SIEM REAP: West Mebon Temple, on an island in the centre of the reservoir west of Bayon Temple, is attracting significant interest ahead of its official opening to visitors in November.
After completing extensive restoration work, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) is preparing the site for its official debut.
However, many tourists have already enjoyed boat rides to the temple and captured photographs.
According to the ANA, visitors have praised the temple’s exceptional architecture and the restoration team's efforts to repair and restore the historic structure to its former glory.
The ANA and the French government carried out the restoration after the temple suffered extensive damage, with much of its original statuary lost.
Surrounded by the vast expanse of the Baray’s waters, West Mebon Temple offers distinctive beauty and scenery that changes throughout the day, from early morning until sunset.
The temple was built in the 11th century, during the reign of King Udayadityavarman II, as a place of worship.
In 1936, a remarkable bronze statue of the Hindu god Vishnu was uncovered by archaeologists working at the site.
The statue, the largest Khmer bronze ever discovered, is currently on display at the National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC, after restoration and several months on display in France.
