“Preah Vihear clings to a clifftop on the Thai border, its temple ending at a 500-metre drop - and a sovereignty dispute the World Court had to settle twice in Cambodia's favour.”
About Preah Vihear
Built and expanded between the ninth and twelfth centuries and dedicated to Shiva, Preah Vihear sits on a strategic ridge of the Dangrek range. Its border location triggered a long dispute between Cambodia and Thailand; the International Court of Justice ruled it Cambodian in 1962 and again in 2013. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Overview Preah Vihear is a Khmer temple strung out along a high promontory of the Dangrek Mountains, right on the border with Thailand, ending at a cliff that drops more than five hundred metres to the Cambodian plain below. Built over two centuries and dedicated to Shiva, it is approached along a series of rising causeways and pavilions rather than concentrated in a single block.
Built over two centuries and dedicated to Shiva, it is approached along a series of rising causeways and pavilions rather than concentrated in a single block.
A Contested Summit The temple's position on the frontier made it the subject of a long sovereignty dispute. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962 and reaffirmed the ruling in 2013, after periods of military tension along the ridge.
The Experience
Unlike the compact temples of Angkor, Preah Vihear unfolds as a linear ascent: you climb through gateways and courtyards along the spine of the ridge until the final sanctuary opens onto the cliff edge and an immense view over the plains. The remoteness and the drama of the precipice give it an atmosphere quite different from Siem Reap's temples.
Why It Matters
Preah Vihear is one of the most spectacularly sited Khmer temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as significant for its clifftop setting and contested history as for its architecture.
Preah Vihear is one of the most spectacularly sited Khmer temples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as significant for its clifftop setting and contested history as for its architecture.
Why Visit
Few temples anywhere end at a 500-metre cliff with views like this, and its remoteness keeps crowds thin. Check the current border situation before going, allow a long day trip from the nearest towns, and walk the full ascent to the cliff sanctuary.
✦ Insider Tips
- 1
Check the current border and security situation before planning a visit to the ridge.
- 2
It is remote; allow a full day and arrange reliable transport from the nearest town.
- 3
Walk the whole linear ascent to the final sanctuary at the cliff edge for the view.
- 4
The summit is exposed, so bring sun protection and water for the climb.
