The mini Angkor Wat 

While Angkor Wat is Cambodia's biggest

Dr Uday Dokras

The 11th century temple was built by King Udayadityavarman II son of the

king Suryavarman I  and despite some looting it is in a considerably better
state of repair than Wat Ek Phnom. It was built to give thanks, ask for help,
and pray to God. In this era, they have a strong belief in the god. Especially in
Hindu.

Wat Banan (Khmer: ភ្នបាំ ណន់) is the best-preserved of the Khmer temples

in Battambang Province. The distinctive five towers of the temple are similar to
the much larger and more famous temple of Angkor Wat. At the base of the
mountain, is a step laterite staircase flanked by nagas.
Adapts the architecture of mid 11th century and the end of 12th century the
temple was first built by king, Ut Tak Yea Tit Tya Varman II (1050-1066) and
then was finally built by the king, Jarvarman VII (1181-1219). The temple is
located on the top of approximate 400-meter heighten mountain at Kon Tey 2
commune, Ba Nan District in 25-kilometer distance from the provincial town
by the provincial Road No 155 parallel to Sang Ke River. At the mountain's
valley, there are Ku Teuk and two main natural wells, namely: Bit Meas and
Chhung or Chhung Achey.

This Angkor-era mountaintop temple is definitely worth a look. At the top are
beautiful views of the winding Sangker River set amidst sugar palm trees, rice
fields and small villages. To the south you will see a mountain range that
features a crocodile shaped mountain. The temple itself is beautiful looking
from the ground as well as the top. The structures are pretty much intact, but
unfortunately like so many Khmer ruins, they have fallen victim to massive
looting. Still, there are some interesting works to see. There are five temple
structures, like Angkor, with the middle being the largest. (Use caution around
the entrance to the center structure-there is a large hanging block-a headache-
in-waiting for some poor soul).

As with Preah Vihear Temple (close to the Thai border in the province of the
same name), there are a couple of big guns on the mountaintop next to the
ruins. The guns are still pointing down at the surrounding area as they were
during the more recent years of the government-Khmer Rouge skirmishes.It's
part of the sad irony of Cambodia that a place built for worship, harmony and
tranquility was utilized as a place for making war. Looking down the hillside to
the southwest you can see more of the ruins. As always, if you go looking
around, STAY ON THE WORN PATHWAYS AND TRAILS- there may still be
undiscovered landmines.
Phnom Banan

at Banan Temple Cambodia

From outside, the temple looks like be left fallow through many years but in
fact, it is used to worship the Gods, the Buddha by native people. Following the
path to the top of a mountain, Wat Banan Temple will appear in front of you
with an amazing scenery surrounding.
Some people told that it have been not clear about who constructed this temple
and when it was constructed. On the other hand, some believe that the time
was around mid 11th century to the end of 12th century and went through two
reigns of King Ut Tak Yea Tit Tya Varman II (1050 - 1066) and completed by
King Jarvarman VII (1181 - 1219).

 
Wat Banan Temple
To get to the Wat Banan, you have to climb approximately 400 meters heighten
mountain with around 300 stairs but the overview is worth for that. There are
stunning 360 degree panoramic views from the top, visitors can see the
immense Sang Ke River, thousand sugar palm trees below with rice fields and
small villages. But the worthest is still the amazing old Wat Banan of Angkore-
era, the whole temples are still keep its origin architecture but like the other
ruins in Cambodia, they have been also struggled with extreme looting. There
are five temple structres, like Angkor Wat with the middle being the largest.
These majestic towers with the carvings of the now-headless apsaras on it are
the best points in your journey. Otherwise, close to Wat Banan is the Prassat
Banan vineyard, the only vineyard in Cambodia, bringing visitors an experience
combined visiting the temple to outside activities such as dropping grapes and
making vine.

