A working group of the Apsara National Authority (ANA), a body tasked with managing the Angkor Archaeological Park, has been restoring the southeastern section of the Lo Lei temple which almost completely collapsed due to aging, natural causes and neglect.

ANA said on August 4 that sections of the temple – located south of Siem Reap town off National Road 6 in Lo Lei village of Prasat Bakong district’s Bakong commune – have been undergoing restoration since mid-2021. Piles of debris have been excavated that had buried the main temple structure while other parts of the structure have been strengthened to prevent further damage and remove any danger.

ANA spokesman Long Kosal told The Post on August 4 that the temple was built in the late 9th century by King Yasovarman I and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The temple was constructed with bricks and parts of the temple are very old and deteriorated. It now has to be restored and maintained.

“The team is removing the old bricks from the temple before attempting other restoration work. This job will take until late this year,” he said, adding that ANA has continued restoration work on all temples in Siem Reap without stopping despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

He explained that restoring a temple is not too dissimilar to caring for an elderly person as the repair work was conducted with the utmost care. ANA had been provided funding through the national budget and donors to complete the work.