Banteay Chhmar
Banteay Chhmar
4.5
About
Banteay Chhmar (the “Citadel of the Cat”) has been called the "second Angkor Wat” and was constructed by King Jayavarman VII, who also built Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm and Preah Khan. This remote and vast site is currently under restoration and visitors find a stunning interplay of temple and jungle.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.5
145 reviews
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109
Very good
24
Average
8
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3
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1
Denise B
Sydney, Australia29 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I booked a two night homestay for my daughter and I through visitbanteaychhmar.com. Everything was organised by email with the coordinator of their Community Based Tourism organisation (CBT). We were picked up in Siem Reap and then dropped off in Battambang at the end but alternatively you can get the bus to Sisophon and get picked up from there.
We stayed with Savin Sarin and his family in a small room with fan and en-suite toilet. Our meals were at the CBT office and prepared by local women from the village. We were given bicycles to ride between our homestay and CBT.
We toured the impressive remains of the original temple, went to an even smaller village for a day and mixed with local villagers. Only the CBT staff seem to speak English but we managed to learn a little Khmer so we could say things like hello and thank you to the people we met. Cycling through the village every day with children calling out hello to us along the way was a lot of fun. Also sharing a beer with our homestay ‘dad’ in the afternoons and watching a Cambodian soap opera on TV with he and his wife ‘mum’ in hammocks at night are are things I’ll never forget.
The rest of our Cambodian trip was spent in beautiful air conditioned hotels with swimming pools but I can honestly say that our homestay in Banteay Chhmar was the highlight of our holiday. Yes it’s hot, exhausting and challenging and you’re way out of your comfort zone. But it was so rewarding. CBT has won awards for their program and I can see why. It’s such a welcoming place and it’s so good to know that the money you spend there benefits the local people. I only wish we could have spent more time there.
We stayed with Savin Sarin and his family in a small room with fan and en-suite toilet. Our meals were at the CBT office and prepared by local women from the village. We were given bicycles to ride between our homestay and CBT.
We toured the impressive remains of the original temple, went to an even smaller village for a day and mixed with local villagers. Only the CBT staff seem to speak English but we managed to learn a little Khmer so we could say things like hello and thank you to the people we met. Cycling through the village every day with children calling out hello to us along the way was a lot of fun. Also sharing a beer with our homestay ‘dad’ in the afternoons and watching a Cambodian soap opera on TV with he and his wife ‘mum’ in hammocks at night are are things I’ll never forget.
The rest of our Cambodian trip was spent in beautiful air conditioned hotels with swimming pools but I can honestly say that our homestay in Banteay Chhmar was the highlight of our holiday. Yes it’s hot, exhausting and challenging and you’re way out of your comfort zone. But it was so rewarding. CBT has won awards for their program and I can see why. It’s such a welcoming place and it’s so good to know that the money you spend there benefits the local people. I only wish we could have spent more time there.
Written 23 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adrian M
Phnom Penh, Cambodia12 contributions
Dec 2021
We booked 2 nights in a lovely homestay through the Banteay Chhmar Community based Tourism Organisation (CBT). Communication (E-Mail and phone) and support was excellent. We got picked up by taxi in Siem Reap and brought to the guest family. We had a very interesting tour through the Temple and a visit to a Khmer Loeu Village by motorbike. We enjoyed experiencing live in a small Cambodian village with friendly people including very tasty Khmer food. Very nice and interesting experience!
Written 25 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beth Hope-Cleverly
10 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We spent a night at a home stay with the Banteay Chhmar CBT and had a guided visit to their local temple and also a tour to two remote temples on the border with Thailand. The home stay was very comfortable; there was a socket near the bed, WiFi and the family were very welcoming. Vegetarian meals were tasty and freshly cooked. The transfers from Battambang and to Siem Reap were also taken care of with efficiency and smiles. Profits are used on initiatives to benefit the whole community. A unique and memorable experience, highly recommend.
