Preah Vihear Temple
The Preah Vihear Temple is a historic Angkorian temple devoted to the Hindu deity Shiva, located on the Cambodia-Thailand border. Thailand has been ordered to evacuate a military presence that has been stationed around the temple since 1954, and the site is hotly contested.
The Preah Vihear Temple's first history may be traced back to the ninth century AD, while the temple itself, as seen today, is largely from the eleventh century. The Preah Vihear Temple was built by the Khmer Empire's rulers, first by King Suryavarman I (1002-50) and later by Suryavarman II (1002-50). (1113-50).
The Preah Vihear Temple's position, high atop the Dângrêk Mountains, is possibly the most stunning part of the temple, which is made up of a number of sanctuaries known as "gopuras" and well-preserved complex stone buildings.
This spectacular position, however, is one of the reasons why the Preah Vihear Temple receives fewer visitors than other Angkorian temples such as Angkor Wat. The ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple has been a source of conflict between Cambodia and Thailand for many years, and has almost resulted in war.
Although the Preah Vihear Temple is officially located in Cambodia, it is more easily accessible from Thailand. Soldiers from both sides are still stationed at the site, and it remains a dangerous environment. In 2008, UNESCO listed the Preah Vihear Temple, which was also a contentious issue.
Location: Choam Khsant, Preah Vihear, Cambodia
