Cambodia completes restoration of millennium-old Brick Tower at Angkor's Phnom Bakheng Temple

This photo taken on Nov. 10, 2026 shows the restored Brick Tower No. 13 of Phnom Bakheng Temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. The restoration of the millennium-old Brick Tower No. 13 (G13), located on the southern side of Phnom Bakheng Temple within Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park, has been completed, according to a news release issued by the APSARA National Authority (ANA) on Thursday. (Photo: ANA/Handout via Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The restoration of the millennium-old Brick Tower No. 13 (G13), located on the southern side of Phnom Bakheng Temple within Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park, has been completed, according to a news release issued by the APSARA National Authority (ANA) on Thursday.

Chhun Ratana, an expert from the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the meticulous work followed strict technical standards to strengthen the ancient monument while preserving its original heritage value.

The project was divided into two major phases. The first phase focused on restoring and reinforcing the laterite foundation and the lower section of the structure. The second phase continued the restoration from the second tier up to the top of the tower, which reaches approximately six meters in height.

"The fundamental principle guiding the restoration of Brick Tower G13 is to preserve its original form and structural integrity without adding any new structural elements," Ratana said.

Previously, the tower had deteriorated severely and could no longer stand independently. To prevent its collapse, conservation experts had installed wooden supports and secured it with steel cables.

"Today, following the restoration, Brick Tower G13 has not only regained its structural stability but also much of its former beauty," she added.

Among the 44 brick towers surrounding Phnom Bakheng Temple, Brick Tower G13 is the best-preserved, retaining its overall form from the foundation to its peak, Ratana said.

Ratana said the restoration and reinforcement of the tower have not only rescued it from the risk of collapse but also enhanced its appearance, highlighting the artistic and architectural value of Khmer ancestral heritage.

"This will allow both domestic and international visitors who come to enjoy the sunset from Phnom Bakheng to appreciate the ancient monument in its renewed and stable condition," she said.

Built during the late ninth and early 10th centuries under the reign of King Yasovarman I, Phnom Bakheng is a prominent Hindu temple mountain dedicated to Shiva. It remains one of the oldest and most geographically significant state temples within the UNESCO-listed Angkor complex in Siem Reap province.