APSARA Authority Restores 1,200-Year-Old Temple on Phnom Kulen to Strengthen Heritage Tourism

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (Jan. 2, 2026) — The APSARA National Authority has launched a four month restoration of O Thma Dab Temple, a 1,200 year old brick monument on Phnom Kulen, aiming to reinforce its structure and enhance its appeal as a heritage tourism site.

Leu Channora, an archaeologist with APSARA, said conservation teams are repairing cracks on the eastern façade from base to top, reinstalling sandstone door frames, columns and decorative elements, and reinforcing damage on the western side. Vegetation growing on the temple’s upper sections has also been cleared.

O Thma Dab Temple remains largely intact, with high relief carvings at each corner. The restoration includes reinstalling door structures to improve aesthetics and attract more visitors. It is one of the few surviving brick temples on Phnom Kulen with a relatively complete form, while many others remain only as foundations or scattered bricks.

Despite its age, the temple has never undergone restoration, having previously been limited to archaeological study and routine maintenance. APSARA officials said the project reflects ongoing efforts to preserve ancient heritage and promote tourism development in Phnom Kulen National Park, beyond the Angkor complex.