SIEM REAP - Angkor Archaeological Park, often called a "hydraulic city," mastered the art of water management by engineering an intricate system of reservoirs and canals between Kulen Mountain and Tonle Sap Lake. This network not only sustained agriculture but also fulfilled religious needs for the sprawling ancient city of temples and villages.

Watch the interview on YouTube below:

The reservoirs, or baray in Khmer, were royal commissions, often featuring a temple at their center dedicated to the reigning king. Among them, the West Baray (Baray Khang Lech) stands out. Spanning roughly 8 by 2 kilometres, it is the largest man-made reservoir at Angkor, capable of holding 56 million cubic meters of water—still crucial today for Siem Reap’s agriculture and urban water supply.

At its heart lies West Mebon, one of Cambodia’s most distinctive 11th century temples, once home to the bronze Reclining Vishnu—the largest ancient bronze statue found in the country, measuring over five meters in length.

On April 9, Ky Chamna, a reporter of Cambodianess interviewed Sarah Coudry, a project coordinator of the West Mebon temple restoration. Seated near West Mebon's eastern facade, Sarah Coudry discussed the technicality behind the restoration work, how engineering compromises are made, how to keep the monument as authentic as possible, the material used and so on. 

Read a related interview:

Where Vishnu Once Floated: The Revival of West Mebon Temple