Preah Vihear Temple

Preah Vihear Temple Latest News

In a sad turn of events, Thailand and Cambodia are currently fighting over the centuries-old Preah Vihear Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

About Preah Vihear Temple

• It is a Hindu temple located in the Preah Vihear Province, in the northern part of Cambodia.
• It is situated atop a cliff on the Cambodia–Thailand border in the Dangrek Mountain range.
• It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 
• It was built during the period of the Khmer Empire, in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
• It was built firstly by King Suryavarman I (1002-50) and then expanded upon by Suryavarman II (1113-50).
• It was used by the ancient kings of Angkor for over 800 years. 
• After the decline of Hinduism in the region, the temple gradually transformed into a Buddhist monument, which is why it features some Buddhist decorations.  
• Due to its location, the Preah Vihear temple has been at the heart of the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand since the 19th and 20th centuries. 
  • In 1904, both countries signed a treaty granting Cambodia the right to occupy the temple. 
  • However, the Thai government contested the treaty and took control of the site. 
  • This led to a public protest by Cambodians in 1959. 
  • To resolve the issue, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in 1960, affirming Cambodia’s ownership of the temple.
• In July 2008, Preah Vihear was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Preah Vihear Temple Architecture

• It is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture.
• The temple is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis.
• It features more than five successive gopuras. 
• Unlike other structures of this kind, the gopuras here are connected by a long path and topped with multi-tiered platforms. 
• Some of these gopuras have stone roofs, while others have wooden roofs.

Source: MSN