This undated photo shows the restoration site of the stairs and Naga balustrades on the southern ground floor of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Cambodia's APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists have started to restore the stairs and Naga balustrades on the southern ground floor of Angkor Wat, said an ANA's news release on Friday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists have started to restore the stairs and Naga balustrades on the southern ground floor of Angkor Wat, said an ANA's news release on Friday.
Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is a major temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park in the northwest country's Siem Reap province.
Soy Sophearin, an archaeologist of the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the restoration work is essential to preserve the historical and architectural integrity of the Angkor Wat.
"The damage caused by rainfall highlights the importance of ongoing maintenance and restoration work to ensure the longevity of these ancient structures," he said.
He said the restoration work will include repairing stairs and lifting, cleaning, and strengthening the Naga balustrades and pedestals.
The 401-square-kilometer Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
The kingdom's most popular tourist destination attracted 472,258 international visitors in the first five months of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 37 percent, said a report from the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
The ancient park made 22.2 million U.S. dollars in revenue from ticket sales during the January-May period this year, also up 38 percent year-on-year, the report added. ■
This undated photo shows staff members working at the stairs and Naga balustrades on the southern ground floor of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Cambodia's APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists have started to restore the stairs and Naga balustrades on the southern ground floor of Angkor Wat, said an ANA's news release on Friday. (APSARA National Authority/Handout via Xinhua)