Preah Vihear Temple
Preah Vihear ranks among the world's holiest sites. Preah Vihear Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built during the period of the Khmer Empire. The temple was an important place of pilgrimage during the Angkorian period and is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture.
Temple of Preah Vihear sets location in the same name province, which borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap to the west, Kampong Thom to the south and Stung Treng to the east. As an UNESCO World Heritage, Preah Vihear ranks among the world's holiest sites.
The ruin temple of Preah Vihear
Prasat Preah Vihear was built by a succession of seven Khmer monarchs, beginning with Yasovarman I (889 – 910) and ending with Suryavarman II (1112 – 1152), builder of Angkor Wat. Like other temple-mountains from this period, it was designed to represent Mount Meru, the home of the gods and was dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. As a key edifice of the empire's spiritual life, it was supported and modified by successive kings and so bears elements of several architectural styles.
Preah Vihear Temple
Preah Vihear Temple is an ancient Hindu temple built during the period of the Khmer Empire and an important place of pilgrimage during the Angkorian period. The temple is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, in terms of plan, decoration and relationship to the spectacular landscape environment. Possessing a unique architectural complex, Prasat Preah Vihear contains a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases on an 800 meter long axis, situated atop Dangrek Mountains.
Bird's-eye view of Prasat Preah Vihear
Preah Vihear temple has 4 levels and 4 courtyards which comprise of 5 Gopuras on the third level. This group of building was the King’s residence when he came to pay homage to the mighty God and the two wings were the shelters for the pilgrims.
Preah Vihear is the subject of a long-running territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and several soldiers on both sides were killed in clashes in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Both sides are trying to work out a diplomatic solution. In 1962, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that it belonged to Cambodia.
On July 8th, 2008, the World Heritage Committee decided to add Prasat Preah Vihear, along with 26 other sites, to the World Heritage Site list, despite several protests from Thailand, since the map implied Cambodian ownership of disputed land next to the temple.
The restful moment at Preah Vihear Temple
The easiest way to reach Preah Vihear is from the town of Sra'em, Cambodia. However, there’s no public transit from Sra’em to Preah Vihear, you can only choose between motortaxis or motorbike rides. Additionally, there’re buses running directly from Phnom Penh via Kompong Thom to Sra'em, which leaves in the morning and arrives in the evening. From Siem Reap, the road to the base of Preah Vihear is fully paved, about 210 km. Due to the steep road going uphill, you have to book a 4x4 or moto to reach the temple.
The visit to Preah Vihear Temple welcomes tourists from 7am to 5pm every day.
