It ranks among the Khmer empire’s larger temples. It was the center of a town, surrounded by a moat. Banteay Srei is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, north-east of the main group of temples. It is built of red sandstone that lends itself to the elaborated decorative wall carvings. The buildings the themselves are miniature in scale. It is widely praised as a “precious gem” “Jewel of Khmer art”