâha, a Brahman dignitary whose power spread on several reigns. This guy was to have a pretty country house in Phnom Dei sector. Rediscovered recently (in 1914), this temple was quickly made famous in the Twenties thanks to André Malraux who " borrowed there " all the statues of dévatas southern sanctuary, that is to say almost a ton of low-reliefs of very beautiful style (Mister had much taste): fortunately all retowered in its place. Following the incident, this temple had become a star, and a serious restoration was thus decided: Henri Marchal discharged this mission by testing successfully the anastylose, a technique consisting of the total demounting of the blocks of the monument before reassembly, and realization (in the event of absolute need) of new stones of replacement. The rebuilding of the temple was rather fast because of excellent state of the blocks of pink sandstone, copiously worked what facilitated the task of reading of the stony puzzle... Overall, this business concerned a small temple (not as in Baphuon for example!) The result is exceptional: you feel like visiting a new temple. Moreover, the architectural, sculptural, decorative style from Banteay Srei particularly plentiful, elegant, merry, is varied from where a particularly pleasant visit... Except when there is too many people (It is a very little place!) because Banteay Srei is today on the way to become the first temple of Angkor
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