Siem Reap:West Mebon Temple, an architectural masterpiece located in the middle of a vast reservoir, has been restored to its former glory following a significant restoration project that spanned 14 years and cost approximately US$12 million.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the restoration was a collaboration between Cambodia and France. H.E. Dr. Hang Peou, Director-General of the APSARA National Authority, expressed optimism that the comprehensive restoration would ensure the temple's structural integrity and visibility for future generations of Cambodians for at least another 50 to 150 years, with regular maintenance.
The restoration effort involved overcoming numerous challenges, such as conducting detailed research and preparing technical documentation, locating and repositioning displaced stones, and transporting heavy equipment and sandstone blocks by boat to the site. Water levels had to be carefully managed during the rainy season to allow continuous restoration work while also ensuring irrigation for over 7,000 hectares of farmland and maintaining water supplies for Siem Reap city.
More than 100 workers participated in the restoration, performing specialized tasks like decorative carving, stone chiselling and cutting, and stone assembly. The project culminated in enhancing the surrounding landscape and preparing pathways for visitors. The temple, built in the mid-11th century during King Udayadityavarman II's reign, is situated on an island in the West Baray and features a distinctive bronze statue of the reclining Vishnu.
The temple was initially restored by the French Conservation d'Angkor team in 1940, and the recent restoration, launched in 2012, has now been completed. His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, and French President H.E. Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to inaugurate the restored temple on November 16, 2026, following the 20th Francophonie Summit's closing ceremony in Phnom Penh.