Chunks of broken sandstone now litter the sacred grounds of Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after weeks of deadly clashes with neighbouring Thailand. The centuries-old Khmer masterpiece, perched dramatically on a cliff overlooking the northern plains, bears fresh scars from artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

The temple, dating back to the 11th century, became a battleground when a long-running border dispute flared into full-scale fighting last year. Jets, tanks and ground troops were deployed, leaving dozens dead and forcing more than a million people from their homes before a ceasefire was agreed in December.

International journalists visiting the site for the first time since the violence found extensive damage. Cambodian officials say 420 parts of the complex were hit in December alone, with another 142 damaged during clashes in July. “Some temple structures could collapse. We need urgent intervention,” warned Ea Darith, director of conservation at the Preah Vihear Authority.

UNESCO has promised to send a team to assess the destruction, though restoration is expected to be costly and painstaking. Some areas may never be repaired, with officials considering preserving them as “museum sites” to show the impact of the fighting.

The temple has long been a flashpoint between the two countries. Though the International Court of Justice granted Cambodia sovereignty over Preah Vihear in 1962 and surrounding land in 2013, Thailand disputes the ruling. Sporadic clashes have erupted since 2008, with the site repeatedly caught in the crossfire.

Cambodian police stationed at the temple described the bombardment as deliberate. “The damage is everywhere… They wanted to destroy the temple,” one officer said. Thailand, however, has accused Cambodia of using the ancient site as a military outpost, arguing it forfeited its protected status.

For now, Preah Vihear stands wounded but still defiant, its weathered sandstone walls a reminder of both the grandeur of Khmer civilisation and the fragility of heritage in times of conflict. The question now is whether international cooperation can save it before more of its history crumbles away.

-2026-02-07

As Thailand is very annoyed if call them Khmer, it is obvious to who the temple belongs. The centuries old Khmer Temple. Not the Buddhistic Thai temple. Problem solved now.

16 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

As Thailand is very annoyed if call them Khmer, it is obvious to who the temple belongs. The centuries old Khmer Temple. Not the Buddhistic Thai temple. Problem solved now.

Anyone who has visited the khao phra wihan / preah vihear area will know that it is a cliff top. All the land below the cliff top is Cambodia. All the land on the cliff top is Thailand EXCEPT for the small area of the temple which the French engineers included in Cambodia, when logically they should have included it in Thailand.

Considering how much Thailand claims the temple should be included in Thailand, it doesn't make sense that Thailand would bomb the temple unless the Cambodian army was using the temple grounds to attack Thailand.

2 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

it doesn't make sense that Thailand would bomb the temple unless the Cambodian army was using the temple grounds to attack Thailand.

Very few things done by the Thai Government make sense.

I have visited Prea Vihear twice over the past thirty years and each time noted a deal of damage to structures caused during occupation by the Kmer Rouge including graffiti carved into laterite blocks. Unless Cambodia has credible evidence to separate alleged new damage from the old UNESCO will be unconvinced.

I have also had the privilege of visiting the mountain top UNESCO Preah Vihear Khmer temple complex, not only to see the incredible structures but appreciate the magnificant views as well. As a UK tourist I was visiting Siem Reap in Cambodia and this visit in 2015 was a long day trip, wholly within Cambodia. On the summit both the Cambodian and UNESCO flags were flying. The only Thai connection was my Air Asia flight from Khon Kaen to Siem Reap and return. My photos-

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

I have also had the privilege of visiting the mountain top UNESCO Preah Vihear Khmer temple complex, not only to see the incredible structures but appreciate the magnificant views as well. As a UK tourist I was visiting Siem Reap in Cambodia and this visit in 2015 was a long day trip, wholly within Cambodia. On the summit both the Cambodian and UNESCO flags were flying. The only Thai connection was my Air Asia flight from Khon Kaen to Siem Reap and return. My photos-

Can you fly direct from Khon Kaen?

Air Asia no longer flies that route.

8 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Air Asia no longer flies that route.

Unfortunately not nowadays. When I flew it was from the old Khon Kaen airport using Air Asia's "Fly Thru" service when KK Immigration Officers manned a desk solely for Air Asia flights, but one still had to transit planes in DMK. This service was removed when the new airport was opened and all Immigration now takes place in DMK. A great shame as I could visit destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma with security checks and immigration all being completed in KKC and just transit in Bangkok DMK, but only with Air Asia!

1 minute ago, Burma Bill said:

Unfortunately not nowadays. When I flew it was from the old Khon Kaen airport using Air Asia's "Fly Thru" service when KK Immigration Officers manned a desk solely for Air Asia flights, but one still had to transit planes in DMK. This service was removed when the new airport was opened and all Immigration now takes place in DMK. A great shame as I could visit destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma with security checks and immigration all being completed in KKC and just transit in Bangkok DMK, but only with Air Asia!

Yeah would have been great. I flew Khon Kaen to Hat Yai and it was cheap with the new airport.