Preah Vihear Temple
Praehvihea Temple is located in a picturesque area of Cambodia on top of a cliff in the Dangrek mountain range right on the border with Thailand. From the height of the temple, you can enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding area. The temple complex was built in the 11th-12th centuries during the reign of Suryavarman I and Suryavarman II in honor of the Hindu god Shiva (God of the Peak), symbolizing the high spiritual level of the population.
During the reign of the Khmer Empire, many temples were built on the territory of Cambodia, which are famous today. Preahvikhea is the center of all temple complexes. The building received the status of the greatest Khmer temple due to its architectural skill - very fine stone work.
A distinctive feature of Preahviheah from the Khmer temples of that period is the construction of the structure along the axis from the north side to the south.
A road about 800 meters long, consisting of steps, leads to the sanctuary, located at the very edge of the cliff. On the platforms of the stairs there are stone statues of lions, naked. The path is marked by 5 gopuras, which open the courtyard to the view. Behind the largest gopura of the complex there are two buildings called palaces. Their buildings create an impressive facade with a length of 99 m. Each of the gopuras covers the rest of the building, not allowing you to see the whole beauty. This gives Preahvihea a certain mystery. In the middle of the temple there are statues of the main deities.
For many centuries, the temple of Preahvihea has been the subject of a territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand. The International Court of Justice has ruled in favor of Cambodia. The final peace agreement was concluded with the signing of the agreement on the opening of the Preahvihea zone to tourists.
To date, it is possible to visit the building, both from Cambodia and from Thailand. This object of spiritual culture is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
