Angkor Wat's western naga balustrade in Cambodia undergoes restoration

This photo taken on July 20, 2026 shows the restoration site of the western naga balustrade at the iconic Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Archaeologists have launched a project to restore and reinforce a 20-meter section of the western naga balustrade at Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat temple, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Friday. (Photo: ANA/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists have launched a project to restore and reinforce a 20-meter section of the western naga balustrade at Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat temple, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Friday.

The emergency restoration targets the first southern section of the causeway, which has completely collapsed over time.

"Because this site is one of the most popular locations where visitors photograph the iconic reflection of Angkor Wat over the southern pond, the APSARA National Authority prioritized the conservation of this highly visited area," said Soy Sophearin, an archaeologist at the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology.

The restoration began in June 2026 and is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

Conservation experts are systematically dismantling unstable stones, replacing damaged blocks, carving new pedestals, and crafting new naga body segments to replace missing or severely deteriorated pieces.

Alongside the ongoing restoration, the ANA is developing a comprehensive risk map of all naga balustrades across the Angkor Wat complex to identify vulnerable structures and guide future conservation efforts.

As Cambodia's top tourist destination, the site attracted 387,772 international visitors from January to June 2026, earning nearly 18.5 million U.S. dollars in ticket revenue, according to state-owned Angkor Enterprise.

Staff members work at the restoration site of the western naga balustrade at the iconic Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, July 20, 2026. Archaeologists have launched a project to restore and reinforce a 20-meter section of the western naga balustrade at Cambodia's iconic Angkor Wat temple, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Friday. (Photo: ANA/Handout via Xinhua)