Written 30 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CocoClem
Manchester, UK57 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
We organised our visit through CBT (Banteay Chmaar Community Based Tourism) and it was one of the highlights of our Cambodia trip. We had a night in a homestay with a local family, visits to 2 temples, a tour round the village in an oxcart, a tractor ride through the cassava fields and a wonderful concert from a local band. It was such a privilege to get a glimpse of life here, so very different from our own. Our guide Aool was patient and generous in sharing his incredible life story with us. We thoroughly recommend this tour with CBT - all booked by email from home. They also arranged our travel from Battambang & back to Siem Reap with their delightful driver, Bunlo.
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cambodia taxi driver
Siem Reap, Cambodia981 contributions
Sept 2015 • Friends
( 13rd Sep 2015 )) yesterday i went to visit the banteay chhmar temple with my group . we was very happy when we reach at banteay chmar temple because the beauty of the temple , we would like to recommend dear tourist and khmer people get to know about banteay chhmar temple , this temple just 65km nouth of Banteay Mean chay province only , if you start the trips from siem reap province you have two choice to choose . from siem reap to banteay chhmar temple 175km ,
+ the first way start from siem reap direct to banteay Mean chay province when you are arriving at banteay mean province please turn right hand side after go head you will be arriving at temple ,
+ second ways : you start the from siem reap to kro Lanh district ( 55km from siem reap ) when you are arriving at kro Lanh district please turn right hand side go strait to Sam Rong district ( Krolanh to Sam Rong 50km ) after turn left hand side and go head you will be arriving the temple ,
I just confirmed to you for the two road was very good already
i hop you will be spent your holiday to visit the Banteay chhmar temple
thank you
take a good care
from Same
+ the first way start from siem reap direct to banteay Mean chay province when you are arriving at banteay mean province please turn right hand side after go head you will be arriving at temple ,
+ second ways : you start the from siem reap to kro Lanh district ( 55km from siem reap ) when you are arriving at kro Lanh district please turn right hand side go strait to Sam Rong district ( Krolanh to Sam Rong 50km ) after turn left hand side and go head you will be arriving the temple ,
I just confirmed to you for the two road was very good already
i hop you will be spent your holiday to visit the Banteay chhmar temple
thank you
take a good care
from Same
Written 14 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard P
Madrid, Spain519 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
The temple is located in the middle of nowhere. As a result, there is no one there ! You visit the site as Andre Malraux must have visited Banteay Srei the first time. Extraordinary.
Written 11 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KarinJeck
London35 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
It took two and a half hours by car to go from Siem Reap to Banteay Chhmar. The temple is very quiet and has almost no tourists around, but you have to be really fit and healthy to climb over hundreds of collapsed rocks on the floor inside the temple. Remember that if you suddenly fall and have an accident the nearest medical help could be miles away. Even the famous Lokesvara carved panels on the Western side of the temple are hard to reach because of a pile of rocks in front of it. If you decide not to climb over the rocks, then there is not much point in visiting this temple because you will not reach most of the famous carvings, so think about it before you go. If you do go, wear shoes with a good grip (forget flip-flops, sandals or high heels) and remember to be extra careful if the rocks are wet in the case of rain. There are a few local Cambodian restaurants along the road that leads to the temple, so they are your last chance to buy bottles of water or any other drinks before your visit. I did not see toilet facilities available once you enter the temple. I could not reach any of Banteay Chhmar's satellite temples because the roads leading up to them were in a bad state, a local man offered to take me to them on a motorbike for a few dollars, but I declined. The current entrance fee for the temple is 5 US Dollars, which you pay at the entrance. The pass that people buy in Siem Reap to visit the temples of Angkor does not cover Banteay Chhmar.
