Angkor Wat temple’s Bakan Sees Third Phase of Restoration
The Bakan of the Angkor Wat during a restoration. Photo: APSARA National Authority
- By Isa Rohany
- October 4, 2023 2:00 PM
SIEM REAP - The third and top level of the Angkor Wat temple, also known as Bakan, is going through its third phase of renovation, one of the hardest phases for restorers.
Conservation officer Ro Sovandaroth, now working on the southeastern side of the structure, said this phase is expected to be complete at the end of this year.
The two previous phases were completed at the end of 2022.
The Bakan stone layers were pushed apart for years by growing vegetation and water intrusion, making this level unstable. Restorers have used metal reinforcement to stop the layers from tearing apart. New stones have replaced older ones which no longer bear the weight effectively.
Situated at 65 metres above ground level, restoration is done manually most of the time as heavy-duty equipment cannot be transported on to the site.
Stones have to be carried manually and using simple machines from one elevation to the next. This phase will also be conducted at other corners of the Bakan.
Visitors can take a steep wooden staircase with a metal handrail to the top of the Bakan where the scenic landscape can be viewed.
Related article:
Challenges and Success during the Restoration of Angkor Wat’s Bakan Tower
