Temple of Preah Vihear

temple, Cambodia

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The Temple of Preah Vihear is a significant temple located in Cambodia, dedicated to the worship of Shiva. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. This temple is part of the rich architectural heritage of the Khmer empire, which flourished between the 9th and 13th centuries. The Khmer civilization, heavily influenced by Indian culture, produced magnificent temple complexes like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, showcasing original contributions to Asian civilization. The temple of Preah Vihear itself was constructed during the reign of Suryavarman I, who extended the Khmer empire westward into present-day Thailand.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Cambodia
Cultural institutions
In 2008 the Temple of Preah Vihear, dedicated to the worship of Shiva, was also named a World Heritage site.
Read More
In 2008 the Temple of Preah Vihear, dedicated to the worship of Shiva, was also named a World Heritage site.
Read More

Cambodia
Cambodia since 2000
…Cambodia and Thailand over the Temple of Preah Vihear, situated on their mutual border, flared into a confrontation in 2008. Both sides dispatched troops to the area, and tensions mounted over border incursions and other incidents. Attempts to mediate the disagreement failed, but, after skirmishes broke out in the vicinity…
Read More
…Cambodia and Thailand over the Temple of Preah Vihear, situated on their mutual border, flared into a confrontation in 2008. Both sides dispatched troops to the area, and tensions mounted over border incursions and other incidents. Attempts to mediate the disagreement failed, but, after skirmishes broke out in the vicinity…
Read More