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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — Cambodia’s APSARA National Authority (ANA) archaeologists had successfully completed the restoration of the southern central stairs and Naga balustrades on the ground floor of the famed Angkor Wat, said an ANA’s news release on Sunday.
Angkor Wat is a major temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor archaeological park in the northwest country’s Siem Reap province.
Soy Sophearin, head of the Angkor Wat restoration site, said the restoration work had begun on May 15 this year and concluded on Aug. 15, reinforcing the structure’s foundation, repairing stairs and restoring Naga balustrades to their original positions.
“Prior to the repairs, the Naga balustrades had collapsed and were in a state of disrepair, making them unstable,” he said. “The restored Naga balustrades are now sturdy enough to accommodate visitors safely, alleviating concerns about potential collapse.”
Sophearin said the restoration team employed appropriate techniques to ensure the longevity of the structure.
In addition to this project, he said the ANA is actively assessing other areas for future restoration to enhance the preservation of the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The 401-square-kilometer Angkor archaeological park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The Angkor park, which is the kingdom’s most popular tourist destination, attracted a total of 584,375 international tourists during the first seven months of 2024, making a gross revenue of 27.17 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. ■
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