Preah Vihear

Cambodia World Heritage Sites We have covered this topic in earlier posts but, with several Southeast Asian sites having been added to UNESCO’s list in recent times, here’s a brief update of Cambodia World Heritage Sites, as well as some of the candidates on its Tentative List. Considering the wealth of unique archaeological and historical sites across the kingdom we…

Preah Vihear Note, although this post was originally published in 2012, regrettably, it is still valid today as bickering over Preah Vihear Temple and other disputed border points persists between the Cambodian and Thai governments. Preah Vihear Temple to the Khmers or Khao Preah Viharn for the Thais, the recently inscribed UNESCO World Heritage site is situated smack bang on…

Bakheng Temple “Though the identity of Bakheng Temple (or Phnom Bakheng) is today firmly established, the place hardly gets the respect it deserves…..Late every afternoon, just before sunset, crowds troop up the hill, on foot or by elephant at 20 dollars a ride. Then they climb the temple’s steps to the standing room only, plaza-like upper tier. …….Then they throng…

King Suryavarman King Suryavarman I acceded to the throne of Angkor in 1006 after a 4-year struggle with rival claimant Jayaviravarman. Later inscriptions do backdate his reign to 1002 – presumably to delete any traces of his pesky antagonist – but Jayaviravarman, ensconced in the imperial capital, Yasodharapura, and a close relative (possibly a brother) of the previous monarch  Udayadityavarman…