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Emergency Restoration of 1,000-Year-Old Temple Completed in Cambodia's Angkor Complex

Archaeologists have completed the emergency restoration of the early 10th-century Baksei Chamkrong temple in Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park. The project, led by the APSARA National Authority, focused on reinforcing the roof and inner walls of the upper sanctuary to prevent collapse. Damaged bricks were replaced and the structure was stabilized with mortar reinforcement. The restoration showcases the expertise of Cambodian conservation specialists in preserving national cultural heritage.

Key Points: 1,000-Year-Old Baksei Chamkrong Temple Restored in Angkor

  • Emergency restoration of Baksei Chamkrong temple completed after roof and walls risked collapse
  • Damaged bricks replaced, interior core refilled, and mortar reinforcement applied
  • Scaffolding remains for monitoring of mortar and cracked stones
  • Project demonstrates growing capability of Cambodian conservation experts
2 min read

Emergency restoration of millennium-old temple completed in Cambodia's Angkor complex

Archaeologists complete emergency restoration of Baksei Chamkrong temple in Angkor Archaeological Park, reinforcing vulnerable sections to prevent collapse and preserve the historic monument.

"The restoration team had reinforced the Hindu temple's most vulnerable sections, ensuring that the historic monument will remain stable and preserved for generations to come. - Put Soth"

Phnom Penh, May 9

Archaeologists have completed the emergency restoration of the early 10th-century Baksei Chamkrong temple in Cambodia's famed Angkor Archaeological Park after parts of the structure were at risk of collapse, the APSARA National Authority said in a news release on Saturday.

Put Soth, head of the Baksei Chamkrong restoration site, said the restoration team had reinforced the Hindu temple's most vulnerable sections, ensuring that the historic monument will remain stable and preserved for generations to come, reports Xinhua news agency.

The most critical areas included the roof and the inner walls of the upper sanctuary, he said, adding that the roof had suffered severe deterioration due to decayed bricks, and stones had fallen twice during the rainy season last year.

"To address these risks, the APSARA restoration team replaced damaged bricks with newly produced ones, refilled the interior core of the upper structure to restore its original form and stabilise the remaining walls, and applied additional mortar reinforcement to strengthen the structure," Soth said.

"Although the restoration work has been completed, the scaffolding will remain temporarily in place to allow experts to continue monitoring the condition of the mortar and cracked stones, ensuring the long-term durability and safety of the structure," he added.

Soth expressed pride in the achievement of Cambodian conservation specialists who successfully restored the nearly 30-meter-high temple tower.

The project demonstrates the growing capability of Cambodian experts in preserving national cultural heritage, he said, adding that additional restoration work may be conducted in the future, particularly on the tower, stairways, and surrounding walls.

The emergency stabilisation and restoration project for Baksei Chamkrong Temple began in October 2025 and concluded in May 2026.

Made of bricks, laterite and sandstone, the Baksei Chamkrong temple, which is more than 1,000 years old, stands on a four-tiered laterite platform with a total height of 29.2 meters.

It is one of the major temples in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in northwest Siem Reap province, which is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Impressive work by the Cambodian team! But honestly, it's a bit ironic that a temple dedicated to Hindu gods gets better restoration funding abroad than many of our own temples in India. Still, happy to see this piece of history saved. 😊
J
James A
Fascinating how a 1000-year-old temple in Cambodia connects to Indian civilization. The architecture, the deities, the Sanskrit inscriptions - it's like a time capsule of our shared history. Great that UNESCO is involved too.
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Vikram M
Baksei Chamkrong means "Bird That Shelters Under Its Wings" - fitting name for a temple that's been protected through centuries. The restoration technique described is quite traditional, using replacement bricks and mortar reinforcement. Good to see local expertise being developed.
S
Sarah B
Interesting that the restoration started in 2025 and finished in 2026 - shows how careful and time-consuming heritage conservation is. The scaffolding staying up for monitoring is a smart move, especially given the rainy season damage mentioned.
A
Ananya R
As someone who studied history, this is heartening. The Angkor complex has temples that show the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism across Asia. The detail about the 29.2m height and four-tiered platform is impressive architecture for the 10th century! Hope more Indians visit and appreciate this.
M

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