A staff member works at the restoration site of the front terrace of the Banteay Samre Temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on Oct. 17, 2025. - ANA via Xinhua
PHNOM PENH: Archaeologists have been restoring the ruined front terrace of the Banteay Samre Temple in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Tuesday (Oct 21).
Long Nary, head of the restoration team from the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the front terrace on the south-west section has been severely damaged.
He added that the lower parts of the stones are decayed, and several pillars have deteriorated and shifted from their original positions, resulting in structural instability.
"To address this, experts are reinforcing the foundation and structure by removing rotten soil and damaged stones, adding new stones where necessary, sealing the floor, and filling any holes or cracks to prevent further water infiltration," he said.
"Since early 2025, the restoration project is planned to take one year. However, heavy rains this season have slowed progress," Nary said. "Despite this, the team is working diligently to complete the restoration as scheduled or with only a minor delay."
He said the current restoration focusses solely on the body of the terrace, as the restoration of the Naga balustrades at the top is planned for next year.
Built in the mid-12th century by Suryavarman II, Banteay Samre, which is a Hindu temple in the Angkor Wat Temple style, was made of laterite and sandstone.
It is one of the magnificent temples in the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province.
The Unesco-listed park, which is the most popular tourist destination in the South-East Asian nation, is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The park attracted a total of 705,269 international tourists in the first nine months of 2025, generating a gross revenue of US$32.7 million from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.- Xinhua
