APSARA National Authority has started restoring the south gate of the nearly 1,000-year-old Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap province with the help of India.

In a statement on Friday, APSARA National Authority said that the restoration is in cooperation with the ASI of India. The project will see the renovation of the southern gate of Ta Prohm temple that collapsed due to various factors over many years.

Sing Sood, head of the India-Cambodia Cooperation Project at Ta Prohm, said that the southern gate collapsed, causing stones to fall into the gate. This can be caused by the age of the construction, weather, trees, insects, and lack of preservation in the past.

“This project will bring back the priceless works of Khmer ancestors and enhance the beauty of Ta Prohm too,” the statement said.

dynamic_detail_1

Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, Ta Prom temple is a Buddhist temple built by King Jayavarman VII in honor of his mother.

Sood said that the project began in early January 2023, and the working team will also restore the 20-meter-long enclosure that fell to the ground.

According to the statement, Sood “expects that in the next two years, after the efforts of experts, the south gate of Ta Prohm will be strong and beautiful again”.

He added that firstly the restoration team need to study the plan of the structure of the gate, excavate to research the damaged spots, prepare the assembly, and repair the stones. Then the team will strengthen the foundations and bring the stones back to their original location.

dynamic_detail_2

The restoration work is done using the Anastylosis technique, the statement said.