Stairs in Wat Banan Temple

Located at about 45 minutes from the famous Phnom Sampeau, the temple is
at Kon Tey 2 commune, Ba Nan district in 25 km far from the centre of town
and go along the provincial Road No 155 parallel to Sang Ke River.
Stela erected by Udayadityavarman II to mark tax-exempted regions in
the Mekong Delta. Found in My Qui, Long An province, Vietnam.

Suryavarman I  posthumously Nirvanapada) was king of the Khmer

Empire from 1006 to 1050.  Suryavarman usurped King Udayadityavarman I,
defeating his armies in approximately 1002. After a protracted war with
Udayadityavarman's would-be successor, Jayavirahvarman,[2] Suryavarman I
claimed the throne in 1010. Suryavarman was a Mahayana Buddhist  who was
also tolerant of the growing Theravada Buddhist presence in the Khmer
kingdom.

Suryavarman I established diplomatic relations with the Chola dynasty of

south India (Tamilnadu) around 1012. Suryavarman I sent a chariot as a
present to the Chola Emperor Rajaraja Chola I. It seems that the Khmer king
Suryavarman I requested aid from the powerful Chola Emperor Rajendra
Chola against the Tambralinga kingdom. After learning of Suryavarman's
alliance with Rajendra Chola, the Tambralinga kingdom requested aid from the
Srivijaya king Sangrama Vijayatungavarman. This eventually led to the Chola
Empire coming into conflict with the Srivijiya Empire. The war ended with a
victory for the Chola dynasty and Angkor Wat of the Khmer Empire, and major
losses for the Sri Vijaya Empire and the Tambralinga kingdom.

His reign lasted some 40 years and he spent much of that time defending it.
Known as the "King of the Just Laws," he consolidated his political power by
inviting some four thousand local officials to the royal palace and swear an
oath of allegiance to him. Suryavarman I favored Buddhism but he allowed the
people to continue practising Hinduism. His palace was situated in the vicinity
of Angkor Thom, and he was the first of the Khmers rulers to protect his palace
with a wall.
In the inscription at Tuol Ta Pec, Suryavarman is said to have known of the
principles of the six Vedangas.
Suryavarman I expanded his territory to the west to Lopburi, including
the Menam basin in Thailand, and east into the Mekong basin. 
Suryavarman probably started construction at Preah Khan Kompong Svay, and
expanded Banteay Srei, Wat Ek Phnom, and Phnom Chisor. The major
constructions built by this king were the Prasat Preah Vihear, on Dangrek
Mountain, and completion of the Phimeanakas and Ta Keo. Suryavarman I also
started the second Angkor reservoir, the West Baray, which is 8 km long and
2.1 km wide.   It held more than 123 million liters of water. This is the largest
Khmer reservoir that survives. There is some indication that Suryavarman I
sent a gift to Rajendra Chola I the Emperor of the Chola Empire to possibly
facilitate trade.
During his reign, 47 cities (known as 47 pura) were under the control of Khmer
Empire.

Suryavarman I died in 1050 and was given the posthumous

title Nirvanapada ("the king who has gone to nirvana"), a nod to his Buddhist
beliefs. He was succeeded by his sons, Udayadityavarman II, who died around
1066 and Harshavarman III (Sadasivapada). The latter continued the struggle
against internal rebellions and fought back assaults from the Chams until his
death in 1080.

Udayadityavarman I) ruled the Angkor Kingdom from 1050 to 1066 A.D. He

was the successor of Suryavarman I not his son; he descended
from Yasovarman I's spouse. He built the Baphuon Temple to honor the
god Shiva, but some of the sculptures are dedicated to Buddha. He also
completed the construction of the West Baray reservoir and built the West
Mebon, a raised-earth island in the center.
During his reign, several attempted rebellions, in 1051 and 1065, were crushed
by his general Sangrama.

The Sdok Kak Thom temple, located near the present day Thai town
of Aranyaprathet, was also constructed during his reign. The temple is perhaps
most famous as the discovery site of a detailed inscription recounting the
sequence of previous Khmer kings. The inscription stele is now part of the
collection of the national museum in Bangkok.
He was succeeded by his younger brother Harshavarman III.