A thousand years ago, the people of Cambodia's Angkor civilization built a huge sandstone temple in one of the holiest spots imaginable, the windy summit of a 500-metre high cliff in the Dangrek mountain range. Known today as Preah Vihear, the temple was dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, who was believed to inhabit the heights. For centuries, the mountain top was a special place of religious practice and pilgrimage in the Khmer Empire. But in modern times, the temple and land around it have tragically been the focus of a border dispute with Thailand. In 1962, the World Court affirmed Cambodia's ownership of the temple, yet tensions continue to the present day.
Temple in the Clouds recounts the full ancient and modern history of this fascinating monument. A Khmer priest, a French army officer, an American statesman--these and other people figure prominently in its story. Readers will find a rich collection of period photographs, archaeological diagrams and maps, as well as new disclosures about the World Court case and regional diplomatic history.
Temple in the Clouds recounts the full ancient and modern history of this fascinating monument. A Khmer priest, a French army officer, an American statesman--these and other people figure prominently in its story. Readers will find a rich collection of period photographs, archaeological diagrams and maps, as well as new disclosures about the World Court case and regional diplomatic history.