UNESCO Preah Vihear Temple Part 2

Preah Vihear temple is located in Svay Chhrum village, Kontuot commune, Choam Ksan district, about 108 kilometers north of Preah Vihear provincial town. Preah Vihear province was created in 1964 by cutting the land from Stung Treng, Kampong Thom and Riem Reap provinces. The province is at the north of Cambodia, on the plateau that is rich in forests, mountains and streams.

The temple was originally known as Sreisikharesvara, which means the power of the mountain. The temple was built over 300 years in the late 9th and early 12th centuries to worship Shiva Brahmanism by four kings:

FIRST KING: King Yasovarnam I (A.D. 889-900)
The king built the central tower of Preah Vihear temple. King Yasovarnam I built Yasodharapura city and preferred to build the temple on a natural mountaintop.

SECOND KING: King Surayavarman I (A.D. 1002-1050)
The king built a long hall next to the central tower, the rampart and three Guparas (gateway). According to the temple inscription, the king prepared a ceremony to invite the god Patresvara who stay Wat Pu (now in Lao) to stay together with the god Sreisikharesvara to protect and take care of the Khmer Empire and its people.

THIRD KING: King Jayavarman VI (A.D. 1080-1109)
The King built two libraries and repaired some parts of the temple.

FOURTH KING: King Suryavarman II (A.D. 1113-1150)
The king built a terrace with seven-head-nagas, statues of standing lions a long the working path and some more naga staircases. He also prepared the inauguration ceremony for the temple and regarded it as a worship place for all kings.

There are many Brahmanism stories sculpted on the fronton of Preah Vehear temple. Two of those stories are very meaningful. One is the story of victory of Krishna over Bana the Demon king. This story represents the victory to get fresh water from Yumnea river. Another story is about the Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Preah Vihear temple, which is 800 meters long and 400 meters wide, sits atop the 625 meter-high Phnom Preah Vihear in the Dangrek Mountain range on the border of Thailand. The Cambodian side of the mountain is very steep, while the Thai side is gently rolling.

Three Ways To Get Preah Vihear temple:
-From Cambodia by the ancient road Svay Chhrum. There is staircase to the mountaintop.

-From Cambodia by Kor 1 road, which has been reconstructed with concrete. Most local people and sellers go up the mountain by this road.

-From Thailand, the route most popular with foreign visitors. Foreigners can also get to the temple from the Cambodian side, today the route a little easy.

Preah Vihear temple is a cultural and historical site. The French handed over the temple to Thailand in 1954. It's was returned to Cambodia on June 15, 1962, in a decision rendered by the International Court.

Under the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1904 and 1907, the line of frontier between Cambodia and Thai along the Dongrak Mountains followed justice at the Hague officially found that the Preah Vihear Temple situated inside the Cambodia territory.
The World Heritage Committee, meeting for its 32nd session, finished inscribing the Temple of Preah Vihear sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List on 8 July with the addition of 19 cultural sites and eight natural sites to the List.

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