Written 9 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brandon-melbourne-au
Melbourne, Australia8 contributions
July 2014 • Friends
While i did not want to write a review for Banteay Chhamr, as i want it to stay as peaceful and amazing as it currently lays, before too many tourists inhabit the beautiful village and area, attracting the type of tourists which has poisoned Siem Riep. However i feel that the only tourists visiting here currently are true history lovers as it is a full day trip over poor roads in an area where no English is spoken. - P.S. we got to the temple at noon and where were only the 3rd tourists to have arrived that day.
The temple itself is amazing, not for its structural bravado, but rather the feeling that you know it is mostly untouched, that the stone lays where it did as it fell however many decades or centuries ago. The ability to walk wherever you like, through any of the structures, over the fallen stone (be careful as i nearly fell multiple times), gives you the ability to explore any part of the temple. There are beautiful carvings everywhere, especially if you explore by yourself, you will no doubt come across Buddhas and sculptures in the nooks and crannies of every building.
In terms of getting to bantaey Chhmar, We persnally got a taxi from BB to Sisophon, then hired a taxi for the day to take us around which cost about 35 dollars for the day, as their were no other customers to share with. You could also hire a motorbike and ride their, however the roads are in poor condition and during the wet season i would not like to be riding in monsoon rain on these roads.
Lastly i would advise to explore the smaller temples around Bantaey Chhmar area, these are fully untouched and you have to actually climb through the jungle to reach them. This makes them feel even more sacred and allows your imagination to run wild.
Would rate this as my favorite temple/area in Cambodia behind Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom.
The temple itself is amazing, not for its structural bravado, but rather the feeling that you know it is mostly untouched, that the stone lays where it did as it fell however many decades or centuries ago. The ability to walk wherever you like, through any of the structures, over the fallen stone (be careful as i nearly fell multiple times), gives you the ability to explore any part of the temple. There are beautiful carvings everywhere, especially if you explore by yourself, you will no doubt come across Buddhas and sculptures in the nooks and crannies of every building.
In terms of getting to bantaey Chhmar, We persnally got a taxi from BB to Sisophon, then hired a taxi for the day to take us around which cost about 35 dollars for the day, as their were no other customers to share with. You could also hire a motorbike and ride their, however the roads are in poor condition and during the wet season i would not like to be riding in monsoon rain on these roads.
Lastly i would advise to explore the smaller temples around Bantaey Chhmar area, these are fully untouched and you have to actually climb through the jungle to reach them. This makes them feel even more sacred and allows your imagination to run wild.
Would rate this as my favorite temple/area in Cambodia behind Angkor Wat & Angkor Thom.
Written 5 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
doctormarv
Santa Fe, NM4 contributions
Dec 2012 • Solo
I am an American pediatrician who has worked in Siem Reap yearly for the past ten years, staying for one month at the Angkor Hospital for Children. I have visited most of the temple ruins in the country, and biked around Angkor Wat many many times. I was looking forward to visiting Banteay Chhmar after reading some travel magazines and your reviews.
They are absolutely not true.
It is a 200 miles, 6+ hours round trip from Siem Reap. Half of this is over poor to terrible roads.
There are only three parts of this temple complex that are interesting, few paths, lots of climbing over fallen temple stones, reconstruction scaffolds around the more interesting part, and they can all be seen in 30 minutes. Yes, the bas relief is great, but it is only 30-40 feet long.
This site will take years to re-construct so that visitors can appreciate it. Beng Melea is similar and closer to Siem Reap.
Banteay Chhmar is not worth all the time spent driving and the gasoline expense.
Marv Godner
Santa Fe, NM
They are absolutely not true.
It is a 200 miles, 6+ hours round trip from Siem Reap. Half of this is over poor to terrible roads.
There are only three parts of this temple complex that are interesting, few paths, lots of climbing over fallen temple stones, reconstruction scaffolds around the more interesting part, and they can all be seen in 30 minutes. Yes, the bas relief is great, but it is only 30-40 feet long.
This site will take years to re-construct so that visitors can appreciate it. Beng Melea is similar and closer to Siem Reap.
Banteay Chhmar is not worth all the time spent driving and the gasoline expense.
