Phnom penh: Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has called on his compatriots to take part in preserving the national cultural heritage for the benefit of all generations of Cambodians. 'Safeguarding our cultural heritage is a shared duty of all Cambodians,' underlined the Premier in a social media post this morning, extending his congratulations to his compatriots on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the inscription of Preah Vihear Temple on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Temple of Preah Vihear, stretching widely like a ship on the ocean, stands proudly atop a mountain peak, offering a majestic landscape. Located on the Dangrek mountain range in Preah Vihear northern province, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 32nd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on July 7, 2008, in Quebec, Canada.
UNESCO describes Preah Vihear as a temple dedicated to Shiva, composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis, dating back to the first half of the 11th century AD. The site's complex history can be traced to the 9th century when the hermitage was founded. It is particularly well-preserved due to its remote location and is exceptional for its architecture, which is adapted to the natural environment and the temple's religious function, as well as its carved stone ornamentation. Preah Vihear is considered an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture, 'pure' in both plan and decoration detail.
In addition to Preah Vihear, Cambodia boasts several other heritages on the World Heritage List. These include the Historic Site of Angkor, inscribed in 1992; the Preah Reach Troap Dance (Royal Ballet) and Lakhon Sbek Thom (big shadow puppet), proclaimed masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003 and 2005, respectively; Teanh Prot (tug-of-war), named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015; Chapei Dang Veng, a Cambodian two-stringed, long-necked guitar, listed in 2016; Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex, registered in 2017; Lkhon Khol Wat Svay Andet, recognized in 2018; Kun Lbokator, a traditional martial art, added in 2022; and the Koh Ker archaeological site, listed in 2023.