Cambodia Restores Crumbling Bakong Brick Temple

ANA

Cambodia’s APSARA National Authority (ANA) has launched a major restoration of the ninth brick temple at the historic Bakong complex, aiming to stabilise the structure and protect visitors as climate and age take their toll.

The project, which began in May, comes in response to worsening structural damage at the centuries-old site in Siem Reap province. Cracks in the northern and western walls, caused by weathering and environmental degradation, have prompted the ANA’s Roluos Conservation Team to act swiftly.

“We’re reinforcing the western wall and installing steel supports inside to ensure the temple’s safety,” said Saray Kimhual, head of the team. “The damage is significant, and without intervention, it could pose a real risk.”

Bakong, the earliest temple mountain of the Angkor era, consists of 22 brick temples—many of which have suffered from erosion and neglect. The current effort is part of a broader initiative to preserve the complex. So far, ANA has restored seven brick temples, a sandstone wall, statues of a lion and an elephant, boundary stones, and the eastern entrance.

This latest project is 35% complete and will be carried out in two stages. Phase one includes reinforcing the temple’s western side and installing an internal steel framework. Phase two will focus on carefully rebuilding sections of the brick walls. Completion is expected by the end of 2025.

Temporary protections have also been put in place at four nearby structures to prevent further damage during the rainy season.

With climate change accelerating the decay of Cambodia’s cultural heritage, experts say these restorations are more urgent than ever. For now, the ANA’s careful work at Bakong offers hope that some of the country’s most iconic monuments can still be preserved for future generations.

-2025-07-15