Cambodia has completed the restoration of a more than 1,000-year-old brick temple located on the north side of Phnom Krom Temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) announced on Monday.
Ros Visoth, a Conservation Officer from the ANA’s Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, stated that the Hindu temple, built in the late ninth century, measures approximately six meters in width and over seven meters in height.
The restoration work, which began in June 2024, was completed in late December 2024.
“The ruined temple has undergone a complete restoration, returning it to its former glory thanks to the meticulous efforts of experts from the APSARA National Authority,” Visoth said.
He noted that prior to the restoration, the temple had suffered from significant deterioration, with its roof and walls badly decayed.
“During the rainy season, water seeped through the brick seams due to age, weather conditions, and plant growth that had damaged the bricks,” he said.
To restore the temple, the team focused on preserving the existing bricks by salvaging those that remained intact, cutting new bricks to fill gaps, and carefully reconstructing the walls to align with the original structure, Visoth explained.
Following the restoration, Visoth expressed confidence that the temple would become a captivating site for visitors, Xinhua news agency reported.
Perched on a hill, Phnom Krom Temple offers a variety of attractions, including stunning views of the freshwater Tonle Sap Lake, picturesque landscapes of golden rice fields, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and nearby villages and pagodas, according to the news release.
Located in northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-kilometer Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples built between the ninth and 13th centuries.
The site, which is Cambodia’s most popular tourist destination, attracted 1.02 million international tourists in 2024, generating $47.8 million in revenue from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
(Inputs from IANS)
