Tuol Don Srei (Baray District)

Also recorded as Tuol Yeay Srei Temple Base, it’s located 6km east of the RN 6 in Baray District, and around 1km east of the ruins of Ta Pich. It’s a large moat-surrounded mound accessed by wading through the rice fields and entering from either the east or west side, the traditional entrance would have been on the east.

On visiting in Sep 2023 the site is well overgrown, the dry months would be a better time to visit :). The site features a moat as mentioned, with a causeway on the east, an outer laterite wall, and inside are two shelters featuring remnants of the site including a lintel fragment, fragment of a naga finial, and window column fragments. On the east side of the site is a large pediment fragment. Further to the east is small basin.

Historical Notes

Tuol Don Srei and Tuol Tà Péc (srok Bàrày; khét Kompon Thom). – These two groups are unique: they are located 7 or 8 kilometers east of the village of Barày.

Tuol Don Srei includes an enclosure (without gopura) inside which three small brick and sandstone sanctuaries dating from the 10th century are raised on a common base. The lintels and pediments (which have all collapsed) are of good quality: we brought to the Museum the fragment of one of them, which is a replica of that of Bantay Srei: Tilottama, Sunda, and Upasunda.

Tuol Tà Péč presents the same overall arrangements; However, it is larger and has a gopura; its three sanctuaries are entirely made of sandstone. This is where we found the pieces which had been pointed out to us by Mr. RESAL, volunteer collaborator of the French School: a fine sandstone stele, inscribed on all four sides, in excellent state of conservation (height, 1 m. 10; side, o m. 35); and a fragment of the nine planets (comprising only the first four deities), each in a reduced prasat. These two pieces were brought back to the Museum.

BEFEO Chronique 1936

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..