John Burgess on the Modern Life of Angkor Wat
Cambodia’s wondrous temples reflect the various stages of the country’s history, from colonialism to revolution to the present era of mass tourism.
February 23, 2021
The scale replica of the top tier of Angkor Wat created for the 1931 Colonial Exhibition in Paris.
Credit: Flickr/manhhai
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Despite being built centuries ago, the temples of Angkor are central to the history of modern Cambodia. A silhouette of Angkor Wat has appeared on the flag of every post-independence Cambodian regime, including the murderous Khmer Rouge, who otherwise waged war on every vestige of Cambodia’s premodern past. In a new book, “Angkor’s Temples in the Modern Era: War, Pride and Tourist Dollars” John Burgess details the temples’ tumultuous journey through the modern era, from the dawn of French imperialism through the abyss of war and genocide, to the mass tourism of the present day.
Ta Prohm, Angkor
Ta Prohm is the modern name of the temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province,Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor s most popular temples with visitors. UNESCO inscribed Ta Prohm on the World Heritage List in 1992. Today, it is one of the most visited complexes in Cambodia’s Angkor region. The conservation and restoration of Ta Prohm is a partnership project of the Archaeological Survey of India and the APSARA (Authority for the Protection and Management of
NagaCorp said the project would be the only “truly integrated resort close to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap” and would be built on a 75-hectare land plot leased by the Apsara National Authority through a 50-year lease.