Destinations Known | A new Thai temple bears a likeness to Angkor Wat, and Cambodian internet users are not happy about it
- Pictures of a structure under scaffolding in Thailand were posted online, and commentators in Cambodia were quick to condemn its likeness to their pride and joy
- Cultural and political tensions between the two countries have long been complicated when it comes to temples and claims over their sovereignty
Angkor Wat is one of the most famous temples in the world. Before the coronavirus stopped tourists from travelling around Asia, the 12th century Hindu complex in Cambodia’s Siem Reap province attracted 2.2 million visitors in 2019.
In contrast, Sihanakhon, a temple complex under construction in Thailand’s Buriram province, is not a name many will be familiar with. Unless, perhaps, you are Cambodian and spend time on the internet.
“The recent news of the construction of a replica of Angkor Wat in Thailand has sparked an outcry among Cambodians,” reported the Khmer Times. “Pictures of the Thai construction, which is almost entirely an imitation of the iconic Angkor Wat, were shared on social media, and Cambodians had no holds barred in making their dissatisfaction and concern over the issue known online.”
Internet users argued that “due to Angkor Wat’s status as a World Heritage Site, according to international law, the temple cannot be replicated”, the report continued.
