Recently a 4 year restoration plan has been put into action at Banteay Chhmar Angkorian era temple in the remote north west of Cambodia.

The plan is a co-operation between the Ministry of Culture and Global Heritage Fund (GHF), a US based NGO that preserves archaeological and cultural sites in developing countries.

A Culture Minister representative emphasized that it will take about 20 years to fully restore the 12th century sandstone temple and its surrounding wall of bas-reliefs, much of which currently lie in piles of jumbled ruins.

During the 1990s the temple became a favourite target of looters, and according to GHF more than 50 square metres of bas-releifs and countless pieces of statuary have been stolen, assisted by the temples close proximity to the border of Thailand. Under the project there are plans to add more guards to prevent looting.

Edited from The Cambodia Daily.

Banteay Chhmar is a remote not so often visited Angkorian temple and the poor villagers have established a community based tourism project including a traditional homestay. To learn about traditional village life and have a fine Angkorian temple to yourself for both sunset and sunrise contact Asia Adventures who can arrange a unique overnight stay: info@asia-adventures.com