02. ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ PREAH VIHEA TEMPLE

Cambodia has a lot of ancient temples in most provinces. Among those, Prasat Preah Vihea is a sacred shrine which is located on the very high and smooth plateau along the Dang Rek Mountain in Preah Vihea province. This shrine first built by the King Yasa Varaman in 9^th century. All forms of this temple are the basic of Khmer Arts include planning, building drafts, ad other sculptures. On the sculptures we can only see Khmer Script and Sanskrit. These evidences clearly verified that “Preah Vihea” belonging to Cambodia.

Under French colony, Preah Vihea temple was controlled by Siem (Thailand). Although our country got independent from French, Siem didn’t give it to Khmer. Moreover, Siem had used all kind of malfeasant tricks and declared that Preah Vihea belonged to them.

In 1962, under the premiership of   King Norodom Sihanouk, the King had tried all his best in demanding by peaceful talk. Finally the international court at Lahe had judged in unanimity that Preah Vihea belonged to Cambodia on 15^th June, 1962.

These enthusiastic news had spread across the whole country that made all Khmer people very happy and cheerful to congratulate in accepting this temple which was becoming as the Khmer Heritage as before.

For this testimony of satisfaction, the chief of state, King Norodom Sihanouk made a formal visiting to Preah Vihea to be the symbol of Khmer Heritage on 5^th January, 1963.