This photo taken on June 6, 2025 shows the restoration site of the eastern causeway of Beng Mealea temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. (ANA/Handout via Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The restoration of the eastern causeway at the centuries-old Beng Mealea temple in northwest Cambodia's Angkor Archaeological Park is nearing completion, the APSARA National Authority (ANA) said in a news release on Monday.
Beginning in mid-May, 2024, the restoration project was funded by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, the news release said.
Boeut Sopak, an engineer of the ANA's Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said about 90 percent of the restoration work has been achieved, and the entire project is scheduled to be completed in early July.
She said the project has been focused on repairing and strengthening various components of the causeway, which had fallen into disrepair.
"Significant progress has been made, including the reinforcement of foundations on both the north and south sides, installation of a Naga balustrade, and the placement of beams and pillars," she said. "The northern side is nearly complete, with only minor tasks remaining."
Sopak said before the project, the eastern causeway was severely damaged, with the Naga body completely dislodged and parts of the foundation compromised by tree roots and natural wear over time.
"The APSARA National Authority team aims to ensure that the causeway is robust enough for future generations," she said. "In the meantime, it is gradually being opened to tourists, who can now visit this historic site as restoration progresses."
Built in the middle of the 12th century, the layout and style of the Beng Mealea temple are very similar to those of the iconic Angkor Wat temple, the ANA said.
Made of blue sandstone, the Beng Mealea temple is one of the key temples in the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province.
The Angkor Archaeological Park, which is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian nation, is home to 91 ancient temples built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The ancient park attracted a total of 527,577 international tourists during the January-May period of 2025, generating a gross revenue of 24.5 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
The top five source markets for the ancient site were the United States, Britain, France, China, and South Korea. ■
This photo taken on June 5, 2025 shows the restoration site of the eastern causeway of Beng Mealea temple in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. (ANA/Handout via Xinhua)
