Ankor Wat is Restored With Help From China
Ankor Wat in Cambodia is the best preserved temple of the collection, and is a significant religious hub. Ornate and decorative, the temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, and is the world’s largest religious building. The temples bring a great deal of tourism to an otherwise poor country, and are all built facing the rising sun. Theorists believe that the location of the sites were chosen for agricultural benefits and strategic military precision, but the temples were placed for the worship of gods, rather than the Egyptian temples which were designed to worship the kings, and the temples are precisely aligned with the stars. They are great examples of beautiful art, and were seen as instruments for assisting humans in their realisation of the divine. They became places of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhists across Asia, and have held onto their sacred relevance to this day.
And china have kindly given the country a gift of six million American dollars this month to help restore the temple, as it has deteriorated and is in danger of being lost completely. The walls are at risk of collapse due to hundred years of natural erosion, and if it does it could cause massive loss of tourism to the country, not to mention the loss of one of the seven ancient wonders of the word.
If you are planning on travelling to Cambodia to see the ancient temples then make sure you have Holiday Insurance for your trip before you go. Policies are readily available online.
About the Author
“Phomn Penh and Siem Reap – Cambodia” Keithandbeth’s photos around Phnom Penh, Cambodia
