Banteay Chhmar (Khmer: បន្ទាយឆ្មារ) is a commune (khum) in the district of Thma Puok in the province of Banteay Meanchey in northwestern Cambodia. It is located 63 km north of Sísofon and about 20 km east of the Thai border. The commune of Banteay Chhmar contains 14 villages.

The massive Banteay Chhmar temple, along with its shrines and satellite reservoirs (baray), comprises one of the most important and least understood archaeological complexes of the Angkor period in Cambodia.

History

Like Angkor Thom, the Banteay Chhmar temple was held during the reign of Jayavarman VII in the late 12th or early 13th century. One of the shrines of the temple once had an image of Srindrakumararajaputra (the Crown Prince), a son of Jayavarman VII, who died before him. [1]: 131-132 The temple gates record the invasion of Champa by Yasovarman I.

The long and ancient Khmer inscription found on the site (K.227), and now displayed at the National Museum, Phnom Penh, reports how Prince Srindrakumara was protected on two different occasions by four fellow armsmen, once against Rahu, and one time in a military campaign against Champa. Its four statues, with one of the princes, were placed in the central chapel. [3]: 176,180

Another low-relief state that Yasovarman II was attacked by Rahu, but "saved by a young prince". [3]: 163