Preah Vihear Temple
Why it Matters?
A century-old border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, centred around the Preah Vihear Temple, has escalated into deadly cross-border clashes involving airstrikes, tanks, and mass evacuations, raising fears of full-scale war.
What You Should Know?
The Temple of Preah Vihear is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It is located on the edge of a plateau in Cambodia, near the Thailand-Cambodia border.
It is an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture.
The temple complex dates to the first half of the 11th century, with origins from the 9th century as a hermitage.
The site is noted for its adaptation to terrain, religious symbolism, and intricate stone carvings.
It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its architectural and cultural value.
The temple is claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand, based on a 1907 French colonial map.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded sovereignty to Cambodia in 1962, reaffirmed it again in 2013.
Thailand rejected the ICJ’s jurisdiction, and the ICJ-mandated demilitarised zone has not been fully implemented.