BANTEAY SREI TEMPLE IN SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA Editorial Photo

“The lady temple”, “the tiny temple”, “the pink temple”; Banteay Srei goes by many nicknames, an indication of the distinctiveness of this little gem of a temple, which feels so different to the imposing grandeur of the main Angkorian complex.Originally called Tribhuvanamahesvara, the name Banteay Srei or Banteay Srey is a modern one, meaning “citadel of the women” or, “citadel of beauty”. People speculate that this is due to its miniature scale, the pink colour of the limestone, and the elaborate decorative carvings of many devatas minor female deities that grace its walls.