Marv Godner
Santa Fe, NM
Written 29 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Banteay Chhmar is approximately a 200 mile/165 kilometer round-trip from Siem Reap. The last 65km is on an unpaved road that is undergoing major improvements and will be paved over the next year. Currently, it is, indeed, about a 3-3 1/2 drive from Siem Reap.
While it may be preferable for visitors to stay overnight in Banteay Chhmar, it is possible to make it into an enjoyable day trip from Siem Reap (see below for details).
Banteay Chhmar Temple is the fourth largest temple complex from the Angkorian era and has some unique characteristics for those more interested in Khmer history. There are still significant bas-reliefs on the north and south galleries, and the two remaining Avalokitesvaras on the west gallery are one of the temple's and Buddhism's most important symbols. The interior of the temple contains an amazing assemblage of Buddhist and Hindu images, and it does require some scrambling over the collapsed remains. Research indicates that the temple once had more than 50 towers including many enigmatic face towers similar to Bayon Temple. The conservation project occupies less than 2 percent of the temple area. There are no plans to reconstruct the entire temple - only the most critically damaged areas.
So, the temple will remain mostly as a natural testament to its time. The heavily forested temple offers a stunning change of lighting throughout the day, and visitors will likely have the temple to themselves. This means escaping the noise and tourist scene at the other more-crowded temples.
What sets Banteay Chhmar apart is its remote, secluded location, undisturbed nature and distinctive set of Angkorian-era iconography. This is coupled with the hospitality of the villagers. It is likely that the temple's historical uniqueness will eventually lead to it becoming listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
There is a community-based tourism (CBT) group that offers tour guides, homestays, meals, activities and transportation. All the money spent by visitors stays within the community. There is also an excellent silk center in Banteay Chhmar. Additional interests include several satellite temples, two barays and learning about rural Cambodian life.
For a day trip from Siem Reap, the best idea is as follows: Leave Siem Reap around 7 to 7:30 a.m. You will arrive in Banteay Chhmar about 10:30 a.m. You can tour the temple site for a couple hours with a tour guide, have a picnic lunch inside the temple while listening to traditional music if you choose. After lunch, relax for a while, and then visit the silk center, village and/or satellite temples on your way back to Siem Reap.
The CBT is working on organizing day trips from Siem Reap this year to add to its tour packages. Or, if you do have more time, then you can stay overnight in one of the homestays. More information can found at the Banteay Chhmar CBT website.
Written 5 January 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tianabeana
Singapore, Singapore20 contributions
Mar 2022
Amazing experience! I recommend visiting Banteay Chhmar for two nights, and staying at a homestay organised by the community-based tourism programme. They can arrange transport from Battambang (3 hours drive) or Siem Reap (3.5 hours drive). We did a circuit of Siem Reap-Battambang-Banteay Chhmar-Siem Reap over 9 days, and would recommend that itinerary if you feel in the mood for exploration.
The homestay we stayed at was in a beautiful wooden house, and our homestay mum cooked delicious and hearty Khmer cuisine and was very friendly and kind to us. The community-based tourism programme is organised and run by the people of Banteay Chhmar, and so benefits the local community, and for the traveller, provides a rare glimpse of traditional life in the Cambodian countryside.
Our first night we enjoyed the traditional music performance, which was something very special, and the next day, the village tour gave us the opportunity to see the variety of produce cultivated in the region, visit the silk weaving workshop, as well as see some beautiful outlying temples. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful in sharing with us an insider perspective of life in Banteay Chhmar.
The main temple complex of Banteay Chhmar is mystical and memorable, with dramatic bas reliefs of the battles between the Khmer and the Cham. Whereas at Angkor Wat and Bayon, the Buddhist images have been chiselled away under subsequent Hindu rulers, Banteay Chhmar holds rare and beautiful sculptures of the Avalokiteshvara. The many face-towers, deep vegetation, and remote location give a sense of mystery.
