CAMBODIA, February 8, 2011: ‘Very serious’ damage has been caused to four gopuras (towered gateways found at the entrances to temples) of landmark Preah Vihear Shiva temple, according to a Cambodian Government communication.
Known as Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, this remote temple at the border between Thailand and Cambodia, which had reportedly not been clearly demarcated, has been a source of tension for generations. The two nations have been disputing the territory where the temple stands.
[HPI note: The source did not state clearly what caused the gopuras to collapse, but no use of heavy artillery has been reported in recent times around the temple.]
Preah Vihear was said to even predate Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple complex by about 100 years and its stunning setting made it finest of all the ruins left from the mighty Khmer civilization. An outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture mostly created by Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II, it was a unique architectural complex of a series of sanctuaries and was said to be exceptional for the quality of its architecture and carved stone ornamentation.