Angkor Temple Gets State Dept. Grant
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A sacred temple in the historic Cambodian city of Angkor has received a $978,700 American grant to undergo the second phase of a restoration project.
The World Monuments Fund received the grant from the U.S. State Department and will use the money to rebuild and stabilize the severely damaged east elevation at Phnom Bakheng, the oldest temple in the city, fund spokeswoman Holly Evarts said in a telephone interview.
The temple, built by Khmer King Yasovarman I in 907 C.E., represents Mount Mehru, the mythical home of Hindu gods. Perched on the highest point of the Angkor alluvial plain, its stunning sunsets attract hundreds of tourists daily.
“The conservation of this magnificent complex of monuments is a critical part of our mission because of its prominence,” Monuments Fund President Bonnie Burnham said in a statement.
The grant awarded to the New York-based fund is the second the State Department has given through its U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. In 2004, the fund received $550,000 to pay for environmental and tourist management programs at the site.
