Preah Vihear Temple | 27 Mar 2026

Source: TOI 

The Preah Vihear Temple, a masterpiece of Khmer architecture, currently faces severe structural degradation following intense military skirmishes between Cambodia and Thailand. 

Preah Vihear Temple 

• About: It is an ancient Hindu temple built by the Khmer Empire, situated atop a 525-meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains along the border between Cambodia and Thailand. 
  • Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the temple later transitioned into a Buddhist site, reflecting the region's religious evolution. 
• Construction: While construction began in the early 9th century, the most significant structures were built during the reigns of Khmer kings Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II, the latter of whom also built Angkor Wat (Hindu-Buddhist temple complex built in Cambodia). 
• Unique Layout: Unlike most Khmer temples, which have a rectangular plan facing east, Preah Vihear is built on an 800-meter long north-south axis.  
  • It consists of a series of sanctuaries linked by pavements and staircases that rise toward the cliff’s edge, symbolizing the sacred Mount Meru (a sacred, five-peaked mountain present within Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmologies). 
• UNESCO Status: It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for being an "outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture" and for its exceptional carved stone ornamentation. 
• Territorial Dispute: A 1904 treaty between France (ruling Cambodia) and Siam (Thailand) placed the Preah Vihear Temple in Thailand. However, a 1907 map drawn by French officers placed it in Cambodia, and Thailand did not officially protest the map for decades. 
• ICJ Ruling: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia and reaffirmed its 1962 ruling in 2013. Currently, the temple is under Cambodian administration.  
  • In late 2025 and early 2026,  all five gateway pavilions (Gopuras) were damaged in renewed military tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.