Safeguarding of the Bayon Temple

The Bayon Temple is one of the most significant monuments within the Angkor World Heritage complex and was constructed by the King-builder “Jayavarman VII” (1125-1218; reign: 1181-1218). Since 1994 through the financial assistance of the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust, research and conservation work has been undertaken at the Angkor World Heritage Site, in close partnership with the APSARA National Authority.

The project “Safeguarding of Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom” was divided into six (6) phases – Phase I (November 1994-September 1999), Phase II (May 1999-April 2005), Phase III (June 2005-August 2011), Phase IV (February 2012-June 2018), Phase V (July 2018-March 2022), and Phase VI (April 2022-present).

The project aims to support the long-term conservation of the Bayon Temple of Angkor Thom, and the current phase VI focuses on the preparation work for the stabilization of the Central Tower and conservation of the outer and inner gallery bas-reliefs, the landscape improvement of the East Façade of Bayon and risk-assessment undertaken by the APSARA National Authority, in order to ensure the safety of visitors and staff working on the site. Phase VI also continues to reinforce the capacities of APSARA workers by promoting capacity-building activities in heritage conservation and management.