PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): Restoration work on the nearly 1,000-year-old southern library of the Angkor Wat in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park has been completed successfully, the APSARA National Authority said in a news release.
Angkor Wat is a major temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the country's northwest Siem Reap province.
Khem Mony, head of the restoration site, said prior to the restoration, the library, located on the second terrace of the Angkor Wat, underwent severe deterioration, particularly with rotting and cracking stone pillars on the southeast side.
He added that the walls were also compromised, leading to instability of the beams and roof above.
"After five months of dedicated work, the restoration team has addressed significant damage that had left the structure in a dilapidated state," he said. "The renovation has reinforced the pillars, walls, floors, and foundations of the library."
According to Mony, the repair efforts included the integration of new stones to bolster the overall structure and to prevent further sagging of the floor.
"For the older pillars on the east side, approximately a quarter of decayed stones were replaced, while half of the decayed stones in the interior pillars were also substituted with new materials to enhance structural integrity," he said.
"The library is now strong and safe for visitors," he added.
The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The ancient site, which is the kingdom's most popular tourist destination, attracted a total of 1.02 million international tourists in 2024, generating a gross revenue of 47.8 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. - Xinhua
