Prasat Preah Vihear
Set high on a cliff in the Dangkrek Mountains, close to
the Cambodia-Thai border, Prasat Preah Vihear, or Sacred Shrine, enjoys the
most spectacular setting of any ancient Khmer temple. Offering breathtaking
views across the lush green plains below, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is
believed to have been built on the site of a 9th-century sanctuary dedicated to
Shiva, the Hindu God of
Destruction. The greater part of the complex was
constructed during the reigns of King Surayavarman I (r.1002–50) and
Surayavarman II (r.1113–50), the great builder of Angkor Wat. The earliest
surviving parts of the temple, however, date from the 10th century. Following
the decline of Hindu worship in the Khmer Empire, the temple was dedicated to
Buddhism.
A QUESTION OF OWNERSHIP
Long claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia, Prasat Preah
Vihear was finally declared Cambodian property by the International Court of
Justice in 1962. Despite this, many Thais argue that the geo graphical location
of the temple makes the decision unjustified and impractical – Preah Vihear is
difficult to access from Cambodia, while access from Thailand is easy and
smooth by way of an excellent surfaced highway. The dispute flared up again
after UNESCO declared the temple a World
Heritage Site in 2008. Gunfire in the recent past
reportedly damaged more than 60 stones of the complex. Since then, the
situation has remained calm. Cambodian soldiers guarding the complex.
