PHNOM PENH: Archaeologists have been undertaking restoration work on the western section of the millennium-old Phnom Bakheng Temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Saturday (June 13).
Chiv Phirom, project engineer for the Phnom Bakheng restoration project, said work on the western section began in March 2026, and the restoration includes the reassembly of walls, floors, stairways, and two small shrines known as C6 and C7, located on the fourth level of the temple.
"The project is being carried out by 10 specialised teams responsible for foundation reinforcement, wall stabilisation, stairway restoration, and other conservation activities," he said.
Before restoration began, the team conducted extensive studies of the drainage system, temple terrain, stone materials, structural conditions, and overall architectural layout, he said, adding that damage assessments were carefully documented, and restoration plans were developed in consultation with national and international technical experts.
"The restoration process has been divided into several phases. These include consolidating and strengthening deteriorated stone elements, reinforcing damaged foundations, realigning leaning walls and improving the drainage system on the third level of the temple," Phirom said.
The project is made in collaboration between the ANA and the World Monuments Fund (WMF).
"The western section of Phnom Bakheng has suffered damage similar to that found in other parts of the temple," Savbot Kong, WMF country director, said. "Restoration efforts have focussed on strengthening and reassembling walls and floors, while deteriorated or missing laterite blocks have been replaced where necessary."
Built in the late ninth century and early 10th century during the reign of King Yasovarman I, Phnom Bakheng Temple attracts hundreds of visitors daily to enjoy stunning sunset views and the panoramic scenery of the Angkor area.
It is one of the key temples in the 401-square-km Unesco-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in north-west Cambodia's Siem Reap province. - Xinhua
