Preah Vihear Temple in Dispute
UNESCO World Heritage Status for Disputed Cambodian Temple
Oct 19, 2008
Of all the temples in South East Asia one of the most spectacular has to be the Preah Vihear temple that sits high on a 1720 feet escarpment of the Dangrek mountain range, straddling the Thai/Cambodia border and overlooking the plain of Cambodia.
The Hermitage
The first temple on the site of Wat Preah Vihear was established as a hermitage and begun in the early 9th century and later dedicated to the Hindu gods Shiva; but the remains seen today date from the early 11th century. The temple comprises a series of sanctuaries linked by pavements and stairways that leads to an impressive 2,600 feet (800 meter) avenue which runs the length of the temple.
Impressive Khmer Architecture
The temple is one of the most striking to have been built during the 600-year-long Khmer empire. It was mainly built over a 100-150 year period during the reigns of the kings, King Suryavarman (1002-1050) and King Suryavarman II (1113-1150). Its main architectural features are Khmer in origin but signs of earlier influences particularly the Bantery Srei style is noticeable in the earlier buildings.
The Preah Vihear temple includes some superb carved friezes one is of particular interest as it shows King Suryavarman II going about his devotions and presenting gifts of white parasols, gold bowls and elephants to his spiritual leader. This carved frieze is just one example of the outstanding carvings to be found at the temple.
Bantery Srei temple was constructed during the 10th century again dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The building is in a good state of preservation despite being built of golden sandstone.
Access
Access to Phrae Vihear temple is easier from the Thai side of the border and involves a climb up a grand staircase of several hundred steps that have been cut into the Dangrek mountainside. The staircase leads to a sequence of five pavilions situated as various intervals along the stairway. But while the dispute continues the Thai side has been closed, access is still available from Cambodia.
The Glory
But the crowning glory of the temple is the 800 meter avenue that at one end opens out to a strikingly beautiful scene. The escarpment drops 1700 feet to the forested plains below and that stretch seemingly into a giddying infinity. Look to your right and you are gazing at rural Laos, turn 180 degrees and you are looking at Thailand, incline your head to your feet and you are looking at a structure that has seen strife and disputes, wars, civil wars and insurrections of various kinds.
The Dispute
It has paid host to French colonists, the Japanese during World War II and the Khmer Rouge during Pol Pot’s tyrannical reign. Now it is the centre of a territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and recent clashes have seen soldiers on both sides injured and killed.
This dispute has its origins in the French map of 1907 which showed the temple in Cambodia and not as previously assumed Siam. This dispute rumbled on until 1962 the International Court ruled that the 1907 map was accurate and the temple was Cambodian. And there it rested until the middle of 2008 UNESCO declared the temple to be a World Heritage Site.
Despite the recent disputes the temple survives gracing the land over which it has held domination for a millennia. Sheltered by the pavilions, the cloisters and the audacious vision of its builders the Preah Vihear temple stands aloof from the forays. And long may it do so.
Bangkok Post article here.
