Angkor Wat Today
The Archaeological Survey of India carried out restoration work on
the temple between 1986 and 1992. Since the 1990s, Angkor Wat has seen
continued conservation efforts and a massive increase in tourism. The
temple is part of the Angkor World Heritage Site, established in 1992,
which has provided some funding and has encouraged the Cambodian
government to protect the site. The German Apsara Conservation Project
(GACP) is working to protect the devatas and other bas-reliefs which
decorate the temple from damage. The organisation’s survey found that
around 20% of the devatas were in very poor condition, mainly because of
natural erosion and deterioration of the stone but in part also due to
earlier restoration efforts. Other work involves the repair of collapsed
sections of the structure, and prevention of further collapse: the west
facade of the upper level, for example, has been buttressed by
scaffolding since 2002, while a Japanese team completed restoration of
the north library of the outer enclosure in 2005. World Monuments Fund
began work on the Churning of the Sea of Milk Gallery in 2008.
Angkor Wat has become a major tourist destination. In 2004 and 2005,
government figures suggest that, respectively, 561,000 and 677,000
foreign visitors arrived in Siem Reap province, approximately 50% of all
foreign tourists in Cambodia for both years. The site has been managed
by the private SOKIMEX group since 1990, which rented it from the
Cambodian government. The influx of tourists has so far caused
relatively little damage, other than some graffiti; ropes and wooden
steps have been introduced to protect the bas-reliefs and floors,
respectively. Tourism has also provided some additional funds for
maintenance—as of 2000 approximately 28% of ticket revenues across the
whole Angkor site was spent on the temples—although most work is carried
out by foreign government-sponsored teams rather than by the Cambodian
authorities.
At the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2012, both parties have agreed Borobudur
and Angkor Wat to become sister sites and the provinces will become
sister provinces. Two Indonesian airlines are considering the
opportunity to open a direct flight from Yogyakarta, Indonesia to Siem
Reap.
There are two zip line courses and you will fly into the jungle
at heights of up to 24 metres!!! Prices are different from season:
during the low season, (April 18th to October 18th) the price is 25$ per person. During the high season, (October 19th to April 17th) the price will be 35$
per person. The price includes: Hire of all necessary safety equipment,
the first time round the course under supervision of Guide/Instructor,
and then an unlimited number of independent goes after that on the same
visit.
