Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia

Preah Vihear Temple is a Hindu temple. It is located at the Dângrêk Mountains in the Preah Vihear Province of Cambodia and near the border of Amphoe Kantharalak, Sisaket Province in northeastern Thailand. This temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in his manifestations as the mountain gods Sikharesvara and Bhadresvara. Most of the temple was constructed during the reigns of the kings Suryavarman I (1002 -1050) and Suryavarman II (1113 -1150). They selected this mountain to construct the temple as being the centre of the ancient Khmer Kingdom.

The temple of Preah Vihear is a Khmer Temple. Today, The Khmer people are the predominant ethnic group in Cambodia, accounting for approximately 90% of the 14.2 million people in the country. The majority of the Khmer are followers of the Khmer style of Buddhism, a highly syncretic version which blends elements of Theravada Buddhism, Hinduism, animism and ancestor-spirit worship.

Like another Khmer Temples, the quality of its architecture adapted to the natural environment ,religious function of the temple and also the exceptional quality of the carved stone ornamentation of the temple. According to the stone inscriptions we have information about which gods were installed in the main sanctuary.The dikpalas (the Guardians of the Cardinal Directions) and the Kala figure ('time') are depicted on lintels and pediments above the doorways of the temple. Preah Vihear Temple is a stylised representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods.

The temple was built along the top of Mountain; it is abrupt at Cambodia side and easily climbs at the Thailand side. Access to the temple is across the Thai border before entering a series of causeways and steps stretching some 800 metres from the entrance up to the main sanctuary. The orientation of the temple is not 100% straight north - south. Preah Vihear has an axial layout resembling Prasat Phnom Scisor (Cambodia), Prasat Vat Phou (Laos), and Prasat Phanom Rung (Thailand). The Preah Vihear complex has four levels with four courtyards, each containing five Gopuras (entrance pavilions). Each of the gopuras before the courtyards is reached by a set of steps. The gopuras also block a visitor's view of the next part of the temple until he passes through the gateway.

Each level has a different name and the architecture is also very different. Level one, is the main temple [fortress temple]. Level two has entrances with marvellous Pde, including decorations describing the Churning of the Milk

Today, Preah Vihear Temple was rediscovered by the outside world and became subject of an emotional dispute between Thailand and the newly independent Cambodia. On July 8, 2008, the World Heritage Committee decided to add Preah Vihear Temple to the World Heritage Site list.