Angkor Wat

អង្គរវត្ត

Angkor Wat is one of the most significant archaeological and religious sites in Southeast Asia. Located within the Angkor Archaeological Park, which extends over more than 400 square kilometres, it forms part of a broader landscape of temple complexes that served as successive capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

Since its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Angkor has been the focus of extensive international conservation efforts. Dozens of countries and organizations have contributed to restoration, research, and site management, shaping both the preservation of the monuments and the contemporary development of the region.

Image of Angkor's processional entrance. Courtesy of Vincent Ko Hon Chui, UNESCO.

APSARA, the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap, is in charge of research, protection and conservation of the site, as well as urban and tourist development in surrounding areas. This site and it's research teams are located in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Guardians of Angkor Wat. Courtesy of SKH, 2001.

The Bayon, within the Angkor Wat. Courtesy of SKH, 2001

Image of an Apsara in the Angkor temple complex, Image courtesy of SKH, 2001.

Image of temple conservation ongoing within the site. Courtesy of Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO.

Visnu in Angkor Wat. Courtesy of SKH, 2001.

Preah Vihear

ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ

The Temple of Preah Vihear, Cambodia

Situated along the Dangrek mountain range at the northern edge of Cambodia, the Temple of Preah Vihear is dedicated to Shiva and unfolds along an 800-metre axial plan of sanctuaries, terraces, and processional stairways. While much of the standing architecture dates to the early 11th century, the site’s origins can be traced to earlier foundations in the 9th century. Its dramatic cliffside setting distinguishes it from other Khmer temples and underscores its historical and symbolic significance.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, Preah Vihear has been the focus of sustained conservation and management efforts under the National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV), supported by international coordination through the ICC–Preah Vihear.

More recently, the site has been affected by damage associated with the 2025 regional conflict. Reports indicate impacts to surrounding infrastructure and sections of the temple complex, raising renewed concerns about the vulnerability of heritage sites in contested border regions and the challenges of protecting them during periods of political instability.

Temple of Preah Vihear, Image courtesy of SKH.

Temple is undergoing restoration and conservation. Temple of Preah Vihear, Image courtesy of SKH.

Banteay Chhmar

បន្ទាយឆ្មារ

On the Tentative List for World Heritage Inscription: Banteay Chhmar

Banteay Chhmar is one of the largest and most complex temple sites of the late Khmer Empire, located in northwestern Cambodia near the Thai border. The monument extends across an expansive landscape structured by reservoirs, moats, and subsidiary temples, with a central enclosure measuring approximately 250 by 190 metres. The temple complex is distinguished by its extensive bas-reliefs and a network of towers, many of which feature richly carved iconography associated with royal and religious narratives.

Long affected by structural instability, environmental exposure, and past looting, Banteay Chhmar remains in a fragile state and continues to require sustained conservation efforts. Much of this work depends on the training and support of local heritage professionals, alongside ongoing collaboration with international partners.

While the site lies at a distance from the primary areas affected by the 2025 regional conflict, the broader instability has raised concerns for heritage protection in border regions and underscores the vulnerability of remote archaeological sites with limited resources.

Sambor Prei Kuk

ប្រាសាទសំបូរព្រៃគុក

World Heritage: Sambor Prei Kuk

Sambor Prei Kuk, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, is located in Kampong Thom Province in central Cambodia, within the basin of the Stung Sen River, a tributary of the Tonle Sap. The site corresponds to the ancient city of Ishanapura, capital of the Chenla Empire in the late 6th and early 7th centuries.

The archaeological complex comprises multiple temple groups, with the northern and southern clusters dating to the 7th century and the central group constructed later. Its distinctive brick sanctuaries, including rare octagonal towers, are characteristic of the pre-Angkorian period and reflect an important phase in the development of early Khmer architecture.

Although of major historical significance, Sambor Prei Kuk remains comparatively under-resourced. Ongoing concerns include conservation challenges, environmental pressures, and the need for sustained investment in local archaeological infrastructure, including field equipment, training, and research facilities.

Local field guide at Sambor Prei Kuk, Image courtesy of SKH

Restoration project ongoing at Sambor Prei Kuk, Image courtesy of SKH