Cambodia's hidden Koh Ker temples hope to gain UNESCO status
(31 Mar 2019) LEADIN:
Isolated from the outside world for centuries, the ancient Cambodian city of Koh Ker is slowly remerging from the jungle.
However, many temples are in poor condition and attract few tourists.
People hoping to protect the sites believe that their futures could be secured if they achieve UNESCO World Heritage status.
STORYLINE:
Koh Ker is one of Cambodia's hidden gems.
Two hours' drive north of Angkor, close to the Thailand border the site is hidden under a canopy of trees.
The ancient city was built during the reign of King Jayavarman IV during the 10th century to serve as the capital of the Khmer Empire.
According to UNESCO, it was abandoned in 944, when King Rajendravarman moved his capital to Yasodharapura, modern day Angkor.
Heavily mined during Cambodia's three decades-long civil war, which ended in the late 1990s, Koh Ker was cut off from the outside world, the temples were consumed by the jungle.
Nature's assault was compounded by man during and after the war, when many temples had their priceless artefacts looted.
Early next year, the Cambodian government plans to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status for Koh Ker, a process which is expected to take about four years.
In charge of the application is Kim Sedara, who claims having the temples added to UNESCO's World Heritage List will help safeguard their future.
By having it inscribed in the (UNESCO) World Heritage (List), it is a property of human beings, it's a property of the world, he says.
And then we can get the attention and then support from international community to help in safeguarding and protecting this cultural property for the future generation.
And also, we can attract a lot of tourists for the economic development of the country as well.
The jewel in Koh Ker's crown is this seven-layered pyramid, known as Chok Gargyar. It dates from the early 10th century and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
Deputy director of tourism development for Preah Vihear province, Tuy Rany, says authorities need to develop the site if they're to attract more tourists.
We need to think about how to make it more interesting for tourists so they will spend more time visiting Koh Ker, he says.
The Prey Vihear National Authority have to make a bigger effort to develop the site. They need to set up more restaurants in Koh Ker and better facilities to serve the tourists.
They need to keep the temples clean, build more car parks and generally organise things better.
Dr. Sarah Klassen is leading a team of local and international archaeologists studying the temples to learn more about them, ahead of next year's application for World Heritage status.
Koh Ker was the only other site in the Khmer Empire to become the capital. And up until about ten years ago, scholars believed that occupation at this site was limited to that very brief period of about sixteen years in the 10th century, she says.
Recent archaeological work, however, is suggesting that occupation at this site started way before it became capital and lasted well after it was capital. So, this really changes our understanding of the nature of urbanism in the Khmer Empire.
As well as building wooden supports to shore up the temples, the team are using the latest technology to survey the site.
In 2012, they surveyed Koh Ker with aerial LiDAR technology, which can penetrate the ground. They discovered the site is much bigger than previously thought.
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Phnom Penh Pharmacy + Walking
Pharmacy near central market, phnom penh.
We bought some Flonase for $3.
It was completely legit and a year later we still have some left use it occasionally here in the states.