As a practical recommendation, make sure to bring sufficient cash to make payment as well as for tips, including small bills (< USD$5 bills or equivalent in Cambodian riels). Also, if travelling in the dry season, make sure to carry and drink plenty of water (about 1L per person). For the adventurous traveller who is keen to go off the beaten track, a visit to Banteay Chhmar can be the highlight of your trip!
The homestay we stayed at was in a beautiful wooden house, and our homestay mum cooked delicious and hearty Khmer cuisine and was very friendly and kind to us. The community-based tourism programme is organised and run by the people of Banteay Chhmar, and so benefits the local community, and for the traveller, provides a rare glimpse of traditional life in the Cambodian countryside.
Our first night we enjoyed the traditional music performance, which was something very special, and the next day, the village tour gave us the opportunity to see the variety of produce cultivated in the region, visit the silk weaving workshop, as well as see some beautiful outlying temples. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful in sharing with us an insider perspective of life in Banteay Chhmar.
The main temple complex of Banteay Chhmar is mystical and memorable, with dramatic bas reliefs of the battles between the Khmer and the Cham. Whereas at Angkor Wat and Bayon, the Buddhist images have been chiselled away under subsequent Hindu rulers, Banteay Chhmar holds rare and beautiful sculptures of the Avalokiteshvara. The many face-towers, deep vegetation, and remote location give a sense of mystery.
As a practical recommendation, make sure to bring sufficient cash to make payment as well as for tips, including small bills (< USD$5 bills or equivalent in Cambodian riels). Also, if travelling in the dry season, make sure to carry and drink plenty of water (about 1L per person). For the adventurous traveller who is keen to go off the beaten track, a visit to Banteay Chhmar can be the highlight of your trip!
Written 13 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Bong, we are Cambodian and living in Phnom Penh city. Are the home stay available in Banteay Chhar commune, if we go for tent with some group of friends? How many kilometer from Phnom Penh to Banteay Chhar? How long does't it take to there?
Written 10 April 2020
Do you know what is the best way to get from Bangkok to Banteay Chhmar as quick as possible? is it possible to make this trip in one day?
Is it better to take a bus to Sisophon, then taxi?
thanks!
Written 26 December 2017
From bangkok to poipet , there are many vans operating with very good condition road but you have to hire taci from Poipet to Banteay chmar via sisophon. Transportation in Cambodia to Banteay Chmar can be arranged by CBT office. By the way, it takes 2-3 hours to Poipet, 1 hour for immigration at the custom , and another 2hours from poipet to Banteay chmar. You can not make this trip and sightseeing all the temple complex in just few hours so one day trip is impossible. The local bus from Sisophon to Banteay Chmar is very slow for distance of 60 kms and very few buses to take you there. Taxi is the most convenient and quick way to get there. Take a look at Banteay Chmar CBT website to plan your trip.
Written 27 December 2017
Hi,
To get here, you need to travel to Sisophon by bus or taxi. It's about 1 hour 20 minutes from Battambang to Sisophon.
Once in Sisophon, you need to go to the Phasa Thmei (New Market) on Road #56. It's a long walk from the bus station. I would recommend taking a moto dtop.
At the market you can meet a Banteay Chhmar CBT taxi. A share taxi is $5 per person. A private taxi is $25.
You can call (or have your guesthouse) call the Banteay Chhmar community-based group for more help (0)97 516 5533 or (0)12 237 605.
Hope this helps
Written 21 June 2016
Banteay Chhmar Temple is a very large temple complex. The temple is mostly collapsed and in its natural condition after 800 years. There are nine, smaller satellite temples around the main complex. Three of these temples - Ta Prohm, Samnang Tasok and Chinchem Trey - are still in mostly good condition and have the "Bayon-style" face towers. Additionally, Banteay Torp is a large and unique temple about 15 km away. Finally, there are two large barays (water reservoirs) in Banteay Chhmar. Hope this information helps.
Written 4 March 2015
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