My Temple is my soul

One temple that I'm really keen to visit is Preah Vihear, technically located in the northernmost tip of Cambodia but only easily accessible from northeast Thailand. Since it re-opened to visitors in 1998, this mainly 11th century site has been a magnet for Thai nationals, keen to see a jewel of Khmer history that they feel was mistakenly awarded to Cambodia by an International Court ruling in 1962. Without doubt, the temple has the most remarkable setting of all the Khmer sites either within Cambodia or the northeastern region of Thailand, known as Isaan. Perched high on a cliff edge of the Dongrek Escarpment overlooking Cambodia some 600 metres below, Preah Vihear or Khao Phra Viharn (as its known in Thai) was closed for decades because of its strategic location and the civil war raging in Cambodia, although it opened briefly between 1991 and 1993. Following the death of Pol Pot and the expulsion of the Khmer Rouge renegades in the area, it re-opened again in August 1998 and has remained accessible since.

Located some 36 kilometres south of the Thai town of Kantharalak, access to the site is across the Thai border before entering a series of causeways and steps stretching some 800 metres from the entrance up through five gopuras to the main sanctuary. Work began at the site in 813 under Jasovarman I and continued under a number of successive rulers. They each left their own mark amongst the collection of halls, libraries, naga balustrades, finely carved lintels and pediments and small barays. The photograph (above) shows Gopura III in the top right-hand corner leading to the main sanctuary in the bottom left-hand corner, next to the cliff-edge. Pictured left is the south-facing entrance to Gopura I.

Due to its lay-out, the temple frustrates as no one view takes in both the temple itself and the marvellous panorama stretching out acoss the Cambodian plains below. Clearly in need of restoration having endured many years of damage and neglect, warning signs are everywhere advising visitors not to stray off the designated paths, as the danger of landmines is very real (above right; picture courtesy of Michael Chubak). A Cambodian military unit now guards the temple site and collects the 200 baht entrance fee whilst Thai military officials earn their revenue from the parking area, shops and restaurant at the foot of the temple, which is on Thai soil. For more photos from Preah Vihear, click here.

The photographs below are courtesy of Lisa Cox. The top two show the east side of the central sanctuary (left) and the entrance to Gopura III (right). Below them are various entrances and doorways at this breathtaking cliff-top site.