Banteay Prey Temple, Siem Reap

Buddhist Temple near Siem Reap

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Stefan Fussan

Also known as Prasat Banteay Prei, this temple is located in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, just north of Preah Khan and off the Grand Circuit road. First, you’ll encounter Prasat Prei, and 100 meters further is the larger Banteay Prei site. The temples were built during the late 12th to early 13th century, under the reign of Jayavarman VII.

At its peak, the site was likely of great significance, featuring an outer wall, an inner moat (typically dry), crossed by causeways to the east and west, basins, and an inner galleried enclosure with four gopuras and pavilions at each corner. These elements all enclosed a single inner sanctuary.

Notable features include vertical medallions on one side of the eastern gopura, some remnants of lintels, and well-preserved apsara bas-reliefs. The door jambs are richly adorned, a signature style of the period. At the eastern entrance, where the moat is crossed, the remains of a short, ornate naga balustrade can be seen, along with a large garuda ornament at the end, now lying on the ground.

Inscriptions on the door jambs and other parts of the site, recorded by Cœdès in the early 1900s and later translated by Soutif, list the names of the builders and the deity worshiped here.

On the east side, between the moat and the outer wall, south of the causeway, there are linear remains of another structure made of laterite. It is speculated that this could be a Buddhist Terrace from the post-Angkor period, though further research is needed to confirm this.

The site is peaceful and rarely visited, making it a serene place to explore. During the wet season, the moat fills, and the lush greenery transforms the site into a picturesque ruin. Recent restoration work has been carried out on the north gopura, preserving the temple for future visitors.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.6 (160)

Banteay Prei Temple is a small, tucked-away Angkor site just off the usual routes and often quiet enough to feel like a private visit; it's relatively unrestored and easy to walk around, with interesting features such as termite mounds and surrounding large trees, and makes a convenient short detour from Preah Khan if your driver can stop for a few minutes.

Gu ar Caya

2 years ago

"This little gem of a temple is tucked away from the main road, maybe 300 meters or so. I wouldn't have even known about it had I not seen the signfor it while riding my bike around. It isn't on the typical tours and as a result few people that come to Angkor wind up visiting. That's a shame because this relatively unrestored temple is perfect. It is small but there is a lot to see in such a small space. It is relatively unrestored, but easy to walk around in safely. And when you come here, there is a very good chance you will have the whole place to yourself. Although this place isn't on the Grand Circuit, it is less than a half a kilometer detour after you are done with Preah Khan temple. I would definitely recommend you asking your driver if you can stop by this one for a few minutes if you have time. It is worth it in my opinion...."

See More See Less

Corrado Bastrei

6 years ago

"Usually not included in standard tours so I advise If you have time to visit by yourself this old temple now in ruin,nThat's the main characteristicthing, in all countries nobody could allow to visit a ruin like this, may be even little dangerous because the archeologic site seems unstable . You will remember all life long the mastodondic trees outside. Visit for freenThe ticket includes all temples..."

See More See Less

Darren Barton

10 months ago

"A smaller temple overlooked by tourists, which is perfect. Maybe not worth it’s own trip, but an easy short walk from Preah Khan"

The Banteay Prey Temple appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Siem Reap!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

Read our full story here

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!